Man on Fire

Critics Consensus

Man on Fire starts out well, but goes over the top in the violent second half.

38%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 169

89%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 423,586

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Movie Info

In a Mexico City wracked by a recent wave of kidnappings, ex-CIA operative John Creasy (Denzel Washington) reluctantly accepts a job as a bodyguard for 9-year-old Lupita (Dakota Fanning), the daughter of wealthy businessman Samuel Ramos (Marc Anthony). Just as Creasy begins to develop a fondness for the young girl, a bloodthirsty gunman (Jesús Ochoa) kidnaps her. Now, Creasy must pick off a succession of corrupt cops and criminals to reach his ultimate object of vengeance.
  • Rating:
    R (Strong Violence)
  • Genre:
    drama, crime
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Tony Scott
  • Producer:
    Arnon Milchan, Lucas Foster, Tony Scott
  • Writer:
    Brian Helgeland
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $77.9M
  • Runtime:
  • Production Co:
    Regency Enterprises, Fox 2000 Pictures, Scott Free Productions, New Regency Pictures
  • Sound Mix:
    Dolby SR, DTS, Surround
  • Aspect Ratio:
    Scope (2.35:1)

Cast & Crew

Denzel Washington
Creasy
Dakota Fanning
Pita
Christopher Walken
Rayburn
Giancarlo Giannini
Manzano
Radha Mitchell
Lisa
Marc Anthony
Samuel
Rachel Ticotin
Mariana
Mickey Rourke
Jordan
Jesús Ochoa
Fuentes
Angelina Peláez
Sister Anna
Tony Scott
Director
Arnon Milchan
Producer
Lucas Foster
Producer
Tony Scott
Producer
Paul Cameron
Cinematographer
Christian Wagner
Film Editor
Brian Helgeland
Screenwriter
Lance Hool
Executive Producer
James W. Skotchdopole
Executive Producer
Benjamín Fernández
Production Designer
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News & Interviews for Man on Fire

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Critic Reviews for Man on Fire

All Critics (169) | Top Critics (44) | Fresh (65) | Rotten (104)

  • Washington has chosen wisely, and he hasn't had to wait long.

    April 17, 2019 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    Andrea Gronvall

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • Scott's latest exercise in assaultive excess nevertheless lingers for two and a half hours, like a drunken houseguest who won't leave.

    April 17, 2019 | Full Review…

    Nathan Rabin

    AV Club
    Top Critic

  • It ought to be seriously unpalatable stuff, yet there's something so cherishably naff about Scott's jumping-bean cutting and hokey-cokey camerawork that it's almost a guilty pleasure.

    June 24, 2006 | Full Review…

    Time Out Staff

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • If it's just Scott's way of saying, "Get a load of this, Quentin", the speed of response (12 years since Reservoir Dogs) leaves something to be desired.

    December 6, 2005 | Rating: 1/5 | Full Review…

    Anthony Quinn

    Independent (UK)
    Top Critic

  • Po-faced, dull and sadistic, Man On Fire is a major disappointment from the Crimson Tide team of Denzel Washington and Tony Scott.

    October 6, 2004 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Nev Pierce

    BBC.com
    Top Critic

  • Suffice it to say nothing about this pumped-up, hyperthyroidal Tony Scott revenge flick makes sense, but it takes two hours to kill off as many people and demolish as many vehicles as Charles Bronson used to do in 30 minutes.

    April 29, 2004 | Full Review…

    Rex Reed

    Observer
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (169)

Audience Reviews for Man on Fire

  • Apr 08, 2020
    In this revenge fantasy Denzel goes after a group of Mexican kidnappers. But of course, he is ex-CIA, ex-Special Forces, ex-whatever flavor-of-the-month these films seem to favor to justify death dealing in new and inventive ways and on a larger-than-humanly-possible scale, like in the old Hercules movies where ol'muscley Herc would break free of 20 guys by merely shaking them off. This fantasy must have some audience traction cause they just keep making them. This one stands out thanks to cool shaky cam editing tricks and a swell performance by engaging young Dakota Fanning as John Wick's puppy, the rationale for the rampaging to surely come. Denzel is as implacable as all these retreads are portrayed as being: "I don't want to kill and maim them, but they force me to".
    Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
  • May 29, 2017
    So much room for improvement with that revenge montage...
    Ed K Super Reviewer
  • Apr 16, 2016
    Another very underrated Tony Scott film staring the much loved Denzel Washington, It Is a film of two halves, The first half is slow in places but the chemistry between Denzel and Dakota was brilliant and watching them build a bond was a very nice touch, Then when the inevitable happened the film got much darker and went very violent as it turns into a revenge movie, The action was good, The plot twists were predictable but apart from that it's brilliantly acted and deserved way more praise from critics.
    Jamie C Super Reviewer
  • Mar 05, 2016
    Man on Fire is thrilling, dark, well acted and the ending will bring out some tears. Denzel Washington is of course on his A-Game as well as Dakota Fanning pulling off a great child performance. Man on Fire is criminally underrated but it doesn't mean its without flaws of course. The flaws I can think of are the fact that it is kind of cliche and some parts of it is a little over the top, but other than that Man on Fire is a very solid crime thriller! Is it perfect? No. But for what it was going for the late Tony Scott did a great job.
    Mr N Super Reviewer
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