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Jacob's Ladder

Play trailer 1:47 Poster for Jacob's Ladder R 1990 1h 53m Horror Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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71% Tomatometer 70 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
After returning home from the Vietnam War, veteran Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins) struggles to maintain his sanity. Plagued by hallucinations and flashbacks, Singer rapidly falls apart as the world and people around him morph and twist into disturbing images. His girlfriend, Jezzie (Elizabeth Peña), and ex-wife, Sarah (Patricia Kalember), try to help, but to little avail. Even Singer's chiropractor friend, Louis (Danny Aiello), fails to reach him as he descends into madness.
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Jacob's Ladder

Jacob's Ladder

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Critics Consensus

Even with its disorienting leaps of logic and structure, Jacob's Ladder is an engrossing, nerve-shattering experience.

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Critics Reviews

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John Hartl Seattle Times 08/23/2014
4/4
For hours and days after you've seen it, you'll still be putting it together in your head. While all of it is gripping, it doesn't come together until the final scene, which is jolting, transcendent, unexpected yet inevitable. Go to Full Review
Dave Kehr Chicago Tribune 08/23/2014
3/4
As long as the movie refuses to commit itself, it is a truly creepy, nerve-jangling experience. Go to Full Review
Peter Rainer Los Angeles Times 08/23/2014
In the best puzzle movies, the pieces fit -- eventually. But if you try to piece together Jacob's Ladder, all you get for your trouble is more pieces. Go to Full Review
Jim Emerson Orange County Register Feb 4
In the end, there's previous little solid ground for this "Ladder" to rest upon. Go to Full Review
Patrick Cavanaugh The Wolfman Cometh 09/22/2023
4/5
Manages to deliver nightmarish imagery, psychological torment, and a gripping relationship drama all wrapped up in a frightening and mysterious package. Go to Full Review
Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) 12/01/2022
This is gibberish. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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christopher carter s @CCSYaleSchoolofDrama 53m I got back to my apartment after working very late on a very physical job, sat down in my rescued easy chair, and turned on a small TV set that Imy brother had given me. I held it in my lap too amped and jangling from work to sleep. And I turned on Jacob's Ladder just as it was starting. Thursday Night Movie or something. This was just a few years after the film came out. And I did finally get sleepy during the film. But I knew that if I fell asleep the story would continue in my nightmares. I was glued to that screen until the film ended. I've quoted in turn the Meister Eckhart ideas that it references. It left a deeply burned impression in my mind, a real emotional effect. No spoilers but wow. I could go on and on. See more Juice M @Juicemane Dec 16 One of the best movies I’ve ever seen, had me thinking back about the whole movie after the end and I realized how well they’ve shot the movie. See more Corey S @corecom Dec 5 This movie had me glued to the screen. I looked like a shrimp in my chair while watching this. While there were some absurd moments, and it has it's share of goofs, I was just too invested in the story to be put off by them. See more Jack F @MovieFan111 Nov 18 I don't remember it being that scary, but I should probably watch it again to be sure. See more Oaklee D @ODie63 Nov 17 A mind bending film, with a terrific ending I went into this one not knowing anything about it and oh boy was I not expecting what I saw. I feel like Ari Aster took some inspiration from this film when he made "Beau Is Afraid". A great movie. See more Marissa @marissacat182 Nov 13 This movie made me cry so hard See more Read all reviews
Jacob's Ladder

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis After returning home from the Vietnam War, veteran Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins) struggles to maintain his sanity. Plagued by hallucinations and flashbacks, Singer rapidly falls apart as the world and people around him morph and twist into disturbing images. His girlfriend, Jezzie (Elizabeth Peña), and ex-wife, Sarah (Patricia Kalember), try to help, but to little avail. Even Singer's chiropractor friend, Louis (Danny Aiello), fails to reach him as he descends into madness.
Director
Adrian Lyne
Producer
Alan Marshall
Screenwriter
Bruce Joel Rubin
Distributor
Image Entertainment Inc., TriStar Pictures
Production Co
Carolco Pictures Inc.
Rating
R
Genre
Horror, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 2, 1990, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 6, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$19.4K
Runtime
1h 53m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SR
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