Man on Fire

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2:24

Man on Fire

R

Released Apr 21, 2004

2h 25m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

39%

Tomatometer

166 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

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.

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Critics Consensus

Man on Fire's solid action and top-shelf cast are undone by a relentlessly grim story that gets harder to take the longer it goes on.

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Andrea Gronvall

Chicago Reader

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

Rated: 3/4

Apr 17, 2019

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Nathan Rabin

AV Club

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

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Extremely violent; not for kids.

Rated: 1/5

Dec 25, 2010

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

At almost two-and-a-half hours the film really needs more meat on its bones.

Rated: 2.5/5

Aug 24, 2022

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

This is a merely average film that had much more potential.

Rated: 2.0/4.0

Sep 15, 2020

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Fernando Lopez

La Nación (Argentina)

A film that ends up being tedious due to its excessive duration, annoying by its formal lack of control. [Full Review in Spanish]

Apr 17, 2019

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Tom S

An overly long exercise in excessive violence that will nonetheless please fans of the now-genre that is Denzel Washington revenge movies. Big explosions are here in abundance, as unfortunately are nauseating 'edgy' camera effects that have not aged well.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/28/25

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gio p

Why this movie only got a 39 % rating is beyond me. Everything and everybody in this movie is greatness. denzel just put the icing on the cake

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/26/25

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Junek K

Wow, this movie is exceptional. The cast, the plot, the direction was perfect. It's not only a high-action film, it's also so touching how the protagonist comes alive through one encounter. I don't want to give away the plot so I won't say more. But really, watch it. I was glued from the beginning to the end. A masterpiece! Denzel Washington and Dakota Jackson were brilliant.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/25/25

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Monic Kenya M

Great acting by Denzel Washington. The script is good. Directing, Some brilliant camera work versus some annoying camera movements. All in all a very good film that I don't understand to get such low scores in Rotten tomatoes. It's definately worth a watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/25/25

Full Review

Aun M

No goosebumps action sequences no highlighted violence and no even thrill as mentioned on movie genre I don't know why I waisted my time to watch the movie. 1st half contain long dialogues and slow pacing scenes but 2nd half gets unmentionable action. Ordinary subject weak script above all very much eye disturbing camerawork DOP, I dont know why Danzel signed this movie.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

09/21/25

Full Review

Ronald L

IS IT POSSIBLE THAT OVER 400.000 REVIEWS GET IT WRONG...TRUST ME: WE ARE NOT! For a criticus it is most important that their opinion differs from what the mass is saying: That is the only way to stand out. Boy..what are they wrong on this movie. Great character built up, great camera work, grabbing scenario with top notch action and above all: Denzel & Dakota pull you right in. This is a movie that you do not watch from the outside but it pulls you in!! For once: Be the judge of this movie yourself and you will not regret it! One of my favorites. My personal cv: 1) Over 10.000 movies watched over 50 years. 2) Big film fan. 3) Keen eye for quality 4) And yes: every once and a while i like to challenge " the critics "

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/14/25

Full Review

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Tony Scott

Director

Denzel Washington

Creasy

Dakota Fanning

Pita

Christopher Walken

Rayburn

Giancarlo Giannini

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Radha Mitchell

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Synopsis

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.

Director: Tony Scott
Producer: Arnon Milchan, Lucas Foster, Tony Scott
Screenwriter: Brian Helgeland
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Scott Free Productions, Fox 2000 Pictures, New Regency Pictures, Regency Enterprises
Rating: R (Strong Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 21, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $77.9M
Runtime: 2h 25m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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