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Looper

Looper is a 2012 American science fiction action thriller film written and directed by Rian Johnson.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Looper is a 2012 American science fiction action thriller film written and directed by Rian Johnson. It stars Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Emily Blunt, and follows a hitman who is confronted with his future self after a criminal syndicate sends targets back through time. The film opened the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival.

Premise

The film is set in a future where criminal syndicates use illegal time travel to send targets into the past for execution by hired killers called loopers. The plot turns when Joe is assigned to kill his older self.

Cast

Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt portray the same character at different ages. Emily Blunt and Jeff Daniels play major supporting roles.

Production and release

Looper was written and directed by Rian Johnson and produced by Ram Bergman and James D. Stern. It premiered as the opening film of the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival and was released in U.S. theatres on September 28, 2012.

Reception

The film received critical acclaim and performed well at the box office. Reported worldwide gross figures place it at about $176 million against a $30 million production budget.

Key facts

  • Looper was released in 2012 and was written and directed by Rian Johnson.
  • The story centres on contract killers known as loopers, who kill victims sent back from the future.
  • Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays younger Joe, and Bruce Willis plays his future self.
  • The film opened the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival.
  • It was described as a critical and commercial success, grossing about $176 million worldwide on a $30 million budget.
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Canadian context

Looper opened the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival, giving it a notable Canadian festival connection.

Frequently asked questions

What is Looper about?
It follows a hitman who kills people sent back from the future, then must deal with his older self being sent back as a target.
Who directed Looper?
Looper was written and directed by Rian Johnson.
Who stars in Looper?
The film stars Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Emily Blunt, with Jeff Daniels in a supporting role.
When was Looper released?
It was released in the United States on September 28, 2012.
What genre is Looper?
It is generally classified as a science fiction action thriller.
Was Looper commercially successful?
Yes. Available sources describe it as a box office success, with worldwide gross reported at about $176 million.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Looper_(film)
    Supports: Basic film identification, director, cast, release date, TIFF opening, and box office figures.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/looper
    Supports: Synopsis, genre, release date, runtime, and rating.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1276104/
    Supports: Plot premise, cast, and production details.
  4. Screen Rant — https://www.screenrant.com/behind-scenes-facts-rian-johnson-looper-movie-making-of/
    Supports: Confirmation that Looper was Rian Johnson's first sci-fi project before Star Wars-related work.