Reign of Fire

Name: Reign of Fire
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Fantasy
Released: July 12, 2002
Duration: 101 min
Rating: 39
Cast: Christian Bale, Matthew McConaughey

2002

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 30 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 87 Ratings

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6.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 87 Ratings

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Reign of Fire

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Movie Details & Credits

Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: July 12, 2002 | PG-13

Starring: Christian Bale, Matthew McConaughey

Summary: An exciting tale of adventure and survival that fuses a medieval past with a post-apocalyptic future. (Buena Vista Pictures Entertainment)

Director: Rob Bowman

Genre(s): Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Fantasy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 101 min

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Critic Reviews

James Berardinelli

The fact that Reign of Fire does what it sets out to do is a cause for celebration amongst those who like special effects-laden action movies featuring fire-breathing monsters and mayhem. Read full review

A.O. Scott

Loads of fun. It has a jamming B-picture buzz -- the kind of swift filmmaking and high spirits that have been missing from movies for a while. Read full review

Chris Jones

It's a decent, fast-moving and visually powerful summer action romp for the teenage demographic-the dragons are deliciously evil critters, with a nice retro identity. Read full review

Shawn Levy

Like a dog walking on its hind legs across a freshly waxed floor -- awkward, slow, deliberate, seeking approval -- the action thriller Reign of Fire gets from start to finish, somehow, without tumbling into complete disaster. Read full review

Steven Rea

Often incomprehensible (a combination of jumpy editing and lots of thick British Isles accents) and hardly ever entertaining - even unintentionally. Read full review

Liam Lacey

Reign of Fire never comes close to recovering from its demented premise, but it does sustain an enjoyable level of ridiculousness. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Truly awful. Read full review

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User Reviews

AidanP.

Jun 27, 2007

I love this movie, its great. Don't know why it received such bad reviews, after all, its fantasy.

1 of 2 users found this helpful

Barby

Oct 9, 2019

This was the first movie that 'opened' my mind new ideas, mixing Mythology with post-devastation Sci Fi. But also, strong concepts as survival, friendship and especially how a religion starts from a real necessity of indoctrination when there is no universal education, or how technology canThis was the first movie that 'opened' my mind new ideas, mixing Mythology with post-devastation Sci Fi. But also, strong concepts as survival, friendship and especially how a religion starts from a real necessity of indoctrination when there is no universal education, or how technology can beat giant monsters (usually represented invulnerable, from heavy tanks to nuclear bombs, removing the small trail of credibility that fantasy need). I was a child and didn't think about these things, just started to renew my stories with that trail of realism I experimented for first time here.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Louis'sbrother

Mar 21, 2007

Best epic of the year! I was at the edge of my seat throughout the whole movie. The only problem is that the story needs some work.

1 of 2 users found this helpful

Sam

Oct 30, 2005

Far from the classics that were also released in 2002 such as Signs and Spider-Man, yet good silly entertainment none-the-less. Don't expect much more, though.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

VVisemanS

Jan 21, 2019

I like this film very much! I first saw him as a child. Very good atmosphere of post-apocalypse in film, good actors and unusual villains - dragons. However film is short. For all time was killed only two dragons - not enough action, In addition dragons are rarely seen in film. Very weak andI like this film very much! I first saw him as a child. Very good atmosphere of post-apocalypse in film, good actors and unusual villains - dragons. However film is short. For all time was killed only two dragons - not enough action, In addition dragons are rarely seen in film. Very weak and sometimes stupid story... But despite this, I think this film is very good. Even today it looks good, but the film was created in 2002!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Kai82

Sep 27, 2020

It is a movie that I want to praise and scold at the same time. It has unique ideas, a good cast of characters and an interesting fresh setting. But on the negative side some parts of the story are unbelievable or outright ridiculous, you will often feel that they could have gotten more outIt is a movie that I want to praise and scold at the same time. It has unique ideas, a good cast of characters and an interesting fresh setting. But on the negative side some parts of the story are unbelievable or outright ridiculous, you will often feel that they could have gotten more out of the setting / concept and it is strangely fast forgotten. For the setting / story: During an underground construction in London workers awaken a slumbering dragon from hibernation. This leads to the awakening of countless other dragons that over the years destroyed the civilization and driven humans nearly to extinction. It is the story of Quinn who was a child when the events started and is now a leader of a group of humans who hide in an old castle and a group of soldiers lead by Denton van Zen who still tries to exterminate the dragons. Rest would be spoilers so I will end it here. The setting is refreshing and it is a post-apocalyptic Mad Max style setting with dragons. Just awesome. Then there are the characters. Quinn and Denton are the main characters and do a good job. They are polar opposites and have a good chemistry. The rest of the cast does also a good job. The CGI are excellent here. The dragons look great and menacing. Also the sets and visual give a great representation of a post apocalyptic scenario. You get the feeling of a grim and scary world where (nearly) all hope is lost. So far so good but there are negative points. Like I said the story is unbelievable even for a fantasy setting. Dragons are strong, menacing and scary but are no match for modern weapons. In Fables they have a similar discussion and came to the conclusion that no dragon is even a challenge to a fighter jet and only as an unrelated to this movie side-note that a man armed with a machine gun outperforms a wizard with twenty years of training (A sharpshooter can also eliminate any wizards with ease). Can you imagine even ten thousands or hundred thousand of dragons standing a chance against the combined military forces of the world? If mankind perfected anything in their history it is the art of war and killing. I also did not even point out nuclear, chemical or biological weapons that will diffidently be used. Yes there would be human causalities probably in the millions but even when the nations will not work together they will exterminate the dragons fast. Maybe with some left alive in unpopulated areas and zoos. Then there is the observation that is plot relevant and I cant spoil. The chance that this got overlooked is smaller than a snowballs chance in hell. Also I think stories placed at an earlier time of events could be far superior. For example during the beginning where the existence of dragons would be denied being a pipe dreams, when the battle against dragons started or the final stages of the war. I think I have said enough. Overall this movie has refreshing ideas and is worth watching. However it is fast forgotten as I have not heard anyone in many years heard talking or mentioning this movie. With a bit of more creative writing and minor improvements this could easily become a classic.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ourtimehascome

Dec 2, 2017

One of the worst fantasy films ever made, which is disappointing considering its lively cast. Even more hilarious considering Christian Bale thought a sequel could be forged from the disaster fire which is this film.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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75	#75 Most Discussed Movie of 2002
71	#71 Most Shared Movie of 2002