#Every Terry Gilliam Movie Ranked Worst To Best

Like “Brazil” and “12 Monkeys” before it, “The Zero Theorem” is at the dystopian end of Gilliam’s fantasies, forming the third part of the director’s “Orwellian triptych” (although, really, these films feel more influenced by J. G. Ballard). Set in a bureaucratic nightmare, “The Zero Theorem” stars Christoph Waltz as Qohen, a depressed computer programmer who refers to himself as “we.” There are several stars in small supporting roles, including as Matt Damon as Management, Tilda Swinton as an AI therapist, and Ben Whishaw as a doctor. David Thewlis plays Qohen’s boss, and Lucas Hedges plays Management’s teenage son Bob, who is assigned to help him. 

The title of “The Zero Theorem” refers to Qohen’s work — he tries to prove a mathematical formula that shows that life, the universe, and everything will end in a meaningless void. Despite slipping under the radar and receiving middling-to-negative reviews, “The Zero Theorem” holds up with some of the best and most inventively creative of Gilliam’s work, offering the same absurd comedy and exceedingly bleak outlook as “Brazil.”