On Fire: reviews

What the critics say average 5.6 from 18 outlets

• 8.0 Film ThreatBobby LePire The cast is uniformly strong, and the cinematography lovingly captures the beauty and danger of fire. Read
• 8.0 411maniaBryan Kristopowitz On Fire is a well-done, exciting, and harrowing family drama and natural disaster action movie. Read
• 7.0 Cinema CrazedEmilie Black On Fire is a more dramatic take on disaster film that focuses on the human element rather than the destruction. Read
• 7.0 Dove.org This movie is jam-packed with suspense and remarkable scenes of wildfires, and for those 18 and older, it could be an enjoyable viewing. Read
• 6.7 Parent PreviewsKirsten Hawkes I’m not certain who the target audience is for this movie. It’s too scary for kids and too predictable for adults. Read
• 6.7 Movie Review MomTrina Boice The film was inspired by true events and is certainly timely, as so many devastating fires have destroyed homes and cities around the globe. Read
• 6.5 Culture MixCarla Hay “On Fire” delivers an engaging and memorable story about a family who have to fight for their lives during a natural disaster. Read
• 6.5 StarburstMartin Unsworth As an eco-survival thriller, On Fire makes its point well, if a tad heavy-handedly. Read
• 6.0 Eye for FilmJennie Kermode It won’t tell you anything you don’t already know or show you anything you haven’t seen on the news, but it serves as a reminder of the human cost of each such conflagration. Read
• 5.0 Movie NationRoger Moore “On Fire” isn’t all that, but all things considered — the cast is good, and the fire is impressive — it’s not half bad, either. Read
• 5.0 Film Focus OnlineElliot Lines On Fire had the heart racing while the flames were unforgivingly bearing down upon this family, but unfortunately the parts in-between dampened the emotional core that this film required to really thrive. Read
• 4.5 CinemalogueTodd Jorgenson The film carries a sense of urgency yet struggles to raise the stakes as intended, opting for sledgehammer subtlety rather than lived-in authenticity. Read
• 4.5 DeciderJohn Serba This one isn’t phony, but definitely cliched, and watchable in the sense that it pounds round pegs into round holes. Read
• 4.2 Original-CinChris Knight They’re meant to be relatable, which in the screenplay by Ron Peer and Nick Lyon translates as unremarkable, even forgettable. Read
• 4.0 The Wee ReviewKevin Ibbotson-Wight Generally, On Fire’s heart is very much in the right place, but it fails badly in the areas it needs to convince. Read
• 4.0 The GuardianCath Clarke There is something depressingly retro about a plot that hinges on a man digging deep to heroically rescue his family. Read
• 4.0 The Austin ChronicleMatthew Monagle On Fire does the best it can with what it has. It’s still not enough to move the needle. Read
• 4.0 MovieWebWill Sayre On Fire comes off as pretty surface-level, with a formulaic plot structure, but a couple memorable supporting performances help keep the end result moving. Read