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The Clan of the Cave Bear

R Released Jan 17, 1986 1h 38m Adventure List
10% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 47% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Based on Jean Auel's best-selling novel of a golden-haired orphan raised by a primitive prehistoric tribe.
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The Clan of the Cave Bear

Critics Reviews

View All (10) Critics Reviews
Time Out This is Reader's Digest prehistory, though at least director Chapman (cameraman on Raging Bull) makes sure the murky caves look nice. Feb 9, 2006 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times The filmmakers made no effort to empathize with their prehistoric characters, to imagine what it might have really been like back then. Rated: 1.5/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Tim Brayton Antagony & Ecstasy A goofy and ill-made movie that wants to be deadly serious and acts incredibly daft, and the average between these two points is of a joyless, dull nothing. Rated: 4/10 Jul 16, 2012 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 2/5 Aug 4, 2005 Full Review Steve Crum Kansas City Kansan As the cave wall says, stay with the book. Rated: 2/5 Nov 1, 2004 Full Review Frank Swietek One Guy's Opinion Rated: 1/5 Oct 31, 2003 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (202) audience reviews
matthias s "Clan of the Cave Bear" is like a campfire that starts off with a promising spark but quickly fizzles into a smoky disappointment. This film boasts commendable acting, with Daryl Hannah giving it her all as Ayla, the orphaned Cro-Magnon girl struggling to survive in a harsh prehistoric world. However, the story seems to have taken a siesta, leaving us with cavemen scratching their heads, wondering what they're doing on screen. The biggest head-scratcher of all is the unnecessary voice-over narration, which feels like a chatty caveman trying to explain the obvious. It's as if the filmmakers thought we couldn't figure out what's happening in this mostly wordless world. Well, guess what? We can! The film's beautiful landscapes and well-crafted costumes are its saving grace. Still, they can't mask the fact that there's too little substance to stretch across an entire movie. "Clan of the Cave Bear" ends up being a snooze-fest that even a saber-toothed tiger cameo couldn't save. So, unless you're a die-hard fan of primitive fashion, you might want to skip this one and go hunt for a more engaging cinematic experience. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 11/15/23 Full Review Sueko S It was one of my most special movies. I grew up on a farm in the days of Hercules - the cartoon. I was maybe 8 years old. I imagined myself to be Hercules, a female Hercules, the protector of the weak, proud, strong, intelligent, loving and kind. I was capable of fighting off any villains or wild animal. The book and the movie brought back the nostalgia of my childhood. Reading the book and or watching the movie put me in the character. And for a moment it was fun to live in that world. But, you gotta get past the violence and rape. Shit happened back then. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Sameir A A prehistoric movie directed by the acclaimed cinematographer Michael Chapman. The story is about Ayla who belongs to a different clan and joins a group of save-dwellers since her childhood. She turns out to be probably the first feminist. The film goes like a documentary with not much interesting factors. Daryl Hannah can be said as the attraction of the movie. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 12/12/21 Full Review Audience Member The book series is great. The movie was great too. 1986 may have been too early for this. It's been 35 years but still holding out for the movie adaptation of the other books! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a fantastic movie that does a good job selecting the scenes from the book that will help fell the story. The actors have to use mostly expressions and body language to do so, since the Clan language is limited. Movie does use subtitles. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member I loved the books! Was hoping to feel the same about the movie. Cinematography is pour it sort of has that B-movie feel about it overall disappointed.Cinematography is poor it sort of has that B-movie feel about it and overall disappointing. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Clan of the Cave Bear

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Based on Jean Auel's best-selling novel of a golden-haired orphan raised by a primitive prehistoric tribe.
Director
Michael Chapman
Producer
Gerald I. Isenberg, Stan Rogow
Screenwriter
John Sayles
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Rating
R
Genre
Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 17, 1986, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$251.9K
Runtime
1h 38m
Sound Mix
Surround
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