Afterburn (2025): Cast, Ratings & Ending
Afterburn is a 2025 comedy horror film directed by J.J. Perry, starring Dave Bautista as Jake, Samuel L. Jackson and Olga Kurylenko. It runs 1 hour 45 minutes and was made on a reported $60 million budget. IMDb users rate it 4.6/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 45m (105 min)
- Director
- J.J. Perry
- Original language
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English
- Studio
- CAA Media Finance
- Budget
- $60M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Afterburn About?
The premise of Afterburn without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
After a massive solar flare wipes out the Earth’s eastern hemisphere, the shattered world searches for hope. A daring, contract‑based treasure hunter travels to Europe to locate the legendary Mona Lisa, only to realize the surviving population needs a true hero more than a priceless painting.
Afterburn Themes & Keywords
· 3 tags- treasure
- based on comic
- based on comic book
Afterburn Cast & Characters
Dave Bautista leads the cast as Jake, with Samuel L. Jackson as King August and Olga Kurylenko. Directed by J.J. Perry; 12 actors are credited in all.
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Director J.J. Perry
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Dave Bautista as Jake -
Samuel L. Jackson as King August -
Olga Kurylenko -
Kristofer Hivju
Also Starring in Afterburn
· 8 more- Daniel Bernhardt
- George Somner
- Phil Zimmerman Bird Skull
- Lukás Frlajs Chess playing man
- Robert Holik War Train Conductor
- Paula Argüelles Desolate Road Mother
- Sergio Freijo Officer Sanchez
- Eden Epstein
More from J.J. Perry
More films directed by J.J. Perry, best-rated first: Day Shift and The Killer's Game.
Afterburn Reviews & Ratings
IMDb users rate Afterburn 4.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 32/100, strongest in sensory experience (40) and weakest in story & flow (25).
Afterburn Echo Score Breakdown
Overall, Afterburn falls short across most dimensions, delivering a largely unsatisfying experience. The direction and visual execution appear uninspired, with several reviewers noting a generic, poorly lit aesthetic that hampers immersion. Performances are uneven, and the narrative suffers from sluggish pacing and a lack of originality, leading to little emotional resonance. While occasional action sequences and brief visual moments offer modest appeal, they do not compensate for the film's systemic shortcomings. Consequently, the movie offers limited incentive for repeat viewings and leaves a weak lasting impression.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 30
In terms of art and craft, the film exhibits a dated visual style and uneven production values. Critics highlight a monotonous color palette and a lack of creative cinematography, while a few viewers acknowledge occasional sharp visuals. Direction is described as thin, contributing little to narrative cohesion. The overall technical execution feels derivative, resulting in a modest but generally negative assessment of the film's artistic qualities.
- Character & Emotion 35
When evaluating character and emotion, performances are largely perceived as underwhelming. Reviewers comment on lackluster acting and an underdeveloped protagonist, though a minority of viewers praise the charisma of certain leads. Emotional depth is minimal, and chemistry among the cast fails to generate genuine engagement. The mixed but predominantly critical sentiment places the character work in a lower tier, reflecting limited impact on the audience.
- Story & Flow 25
Story and flow emerge as a central weakness, with the plot described as linear, generic, and riddled with pacing issues. Critics and users alike point to predictable tropes, slow momentum, and unresolved plot holes that diminish narrative coherence. Although a few reviewers note occasional twists, the overall consensus is that the story lacks innovation and fails to sustain interest, resulting in a notably low score for this aspect.
- Sensory Experience 40
Sensory experience receives mixed feedback; some viewers note crisp action visuals, while others condemn the overall look as among the worst they have seen. Sound design and soundtrack receive little mention, implying a neutral impact. The occasional sharp imagery does not outweigh the pervasive visual dullness cited by critics. Consequently, the sensory dimension lands in a modest range, reflecting limited but not entirely absent sensory appeal.
- Rewatch Factor 30
Rewatch factor is generally low, with many reviewers describing the film as forgettable and not worth a second viewing. While a handful of genre fans suggest modest enjoyment from the action elements, the predominant sentiment highlights a lack of lasting appeal. The combination of weak narrative, uneven performances, and uninspired visuals diminishes desire for repeat engagement, resulting in a below‑average rewatch rating.
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IMDb 4.6 /10
9115 votes
See on IMDb
Afterburn Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Afterburn from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Six years after a solar flare shattered Earth, the world has become a harsh, fragmented landscape where power is won and kept by those who control scarce resources. Jake, Dave Bautista, works for August Valentine, the self-proclaimed King of England, Samuel L. Jackson, who bankrolls Jake’s dream of repairing a small boat to.live on and escape the ruin.
To solidify his grip on the post-apocalyptic order, August sends Jake on a dangerous mission into France to retrieve a relic of the pre-flare world—the Mona Lisa. He is joined by Drea, Olga Kurylenko, a fierce member of a rebellion resisting the tyrannical warlord General Volkov, Kristofer Hivju. The two quickly find themselves pursued by Volkov’s forces as they dodge raids and ambushes, moving from ruined towns to fortified strongpoints.
Full summary
The whole story of Afterburn, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Afterburn Trailers & Videos
3 videos: 1 trailer and 2 teasers.
- Teaser Glory :30
- Teaser Glory :15
How Well Do You Know Afterburn?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor portrays the character Jake?
Seen Afterburn?
Movies Like Afterburn
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including After…, The Aftermath and After Darkness.
Afterburn FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, budget, ratings and post-credit scenes of Afterburn, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Afterburn?
Afterburn runs 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes).
When was Afterburn released?
Afterburn was released on August 22, 2025.
Who directed Afterburn?
Afterburn was directed by J.J. Perry.
More films by J.J. Perry Who is in the cast of Afterburn?
Afterburn stars Dave Bautista as Jake, Samuel L. Jackson as King August and Olga Kurylenko, among 12 credited actors.
What was the budget of Afterburn?
Afterburn had a reported budget of $60 million.
How is Afterburn rated?
Afterburn has 4.6/10 on IMDb.
Does Afterburn have a post-credit scene?
No. Afterburn has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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