Free Fire (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Free Fire is a 2017 action thriller directed by Ben Wheatley, starring Cillian Murphy, Brie Larson and Armie Hammer. It runs 1 hour 30 minutes and earned $3.7 million worldwide on a $7 million budget. It won 1 award from 1 nomination, including People's Choice Award: Midnight Madness at the TIFF 2016. Critics gave it 70% on Rotten Tomatoes and 63 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.5/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 30m (90 min)
- Director
- Ben Wheatley
- Original language
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English
- Studio
- A24
- Budget
- $7M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Free Fire About?
The premise of Free Fire without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A deal gone wrong in a deserted warehouse turns into a brutal and chaotic gunfight. When a group of criminals and their buyers meet to exchange weapons, tensions escalate, leading to an intense standoff and a relentless barrage of gunfire. Alliances quickly crumble as everyone fights for survival in a desperate battle with no apparent end.
Free Fire Themes & Keywords
· 10 tags- shooter
- ultimate
- survival
- gun
- ak 47
- shotgun
- sword
- knife
- exploration
- mobile game
Free Fire Cast
Cillian Murphy leads the cast, with Brie Larson and Armie Hammer. Directed by Ben Wheatley; 4 actors are credited in all.
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Director Ben Wheatley
More from Ben Wheatley
More films directed by Ben Wheatley, best-rated first: Normal, A Field in England, Rebecca and Sightseers.
Free Fire Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Free Fire 70% on Rotten Tomatoes and 63 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 58/100, strongest in sensory experience (80) and weakest in character & emotion (40).
Free Fire Echo Score Breakdown
Free Fire offers a balanced combination of kinetic direction and sustained action, though it often struggles with character depth and narrative cohesion. While many critics praised the film’s kinetic combat choreography and sense of momentum, others found the single‐location premise stretched thin and the ensemble underutilized. The film’s lean production design and focused visual style deliver on the shoot‐’em‐up promise but leave emotional stakes underdeveloped. Overall, Free Fire is an engaging technical showcase that remains moderate in lasting narrative impact.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 60
In terms of direction and cinematography, Free Fire presents lively camera movement and precise framing within its confined setting. The production design is economical, focusing on practical detail in the warehouse environment, and the editing maintains a brisk tempo between exchanges. However, the formal approach occasionally feels like an exercise in style over substance. Overall, the film’s art and craft are technically proficient but rarely transcend their functional role.
- Character & Emotion 40
When it comes to character and emotional resonance, Free Fire relies heavily on surface archetypes rather than deep development. The ensemble cast delivers committed performances, but the compressed setup limits opportunities for meaningful chemistry or transformation. Scenes of tension spotlight individual traits briefly, yet the lack of backstory undermines emotional connection. In sum, the film’s character dimension remains functional for action beats but offers minimal lasting engagement.
- Story & Flow 45
In terms of story and flow, Free Fire embraces a minimalist structure centered on a single prolonged confrontation. The pacing remains relentless in the first act but becomes repetitive as the scenario unfolds without significant variation. Although the confined setting amplifies tension, the lack of narrative turns or thematic depth limits engagement beyond spectacle. The film’s storyline provides a straightforward framework for its action but falls short of enduring interest.
- Sensory Experience 80
In respect to sensory experience, Free Fire delivers intense audio design that highlights gunfire and rapid dialogue exchanges. The soundtrack emphasizes tense intervals, and sound mixing balances kinetic blasts with subdued ambient noise. Visually, the film favors an understated color palette punctuated by bold splashes of movement, contributing to a cohesive shoot‐’em‐up aesthetic. Overall, the sensory elements combine to enhance the visceral impact of each encounter.
- Rewatch Factor 50
When it comes to rewatch factor, Free Fire offers a mixed appeal that may satisfy viewers drawn to sustained action. The set piece structure provides consistent kinetic momentum, but repetitive staging and shallow character stakes reduce incentive for repeat viewing. The film’s tight choreography remains engaging, yet the absence of layered surprises limits lasting allure. Therefore, its rewatch value is moderate and largely dependent on appetite for relentless gunplay.
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IMDb 4.5 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 70% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 52%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 63 Metascore
User score 5.7
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 63% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.2 /5
85 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 2.3 /5
See on Movie Insider
Free Fire Plot Summary
What happens in Free Fire from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
On a cold night in 1978, as Stevo tells Bernie that he was beaten up the day before by the cousin of a woman he assaulted, the group is driving to meet IRA members Chris and Frank. The crew gathers outside a Boston warehouse with intermediary Justine, and a representative, Ord, leads them inside. The group is there to buy guns from arms dealer Vernon and his associates, Martin, Harry, and Gordon. Despite tensions between the two groups and Vernon supplying the wrong rifles, the weapons are unloaded from a van and Chris’ group hands over the money in a briefcase.
Full summary
The whole story of Free Fire, scene by scene
Free Fire Box Office & Budget
Free Fire grossed $3.7 million worldwide on a $7 million budget, 53% of what it cost. $1.8 million came from the US and Canada and $1.9 million (52%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$3.7M
53% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $1.8M
- International
- $1.9M
- Budget
- $7M
Free Fire Awards & Nominations
Free Fire won 1 award from 1 nomination, including People's Choice Award: Midnight Madness at the TIFF 2016.
1 win1 nomination1 ceremony
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TIFF 2016 1 win · 1 nomination- Won People's Choice Award: Midnight Madness – Ben Wheatley
Free Fire Trailers & Videos
13 videos: 4 trailers, 4 clips, 4 featurettes and 1 behind-the-scenes video.
- Trailer Official UK Trailer
- Trailer 60" Trailer
- Trailer 60" Hard Trailer
- Clip FREE FIRE - 'Testing the Merch' Clip - In cinemas now
How Well Do You Know Free Fire?
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 is the arms dealer that the groups meet to purchase guns from?
Cars in Free Fire
6 cars on screen, including the 1983 Chevrolet Chevy Van and the 1974 Winnebago Brave.
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1983 Chevrolet Chevy Van Important role -
1974 Winnebago Brave Important role -
1976 Winnebago Brave Important role -
1965 Ford Mustang Minor role
Free Fire Also Known As
26 alternative titles, including “Hostiles et Armés” and “Fuego gratuito”.
- Also known as
-
- Hostiles et Armés
- Fuego gratuito
- Fuego cruzado
- Перестрілка
- 玩命鎗火
- フリー・ファイヤー
- Φωτιά Στις Κάνες Μας
- Päästik põhja
- Lodes pa gaisu!
- Spausk gaiduką!
- Končni obračun
- 프리 파이어
+14 more Show fewer
- Kereszttüz
- Free Fire: O Tiroteio
- Перестрелка
- Křížová palba
- Ateş Serbest
- Össztűz
- 走火交易
- Foc liber
- אש חופשית
- Престрелка
- Hostiles et armés, ორმხრივი სროლა
- Prestrelka
- Trò Chơi Sống Còn
- ฟรี ไฟร์
Seen Free Fire?
Movies Like Free Fire
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Dead Trigger, Survive the Game and Game of Killers.
Free Fire FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Free Fire, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Free Fire?
Free Fire runs 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).
When was Free Fire released?
Free Fire was released on April 21, 2017.
Who directed Free Fire?
Free Fire was directed by Ben Wheatley.
More films by Ben Wheatley Who is in the cast of Free Fire?
Free Fire stars Cillian Murphy, Brie Larson and Armie Hammer, among 4 credited actors.
How much did Free Fire make at the box office?
Free Fire grossed $3.7 million worldwide ($1.8 million domestic, $1.9 million international) on a budget of $7 million.
How is Free Fire rated?
Free Fire has 4.5/10 on IMDb, 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, 63 on Metacritic and 63% on TMDB.
What awards did Free Fire win?
Free Fire won 1 award from 1 nomination, including People's Choice Award: Midnight Madness at the TIFF 2016.
Does Free Fire have a post-credit scene?
No. Free Fire has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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