Firestarter (2022): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
Firestarter is a 2022 sci-fi thriller directed by Keith Thomas, starring Ryan Kiera Armstrong as Charlie McGee, Zac Efron and Sydney Lemmon. It is partly based on Firestarter by Stephen King. It runs 1 hour 34 minutes and earned $15 million worldwide on a $12 million budget. Critics gave it 10% on Rotten Tomatoes and 32 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.2/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 34m (94 min)
- Director
- Keith Thomas
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Universal Pictures
- Budget
- $12M
- Based on
- Firestarter by Stephen King
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Firestarter About?
The premise of Firestarter without spoilers, adapted from Firestarter by Stephen King. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
A young girl named Charlie possesses pyrokinetic abilities, setting her and her father on the run from a shadowy government agency. This agency intends to exploit her dangerous power, forcing Charlie to confront her abilities as they grow increasingly difficult to control. Pursued relentlessly, she and her father must fight for their survival and freedom against a powerful and determined force that wants to weaponize her gift.
Firestarter Cast & Characters
Ryan Kiera Armstrong leads the cast as Charlie McGee, with Zac Efron as Andy McGee and Sydney Lemmon as Vicky McGee. Directed by Keith Thomas; 14 actors are credited in all.
- Director Keith Thomas
-
Ryan Kiera Armstrong as Charlie McGee -
Zac Efron as Andy McGee -
Sydney Lemmon as Vicky McGee -
Kurtwood Smith as Dr. Joseph Wanless
Also Starring in Firestarter
· 10 more- Gavin Maciver-Wright Gavin
- Tina Jung Ms. Gardner
- Gloria Reuben Captain Hollister
- Michael Greyeyes Rainbird
- John Beasley Irv Manders
- Lanette Ware Principal Lewis
- Danny Waugh Sheriff Perry
- Vas Saranga
- Hannan Younis Darla Gurney
- Neven Pajkic
Firestarter Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Firestarter 10% on Rotten Tomatoes and 32 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 22/100, strongest in character & emotion (35) and weakest in story & flow (20).
Firestarter Echo Score Breakdown
Overall, Firestarter registers as a largely unsuccessful remake, with deficiencies across most cinematic dimensions. Critics and viewers alike highlight flat visual presentation, uninspired direction, and unconvincing effects that undermine the film's atmospheric potential. While a few technical moments receive modest praise, they are insufficient to offset the pervasive sense of dullness and missed opportunity. Consequently, the film offers limited appeal for repeat viewings or genre enthusiasts.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 25
In terms of art and craft, the film suffers from flat lighting, washed colors, and a generally uninspired visual style. Reviewers note dodgy effects, low‑budget production values, and a lack of cohesive editing, which together diminish the cinematic experience. Isolated praise for occasional striking VFX does not compensate for the overall subpar execution, leaving the craftsmanship feeling weak.
- Character & Emotion 35
Character and emotional depth are uneven, with some actors delivering decent performances while others appear disengaged. Critics point to minimal emotional investment and a lack of chemistry between leads. User feedback mirrors this split, citing both competent portrayals and outright poor acting. The net impression is that character work fails to elevate the narrative, resulting in a largely flat emotional impact.
- Story & Flow 20
The story is widely regarded as stifled and derivative, offering little originality beyond the source material. Critics describe the plot as dull, poorly paced, and lacking meaningful progression, while users echo sentiments of a lazy script and insufficient depth. The adaptation does not succeed in reimagining the premise, leaving the narrative feeling exhausted and unengaging throughout.
- Sensory Experience 30
Sensory elements such as sound design and visual cohesion receive mixed reactions. While the soundtrack is occasionally praised for aligning with John Carpenter’s style, the overall audio is described as heavy and unremarkable. Visuals are criticized for being bland and washed, though fleeting moments of striking VFX are noted. The sensory experience, on balance, remains mediocre and fails to enhance immersion.
- Rewatch Factor 25
Rewatch potential is low, with critics labeling the film a misfire and users describing it as boring and average. Although a small portion of viewers report modest enjoyment, the prevalent sense of fatigue and lack of novelty discourages repeat viewings. The film’s limited lasting appeal results in minimal incentive for audiences to revisit it.
-
IMDb 8.2 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 10% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 47%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 32 Metascore
User score 2.9
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 55% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 1.7 /5
3 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 2.3 /5
See on Movie Insider
Firestarter Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Firestarter from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film begins with a serene moment in the lives of Andy McGee and his partner Vicky McGee, as they lovingly watch over their infant daughter, Charlie. However, their peace is shattered when the mobile above Charlie’s crib and nearby objects spontaneously ignite. In a frantic attempt to protect her from the flames, Andy scoops up Charlie, only for the unthinkable to occur—she catches fire as well.
Jumping to the present, we witness Andy trying to comfort a terrified Charlie after she wakes from a nightmare. She reveals her overwhelming dread of “the bad thing”: her unique ability to manipulate fire. As Andy lovingly reassures her, Vicky enters, bringing with her a sense of normalcy with breakfast, yet their family is still haunted by their past.
Full summary
The whole story of Firestarter, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Firestarter Box Office & Budget
Firestarter grossed $15 million worldwide on a $12 million budget, 1.3 times what it cost. $9.7 million came from the US and Canada and $5.3 million (35%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$15M
1.3× its budget
- US & Canada
- $9.7M
- International
- $5.3M
- Budget
- $12M
Firestarter Trailers & Videos
5 videos: 1 trailer, 1 teaser, 2 clips and 1 featurette.
- Teaser Announcement - Yours to Own Promo
- Clip "Something Feels Weird In My Body" Extended Preview
- Clip The Bathroom Scene
- Featurette Things We Learnt From Firestarter Bonus Feature
How Well Do You Know Firestarter?
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
Who plays the role of Charlie in Firestarter?
Firestarter Also Known As
38 alternative titles, including “초능력 소녀의 분노” and “Ogen van vuur”.
- Also known as
-
- 초능력 소녀의 분노
- Ogen van vuur
- Llamas de Venganza
- Chamas da Vingança
- Подпалвачката
- Charlie
- Potpaljivačica
- Brandstifter
- Tulisilmä
- Tűzgyújtó
- Mesakheket Be'Esh
- 炎の少女チャーリー
+26 more Show fewer
- Uždegančioji žvilgsniu
- Podpalaczka
- O Poder do Fogo
- Поджигатель
- Podpaľačka
- 파이어스타터
- Ojos de fuego
- Eldfödd
- Tepki
- Та, що породжує вогонь
- Người Khởi Lửa
- 炎の少女チャーリー:2022
- 凶火
- Воспламеняющая взглядом
- Палійка / Та, що породжує вогонь
- หนูน้อยพลังเพลิง
- משחקת באש
- 燃火的女孩
- Llamas de venganza, ცეცხლის წამკიდებელი
- Πύρινη Οργή
- Žhářka
- مُشعلة النار
- Focul viu
- Požigalka
- अग्निवाहक
- 凶火異煞
Seen Firestarter?
Firestarter FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of Firestarter, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Firestarter?
Firestarter runs 1 hour 34 minutes (94 minutes).
When was Firestarter released?
Firestarter was released on May 13, 2022.
Who directed Firestarter?
Firestarter was directed by Keith Thomas.
More films by Keith Thomas Who is in the cast of Firestarter?
Firestarter stars Ryan Kiera Armstrong as Charlie McGee, Zac Efron as Andy McGee and Sydney Lemmon as Vicky McGee, among 14 credited actors.
How much did Firestarter make at the box office?
Firestarter grossed $15 million worldwide ($9.7 million domestic, $5.3 million international) on a budget of $12 million.
How is Firestarter rated?
Firestarter has 8.2/10 on IMDb, 10% on Rotten Tomatoes, 32 on Metacritic and 55% on TMDB.
Is Firestarter based on a book?
Yes. Firestarter is partly adapted from Firestarter by Stephen King.
Does Firestarter have a post-credit scene?
No. Firestarter has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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