Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Romantic comedy

Caveman (1981): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

Caveman (1981) movie poster

Caveman is a 1981 romantic comedy directed by Carl Gottlieb, starring Ringo Starr, Dennis Quaid and Shelley Long. It runs 1 hour 31 minutes and earned $16 million worldwide. Critics gave it 33% on Rotten Tomatoes and 55 on Metacritic. Stream it on Amazon Prime Video and fuboTV, or rent or buy it on Fandango At Home.

Rotten Tomatoes
33%
worldwide gross
$16M
Metascore
55
Caveman (1981) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 31m (91 min)
Director
Carl Gottlieb
Genres
Comedy , Romance
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Caveman About?

The premise of Caveman without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

In a prehistoric world, Atouk, a lovable but awkward caveman, leads a misfit clan and sets his sights on Lana, who is already the mate of the strongman Tonda. Despite the advances of Tala, he begins a quest to win Lana’s affection. Along the way, he and his clan encounter dinosaurs, experience psychedelic journeys, and discover early forms of cooking, music, and medicine, changing their lives forever.

Caveman Themes & Keywords

· 47 tags
  • caveman
  • spoof
  • prehistoric times
  • slapstick comedy
  • cavewoman
  • psychotronic film
  • prehistory
  • stone age
  • slimehouse
  • protohistory
  • yeti
  • abominable snowman
+35 more
  • prehistoric
  • parody comedy
  • pterodactyl egg
  • pterodactyl
  • giant egg
  • revenge
  • kaiju
  • gay
  • gay couple
  • dinosaur
  • dinosaurs humans coexist
  • muscleman
  • strongman
  • wrestling
  • brawl
  • sword and sandal
  • physical comedy
  • fight
  • weapon
  • tomahawk
  • spear
  • combat
  • battle
  • wimp
  • stop motion scene
  • anachronism
  • kicked in the butt
  • flaming fart
  • modern stone age humor
  • rear nudity
  • hit in the groin
  • giant insect
  • nudity
  • flatulence
  • scrambled egg
Where to watch

Where to Watch Caveman

Stream it on Amazon Prime Video and fuboTV, or rent or buy it from Fandango At Home. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Caveman Cast

Ringo Starr leads the cast, with Dennis Quaid and Shelley Long. Directed by Carl Gottlieb; 10 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Caveman Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Caveman 33% on Rotten Tomatoes and 55 on Metacritic.

Plot

Caveman Plot Summary

What happens in Caveman from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The film begins with the Hostile Tribe, led by the formidable Tonda (John Matuszak), whose sheer size and strength crown him as the unquestioned Alpha male. In stark contrast to his robust leader is Atouk (Ringo Starr), the smallest and weakest member of the tribe. As he scuttles about, desperately searching for sustenance, Atouk becomes the target of mockery and bullying from his peers, perpetually pushed from tree to tree. His moment of hope—or rather, a small lizard he nearly catches—is shattered when a looming shadow reveals the true predator: a massive dinosaur. Frantically, Atouk warns his tribe, causing them to flee as the dinosaur wreaks havoc, uprooting trees and snatching away Noota, a fellow caveman, for its devouring pleasure.

Full summary

The whole story of Caveman, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Caveman Box Office

Caveman grossed $16 million worldwide.

1981 box office

Worldwide gross

$16M

US & Canada
$16M
Videos

Caveman Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 2 trailers.

Caveman (1981) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD]
  • Trailer Caveman ≣ 1981 ≣ Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Caveman?

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the Alpha male of the Hostile Tribe?

Details

Caveman Also Known As

17 alternative titles, including “Cavernícola” and “Il cavernicolo”.

Also known as
  • Cavernícola
  • Il cavernicolo
  • O Homem das Cavernas
  • L'homme des cavernes
  • Caveman - Der aus der Hoehle kam
  • Caveman - O Homem das Cavernas
  • Caveman - Der aus der Höhle kam
  • Barlangember
  • Пещерный человек
  • Печерна людина
  • Пещерен човек
  • Min første sten
+5 more
  • Jaskiniowiec
  • Ο Ατσίδας των Σπηλαίων
  • 山洞人
  • 원시인
  • איש המערות

Seen Caveman?

FAQ

Caveman FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Caveman, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Caveman?

Caveman runs 1 hour 31 minutes (91 minutes).

When was Caveman released?

Caveman was released on April 17, 1981.

Who directed Caveman?

Caveman was directed by Carl Gottlieb.

More films by Carl Gottlieb

Who is in the cast of Caveman?

Caveman stars Ringo Starr, Dennis Quaid and Shelley Long, among 10 credited actors.

Where can I watch Caveman?

In the US, Caveman is streaming on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV and MGM Plus and available to rent or buy on Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How much did Caveman make at the box office?

Caveman grossed $16 million worldwide.

How is Caveman rated?

Caveman has 33% on Rotten Tomatoes, 55 on Metacritic and 65% on TMDB.

Does Caveman have a post-credit scene?

No. Caveman has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app