Man on Fire

Critics Consensus

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

39%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 168

89%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 423,490
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Movie Info

A wave of kidnappings has swept through Mexico, feeding a growing sense of panic among its wealthier citizens, especially parents. In one six-day period, there were twenty-four abductions, leading many to hire bodyguards for their children. Into this world enters John Creasy, a burned-out ex-CIA operative/assassin, who has given up on life. Creasy's friend Rayburn brings him to Mexico City to be a bodyguard to nine-year-old Pita Ramos, daughter of industrialist Samuel Ramos and his wife Lisa. Creasy is not interested in being a bodyguard, especially to a youngster, but for lack of something better to do, he accepts the assignment. Creasy barely tolerates the precocious child and her pestering questions about him and his life. But slowly, she chips away at his seemingly impenetrable exterior, his defenses drop, and he opens up to her. Creasy's new-found purpose in life is shattered when Pita is kidnapped. Despite being mortally wounded during the kidnapping, he vows to kill anyone involved in or profiting from the kidnapping. And no one can stop him.

Cast

Denzel Washington
as John Creasy
Dakota Fanning
as Pita Ramos
Marc Anthony
as Samuel Ramos
Radha Mitchell
as Lisa Ramos
Christopher Walken
as Rayburn
Giancarlo Giannini
as Manzano
Rachel Ticotin
as Mariana
Jesús Ochoa
as Fuentes
Mickey Rourke
as Jordan Kalfus
Angelina Peláez
as Siostra Anna, Sister Anna
Gustavo Sanchez Parra
as Daniel Sanchez
Gero Camilo
as Aurelio Sanchez
Rosa Maria Hernandez
as Maria
Heriberto Del Castillo
as Bruno
Mario Zaragoza
as Jorge Ramirez
Javier Torres Zaragoza
as Sandri
Iztel Navarro Vazquez
as Sandri's Girl
Esteban De La Trinidad
as Guardian One
Charles Paraventi
as Guardian Two
Carmen Salinas
as Guardian Three
Rodrigo Zurita
as Eighteen
Marizol Cal y Mayor
as Eighteen's Girlfriend
Hector Hernandez Zertuche
as Chauffeur
René Campero
as Father
Angelica Rosado
as Mother
Norma Pablo
as Reina Rosas
Georgina González
as Rayburn's Wife
Abraham Sandoval
as Rayburn's Kid
Itatí Cantoral
as Evelyn
Jorge Zárate
as Customs Official
Hugo Pelaez
as Pedro
Alejandro Camps
as Bodyguard 1
Jorge Almada
as Bodyguard 1A
Carlos Barada
as Bodyguard 2
Eduardo Diaz Yanes
as Bodyguard 2A
José de Jesús Muñoz Hernández
as Japanese Businessman 1
Takanori Takena
as Japanese Businessman 2
Yorge Yu Lee
as Japanese Businessman 3
Ryoji Ishiguro
as Japanese Businessman 4
Ryoirchiro Yoshida
as Japanese Businessman 5
Roberto Kwok
as Japanese Businessman 6
Jorge Victoria
as Commandande Judicial
Ariane Pellicer
as Reporter 1
Adrian Grunberg
as Docile Reporter
Raul Zermeño
as Highranking Government Official
Jorge Melo
as Judicial Police
Jorge Picont
as Piano Teacher
Steve Gonzalez
as Insurance Lawyer
Alberto Pineda
as Fuentes Man 1
Jesús González Leal
as Fuentes Driver
Rodrigo Chavez
as Fuentes Man 5
Fernando Arvizu
as Thug Cop 1
Ghalil Elhateb Estrada
as Thug Cop 2
Alberto Estrella
as Adjutant AFI
Gerardo Taracena
as Executive Adjutant
Hugo Genesio
as Plainclothes 1
Gonzalo Alvarez
as Plainclothes 2
Fernando Moya
as Doctor
Nydia A. Trujillo
as Nurse 1
Maria Hall Rueda
as Nurse 2
Andres Pardave
as Vet
Elvira Richards
as Vet Assistant
Valentina Garcia Contreras
as Camila
Enrique Cimet
as Elderly Man
Sparkle
as Elderly Woman
Dunia Alvarez
as AFI Plainclothes 1
Beatriz Pina
as Undercover AFI
Hector Tagle
as Mariana's Driver
José Montini
as Restaurant Owner
Jose Jesus Garcia
as Sanchez Kid 1
Guadalupe Flores Garcia
as Sanchez Kid 2
Daniela Martinez
as Sanchez Kid 3
Ruben Santana
as AFI Trailer Tech 1
Fernando Berzosa
as AFI Trailer Tech 2
Eduardo Rivera
as AFI Operator on Radio
Ofelia Aguirre
as Interviewer
Rossana Fuentes
as Newscaster
Victor De Pascual
as Arms Dealer
Norma Martinez
as Arms Dealer 2
Aram Cardenas
as Nephew
Jorge Guerrero
as Priest
Enrique Gonzalez
as Taxi Driver
Rafael Gaucin
as Customs Official 2
Manuel Poncelis
as School Clerk
Arturo Farfan
as Bartender
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News & Interviews for Man on Fire

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Critic Reviews for Man on Fire

All Critics (168) | Top Critics (44) | Fresh (65) | Rotten (103)

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

    Apr 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.

    Apr 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.

    Jun 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.

    Dec 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.

    Oct 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.

    Apr 29, 2004 | Full Review…

    Rex Reed

    Observer
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (168)

Audience Reviews for Man on Fire

  • 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
  • Oct 12, 2013
    Thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the film, until the whole kidnapping ordeal went completely over the top and far too violent.
    Beth M Super Reviewer
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