Timecop (1994)
52%RT Audience Score: 36%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 4 nominations
It’s no Terminator, but for those willing to suspend disbelief and rational thought, Timecop provides limited sci-fi action rewards
Timecop may not be the most critically acclaimed movie out there, but it’s definitely worth a watch if you’re in the mood for some mindless action and time-travel shenanigans. Sure, the plot is a bit convoluted and the direction is lackluster, but who doesn’t love seeing Jean-Claude Van Damme kick some butt and take his clothes off? Plus, the production design is pretty impressive and there are some genuinely fun moments. So grab some popcorn, turn off your brain, and enjoy the ride.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
City Square Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence, sexuality and language
Year of Release
1994
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:DTS
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): May 19, 2009
Genre(s)
Sci-fi
Keyword(s)
starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Mia Sara, Ron Silver, Bruce McGill, Gloria Reuben, Scott Bellis, directed by Peter Hyams, written by Mark Verheiden, sci-fi, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Anderson Jones, Gene Siskel, Owen Gleiberman, William Thomas, Brian Lowry, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Mal Vincent, Mike Massie, Leigh Paatsch, Quentin Curtis, Steve Crum, produced by Moshe Diamant, Sam Raimi, MPAA rating R, time travel, government agency, action, suspense, thriller, criminal, investigation, attack, rescue, future, timeline, police officer, senator, conspiracy, production design, cinematography, sound mix, surround, stereo
Worldwide gross: $101,646,581
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $205,643,777
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 682
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 22,425,712
US/Canada gross: $44,853,581
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $90,744,418
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 797
US/Canada opening weekend: $12,064,625
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $24,408,249
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 555
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $27,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $54,624,385
Production budget ranking: 735
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $29,415,231
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $121,604,161
ROI to date (est.): 145%
ROI ranking: 781
Mia Sara – Melissa
Ron Silver – McComb
Bruce McGill – Matuzak
Gloria Reuben – Fielding
Scott Bellis – Ricky
Director(s)
Peter Hyams
Writer(s)
Mark Verheiden
Producer(s)
Moshe Diamant, Sam Raimi
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (45) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (19) | Rotten (26)
Directed by Peter Hyams without an ounce of suspense, too much testosterone, and little or no reason, Timecop takes the fun out of what has to be one of the most enduring human fantasies to go back and make things right.
April 26, 2022 | Rating: 1/4
Anderson Jones
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
Van Damme is compelling only when he takes his clothes off.
January 16, 2013 | Rating: 2/4
Gene Siskel
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
September 7, 2011 | Rating: C
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
This brainless romp [is] a real blast.
July 16, 2010 | Rating: 3/5
William Thomas
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
For the most part, Hyams’ lackluster direction and the repetitive quality of the action sequences squander an intriguing premise and impressive production design, leaving few moments that elicit the sort of ‘Wow!’ response such fare needs in order to pros
November 2, 2008
Brian Lowry
Variety
TOP CRITIC
SF specialist Peter Hyams, doubling as usual as director and cinematographer, leaves his record for mediocrity unblemished in this silly time-travel tale.
April 18, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
What we need here is a good deal more humor and less self-important plot twisting.
March 2, 2022 | Rating: 2/4
Mal Vincent
The Virginian-Pilot
It’s not a great filmic exploration of time travel or science-fiction themes, but it’s still a decent amount of fun.
September 25, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
This super-silly effort strays quite near the watchable thanks to it’s looney-tunes time-travel angle.
April 27, 2020 | Rating: 2/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
A passable, sub-Terminator, time-travel adventure.
November 29, 2017
Quentin Curtis
Independent on Sunday
More fun than expected sci-fi, cop flick starring Jean-Claude for kicks.
March 22, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Steve Crum
Video-Reviewmaster.com
Thanks to Hyams’ professionalism, Timecop is a slickly-made, fast-paced and mildly-diverting B movie.
January 26, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Chuck O’Leary
Fantastica Daily…
Plot
When the ability to travel through time is perfected, a new type of law enforcement agency is formed. It’s called Time Enforcement Commission or TEC. A cop, Max Walker, is assigned to the group. On the day he was chosen, some men attack him and kill his wife. Ten years later Max is still grieving but has become a good agent for the TEC. He tracks down a former co-worker who went into the past to make money. Max brings him back for sentencing but not after telling Max that Senator McComb, the man in charge of TEC, sent him. Max has his eye on McComb.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels critic Gene Siskel says that Jean-Claude Van Damme is only compelling when he takes his clothes off in Timecop.
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