'

Quest for Fire

Play trailer

Quest for Fire

R

Released Feb 12, 1981

1h 37m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

25 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

In the prehistoric world, a Cro-Magnon tribe depends on an ever-burning source of fire, which eventually extinguishes. Lacking the knowledge to start a new fire, the tribe sends three warriors (Everett McGill, Ron Perlman, Nameer El-Kadi) on a quest for more. With the tribe's future at stake, the warriors make their way across a treacherous landscape full of hostile tribes and monstrous beasts. On their journey, they encounter Ika (Rae Dawn Chong), a woman who has the knowledge they seek.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Its characters can't do much more than grunt, but that doesn't keep Quest for Fire from offering a deeply resonant -- and surprisingly funny -- look at the beginning of the human race.

Read Critics Reviews

Dwight Brown

Sepia

[An] innovative work.

Aug 10, 2022

Full Review

Bob Thomas

Associated Press

Quest for Fire contains a uniqueness rarely seen in the homogenous product of today's film industry.

Oct 22, 2018

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

An engaging prehistoric yarn that happily never degenerates into a club and lion skin spinoff of Star Wars and resolutely refuses to bludgeon the viewer with facile or gratuitous effects.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

If the viewer is able to buy into some of the more ridiculous aspects of the movie and cope with the absence of intelligible dialogue, Quest for Fire emerges as an engaging adventure film.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 9, 2024

Full Review

Phil Edwards

Starburst

A movie so rich in entertainment and genuine emotion which seems to race through its hundred minute running time like an express train.

Jul 28, 2022

Full Review

Larry Vitacco

Philadelphia Gay News

Quest For Fire is thrilling and awesome in its individual and collective achievements.

Rated: 4/4

May 27, 2020

Full Review

Read all reviews

Andrew Y

Think, Bristol - circa 1978……..

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/24/24

Full Review

KUSH 2

great movie about pre humans

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/21/24

Full Review

Alec B

The plot is actually fairly predictable however you do have to admire the effort that when into this and the bold choice of having no intelligible dialogue for the entire movie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

Full Review

David H

A silent movie that needs no dialogue to convey the emotions of the principal characters. Humorous and moving and surprisingly believable. I rank this film in my top ten.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/20/23

Full Review

Marcel S

who did this film is dumb or stupid or didnt had a good consultant! didnt read the book , didnt read anything connected with the prehistoric times

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/10/23

Full Review

Minabear

This is the most romantic movie ever, no joke! It's man and woman on a primitive level, where love conquers all, and is the true prize of the story.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/06/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Jean-Jacques Annaud

Director

Everett McGill

Naoh

Rae Dawn Chong

Ika

Ron Perlman

Amoukar

Nicholas Kadi

Gaw

Gary Schwartz

Rouka

El Norte

92%

82%

El Norte

Watchlist

Brubaker

74%

74%

Brubaker

Watchlist

Whose Life Is It Anyway?

70%

79%

Whose Life Is It Anyway?

Watchlist

Knightriders

80%

61%

Knightriders

Watchlist

The Star Chamber

77%

43%

The Star Chamber

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

In the prehistoric world, a Cro-Magnon tribe depends on an ever-burning source of fire, which eventually extinguishes. Lacking the knowledge to start a new fire, the tribe sends three warriors (Everett McGill, Ron Perlman, Nameer El-Kadi) on a quest for more. With the tribe's future at stake, the warriors make their way across a treacherous landscape full of hostile tribes and monstrous beasts. On their journey, they encounter Ika (Rae Dawn Chong), a woman who has the knowledge they seek.

Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Canadian French
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 12, 1981, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Surround

Most Popular at Home Now