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Streets of Fire

Play trailer Poster for Streets of Fire PG Released Jun 1, 1984 1h 38m Fantasy Adventure Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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71% Tomatometer 31 Reviews 70% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Raven Shaddock (Willem Dafoe), along with his gang of merciless biker friends, kidnaps rock singer Ellen Aim (Diane Lane). Ellen's former lover, soldier-for-hire Tom Cody (Michael Paré), happens to be passing through town on a visit. In an attempt to save his star act, Ellen's manager, Billy Fish (Rick Moranis), hires Tom to rescue Ellen. Billy and Tom, along with former soldier McCoy (Amy Madigan), battle through dangerous cityscapes, determined to get Ellen back.
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Streets of Fire

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Critics Consensus

Streets of Fire may sometimes buckle under the strain of its ambitious fusion of disparate genres, but Walter Hill's bravura style gives this motorcycle musical fuel to burn.

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Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times The movie is right on the rock & roll, but the alternative time and place are mysteriously convincing -- especially if, like me, you believe the most beautiful post-war American cars were Studebakers. Rated: 3/4 Oct 23, 2004 Full Review Nell Minow Movie Mom Unsuccessful, but very striking. Rated: 4/5 Aug 23, 2003 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Though a failure at the box-office when released, it has aged well and doesn't look that bad when viewed today. Rated: B- Aug 12, 2024 Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal Walter Hill directs the hell out of this and there are more people in the cast who understand the assignment than do not. But boy do the ones who blow it, along with some second-tier songs from Jim Steinman, render this one of Hill's weaker efforts. Rated: 3/5 Jun 24, 2024 Full Review Mitchell Beaupre Paste Magazine Not only is it the greatest opening sequence of Hill’s career, it’s the greatest opening in film history, period. Rated: 9.5/10 Sep 29, 2023 Full Review Alan Jones Starburst Streets of Fire is the most innovative, ground-breaking film to be seen this year outside of the Coppola stable. Jul 21, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jay W "Streets of Fire" is described as a "Rock N' Roll Fable". The story is so simple, it could be the opening cut scene to an 8-Bit video game. There is a beautiful singer in the club. An evil biker played by Williem Defoe comes and steals the woman. The sister writes to our hero, Tom Cody, to come and get the singer back. That's the conflict, save the princess from the biker gang. The movie has a really compelling opening with a distinct style and flair. The opening title says this takes place: "At another time, at another place." The setting of this movie is more interesting than the characters themselves. The whole town is constantly bathed in neon lights and wet streets. Smoke comes out of every alleyway; it feels like a Lazer-tag match is about to break out. The music which plays a big part in this "Rock n' Roll Fable" is suitably rocking. There are a lot of great original songs produced for the movie, some of which are written by the guy that brought us "Total Eclipse of the Heart". The setting, music and intro are all top notch. Too bad the rest of the movie does not hold up to that standard of excellence. Or main hero, Tom Cody, is a dull as a plank of wood. He has one emotion, and even that one note he does not play well. He sounds like he is trying to do a Stallone impression but lacks the confidence to go all out on it. Apparently the role was considered for Tom Cruise, and he would have been a much better fit for this role. All the casting feels a bit off. Rick Moranis's script was likely just one word: "complain". That is all his character does, he whines about every decision the characters make. At a certain point you ask, "why was he even brought along?" I guess MapQuest doesn't exist in "another time, another place." Everyone except for Williem Defoe seems to be confused about what the director wants from them. Williem Defoe looks like the devil in this movie, he is doing great. Except for one scene where it sounds like he is trying a Southern Accent. That didn't work, so he stops using it part way through the movie. The fight scenes in the movie are not well choreographed. Just a series of quick jump cuts spliced together. The other action has some cool bits, particularly anything involving fire. But overall the spectacle is short lived. It is fire made from sagebrush, burns bright for a moment, but quickly fizzles out. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 11/20/24 Full Review Alec B An ambitious and highly stylized action musical. Hill really committed to the world building here (sets, costumes, and dialogue all add to the atmosphere) and the result is downright hypnotic. A real shame we never got to see the full trilogy they planned. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/20/24 Full Review mkwcpsig W I saw this film in theaters in 1984. It has become over the years, one of if not, my favorite movie. As I watch it again and again through older and older eyes, it still brings out the toxiciIy masculine hero in my soul and I realize I never wanted to live in a world where Tom Cody doesn't rescue Ellen Aim and walk away. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/23/24 Full Review Brent J Love this movie. Big, goofy, over the top fun. The music is off the charts, and Diane Lane!!! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/20/24 Full Review Jay H It's like the 1940s/1950s never ended. If only they had gotten someone other than Michael Pare... fortunately, the rest of the cast are great. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/13/24 Full Review Steve D All that works is the music but the music is fantastic. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/24/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Raven Shaddock (Willem Dafoe), along with his gang of merciless biker friends, kidnaps rock singer Ellen Aim (Diane Lane). Ellen's former lover, soldier-for-hire Tom Cody (Michael Paré), happens to be passing through town on a visit. In an attempt to save his star act, Ellen's manager, Billy Fish (Rick Moranis), hires Tom to rescue Ellen. Billy and Tom, along with former soldier McCoy (Amy Madigan), battle through dangerous cityscapes, determined to get Ellen back.
Director
Walter Hill
Producer
Lawrence Gordon, Joel Silver
Production Co
Universal Pictures, RKO Pictures
Rating
PG
Genre
Fantasy, Adventure, Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 1, 1984, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 11, 2015
Runtime
1h 38m
Sound Mix
Surround
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