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Smoke Signals

Play trailer Poster for Smoke Signals PG-13 Released Jan 16, 1998 1h 28m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 93 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Arnold (Gary Farmer) rescued Thomas (Evan Adams) from a fire when he was a child. Thomas thinks of Arnold as a hero, while Arnold's son Victor (Adam Beach) resents his father's alcoholism, violence and abandonment of his family. Uneasy rivals and friends, Thomas and Victor spend their days killing time on a Coeur d'Alene reservation in Idaho and arguing about their cultural identities. When Arnold dies, the duo set out on a cross-country journey to Phoenix to retrieve Arnold's ashes.
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Smoke Signals

Smoke Signals

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Critics Consensus

Smoke Signals tells a familiar story from an underrepresented point of view, proving that a fresh perspective can help subvert long-established expectations.

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Critics Reviews

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Eleanor Ringel Cater Atlanta Journal-Constitution Smoke Signals is a road movie with an acid sense of humor and a heritage-ridden theme that’s as universal as it is specific. Rated: B Nov 8, 2023 Full Review Ann Hornaday Baltimore Sun Smoke Signals may be the most delightfully quirky surprise of the summer, a shaggy-dog tale that from its opening moments... portrays the Native American legacy of pride and pain with deep emotion, grace and irreverence. Rated: 3/4 Nov 8, 2023 Full Review Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times It is a warm film of friendship and reconciliation, and whenever it refers to historic injustices or contemporary issues in Native American culture, it does so with wry, glancing humor. Smoke Signals is indeed poignant, but above all it's pretty funny. Nov 8, 2023 Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand [Sherman] Alexie’s screenplay is full of modest but vivid details and first-time director Eyre has an almost effortless touch in getting them on the screen with an easy mosaic-like mix of snapshots of life on the Rez and on the road mixed. Apr 26, 2025 Full Review Farah Cheded A Good Movie To Watch Hollywood’s first Native American feature is this charming perspective-reorienting dramedy. Mar 17, 2024 Full Review Sara Wildberger Miami Herald It’s the first feature film for director Chris Eyre, and his young leads are relative newcomers to the big screen, but their energy and the freshness of their point of view overcome any rough spots. Rated: 3.5/4 Nov 8, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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TI H I consider this to be a road trip movie with deep emotional impact. It's a hidden gem that you should watch. The character of Thomas will warm your heart. You've never seen a character quite like him before. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/07/25 Full Review Ty W In contention for the worst movie I've ever seen. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 09/24/24 Full Review Camden G Lacking depth, and unoriginal Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 06/18/24 Full Review S R Saw this since it had to do with CDA tribe and I have been to the reservation. It was an interesting movie to see their perspective on being an Indian, but the it was tedious and not well written. It did have some good moments and characters, but it could've been more concise. Saw on delta. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 12/30/23 Full Review Dave W Love this movie. A great story of friendship, learning from your past, accepting your past and creating your own identity. Great performances all around Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/07/23 Full Review Cecilia A The isn't many Native American stories that depict the struggle and point of view of new age family dilemmas. I really appreciate the narrative that this movie brings and it is important story. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/28/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Smoke Signals

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Cast & Crew

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Chris Eyre

Director

Adam Beach

Victor Joseph

Evan Adams

Thomas Builds-the-Fire

Irene Bedard

Suzy Song

Gary Farmer

Arnold Joseph

Tantoo Cardinal

Arlene Joseph

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Smoke Signals

Smoke Signals (1998) Smoke Signals (1998) Smoke Signals (1998) Smoke Signals (1998) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Arnold (Gary Farmer) rescued Thomas (Evan Adams) from a fire when he was a child. Thomas thinks of Arnold as a hero, while Arnold's son Victor (Adam Beach) resents his father's alcoholism, violence and abandonment of his family. Uneasy rivals and friends, Thomas and Victor spend their days killing time on a Coeur d'Alene reservation in Idaho and arguing about their cultural identities. When Arnold dies, the duo set out on a cross-country journey to Phoenix to retrieve Arnold's ashes.
Director
Chris Eyre
Producer
Scott M. Rosenfelt, Larry Estes
Screenwriter
Sherman Alexie
Distributor
Miramax Films
Production Co
Miramax
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 16, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 16, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$6.8M
Runtime
1h 28m
Sound Mix
Surround
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