Reign of Fire

PG-13

Released Jul 12, 2002

1 hr. 41 min.

Fantasy

Adventure

Action

Sci-Fi

List

42%

173 Reviews

Tomatometer

49%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In present-day London, 12-year-old Quinn watches as his mother wakes an enormous fire-breathing beast from its centuries-long slumber. Twenty years later, much of the world has been scarred by the beast and its offspring. As a fire chief, Quinn (Christian Bale) is responsible for warding off the beasts and keeping a community alive as they eke out a meager existence. Into their midst comes a hotshot American, Van Zan (Matthew McConaughey), who says he has a way to kill the beasts.

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Critics Consensus

Reign of Fire gains some altitude with its pyrotechnic action and a smolderingly campy Matthew McConaughey, but the feature's wings are clipped by a derivative script and visual effects that fizzle out.

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20CB

I was so excited to see this as a child for the first time. A world of dragons and a trailer that made it seem awesome. Then after the first scene every single thing that would've been great about this movie was expositioned in the opening credits. The rest of the movie is a bunch of bingos doing everything they can to make sure humanity dies off until thankfully this disaster was finally over.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/24

Full Review

Dave C

I'm confused as to why this doesn't rate more highly. I've loved it since its release over 20yrs ago(!). The casting choices were brilliant, as all leads work so well together, and carry the story of their characters. The visual aspects of the movie are well matched to the story, including the level of pyrotechnics and action. As for the dragons, they are probably the best iteration I've seen on screen. All-in-all, it's a good fantasy action movie with all elements equally matched, delivering something that is enjoyable to watch time and time again

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/23/24

Full Review

Brad K

One if the best movies made at its time and the graphics still stand today. The story was great and the action was so well done. This movie still does better than most movies 20 years later

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/16/24

Full Review

Evil H

one of the best dragon movies out there.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/12/24

Full Review

Dennis H

I love this movie. I'm doing my part for the fellas.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

Full Review

ED M

I have always liked this movie so much. And great performances.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/25/23

Full Review

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Rob Bowman

Director

Christian Bale

Quinn

Matthew McConaughey

Van Zan

Izabella Scorupco

Alex Jensen

Gerard Butler

Dave Creedy

David Kennedy

Eddie Stax

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SMH Staff

Sydney Morning Herald

The characters are sketchy, the plot is full of logical holes and the story is all fight and flight. But despite its flaws, it is enjoyable if you like special effects, warriors and computer-generated dragons.

Mar 31, 2019

Full Review

Anthony Quinn

Independent (UK)

For all its silliness, Reign of Fire never bores, and may actually appeal to your inner twelve-year-old.

Mar 31, 2019

Full Review

Tim Robey

Daily Telegraph (UK)

The poor dragons - on screen not nearly enough as it is - stand no chance pitted against this kind of heavyweight ham.

Mar 31, 2019

Full Review

Leah Rozen

People Magazine

Better than the trailers made it seem, but nothing to get fired up about.

Mar 31, 2019

Full Review

Malcolm Johnson

Hartford Courant

For all of its design and special-effects artistry, "Reign of Fire" is seldom convincing -- only slightly more alive than the silly 2000 "Dungeons & Dragons."

Mar 31, 2019

Full Review

John Wooley

Tulsa World

Look too closely at it, and you'll find a question or two that aren't satisfactorily answered by film's end. But it deserves high marks for not being quite like anything else -- for being, in fact, just different enough to impress.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 31, 2019

Full Review

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Synopsis

In present-day London, 12-year-old Quinn watches as his mother wakes an enormous fire-breathing beast from its centuries-long slumber. Twenty years later, much of the world has been scarred by the beast and its offspring. As a fire chief, Quinn (Christian Bale) is responsible for warding off the beasts and keeping a community alive as they eke out a meager existence. Into their midst comes a hotshot American, Van Zan (Matthew McConaughey), who says he has a way to kill the beasts.

Director: Rob Bowman
Executive Producer: Jonathan Glickman
Screenwriter: Gregg Chabot, Gregg Chabot, Kevin Peterka, Kevin Peterka, Matt Greenberg
Distributor: Touchstone Pictures
Production Co: Spyglass Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Intense Action Violence)
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 12, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $43.1M
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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