The Fisher King is a comedy-drama movie released in 1991 to critical acclaim. It was written by Richard LaGravanese and directed by Terry Gilliam and was the first movie that Gilliam directed that he had not also written. It was also the first Gilliam-directed movie that did not feature any of the other members of the Monty Python comedy team. The film stars Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges and co-stars Mercedes Ruehl and Amanda Plummer.
Gilliam's intention with The Fisher King was to come in under budget and to depart from his signature big-budget blockbuster style. Known for employing outlandish and expensive special effects, Gilliam's previous film, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen went millions of dollars over budget and was not well-received by critics. By contrast, The Fisher King received plaudits from critics, was finished on schedule and within budget, and earned several awards for its stars, including a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for Mercedes Ruehl and a Best Actor nomination for Robin Williams. Despite being passed over for the Oscar, Williams did win the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a comedy or musical.
Janet Maslin reviewed the film for The New York Times, saying, "The best parts of The Fisher King and its mad, whirling vision of modern life are those that see grief lurking just beneath the surface."
