* AdaptationDisplacement: This is [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Baron_Munchausen#Background far from the first work]] about the outlandish tales of Baron Munchausen. The original stories were published in the late 18th century, and the first film based on his tales was made in 1911, with several other versions filmed throughout the 20th century. A [[Film/{{Munchhausen}} German film made in 1943]] was particularly similar to Gilliam's version visually, to the point that a legal disclaimer had to be included in the 1988 picture. Two animated films by French filmmaker Jean Image were also produced starring the Baron and his superhuman companions. This is the best-known version for modern (Western) audiences, however.
* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: The exquisite [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QFAm30JFH8 "Munchausen Waltz"]] by Music/MichaelKamen.
* BestKnownForTheFanservice: If anyone can remember this film, it's because that Creator/UmaThurman made her debut in acting and posed naked as Aphrodite/Venus.
* HarsherInHindsight: It can be hard to watch some of the dangerous things that happen around Sally after finding out that Creator/TerryGilliam repeatedly put nine-year-old Creator/SarahPolley in danger, traumatizing her so badly that years later, when she learned that he was making ''Film/{{Tideland}}'', she contacted the authorities and advised them to keep an eye on him.
%%* SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments:
%%-->'''Sally:''' It wasn't just a story, was it?
%%-->''(The Baron casts her a look of warmth and annoyance, and flings the rose at her. Cue {{Fanfare}}.)''
* OneSceneWonder:
** Creator/RobinWilliams as The King Of The Moon (credited as [[StageNames Ray D. Tutto]]) among others. It should also be noted that Creator/RobinWilliams ' ''entire performance'' was ad-libbed.
** Creator/UmaThurman as Venus also stands out (though she is also part of the AndYouWereThere actresses in the theatrical BookEnds).
* RetroactiveRecognition: A very young Creator/UmaThurman appears as Venus.
* SpiritualAdaptation: If you want to play the closest thing to a VideoGame this movie will ever have, then you should play ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV''.
** Let's begin with the silly fact that the main city of the game is called Baron, then we can also name [[spoiler: the protagonist being attacked by leviathan (a giant sea monster), going to a volcanic-underworld and going to the moon]]. Also, this movie is what inspired the ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' saga to use the GrimReaper for the 'Death' spell.
* SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome: Nominated for an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward, lost to ''Film/TheAbyss'' along with ''Film/BackToTheFuturePartII''.
* {{Woolseyism}}: In the Italian dub, when Albrecht tells the others he's tired of being a strongman and wants to be more sensitive and delicate, Berthold asks him if he has become "a faggot".
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