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Action thriller

Free Fire (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Free Fire (2017) movie poster

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.

IMDb rating
4.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes
70%
worldwide gross
$3.7M
award won
1
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Free Fire (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 30m (90 min)
Director
Ben Wheatley
Genres
Action , Drama , Thriller , Comedy
Original language
English
Studio
A24
Budget
$7M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

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
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Cast & crew

Free Fire Cast

Cillian Murphy leads the cast, with Brie Larson and Armie Hammer. Directed by Ben Wheatley; 4 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Ben Wheatley

More films directed by Ben Wheatley, best-rated first: Normal, A Field in England, Rebecca and Sightseers.

Full filmography
Ratings

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).

58 /100

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.

Plot

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

Read the full summary
Box office

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.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$3.7M

53% of its budget back

US & Canada
$1.8M
International
$1.9M
Budget
$7M
US & Canada 48% Rest of the world 52%
Awards

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

Videos

Free Fire Trailers & Videos

13 videos: 4 trailers, 4 clips, 4 featurettes and 1 behind-the-scenes video.

All 13 videos
Official Red Band Trailer
  • Trailer Official UK Trailer
  • Trailer 60" Trailer
  • Trailer 60" Hard Trailer
  • Clip FREE FIRE - 'Testing the Merch' Clip - In cinemas now
Quiz

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

  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 arms dealer that the groups meet to purchase guns from?

Cars

Cars in Free Fire

6 cars on screen, including the 1983 Chevrolet Chevy Van and the 1974 Winnebago Brave.

All 6 cars
  • 1983 Chevrolet Chevy Van in Free Fire 1983 Chevrolet Chevy Van Important role
  • 1974 Winnebago Brave in Free Fire 1974 Winnebago Brave Important role
  • 1976 Winnebago Brave in Free Fire 1976 Winnebago Brave Important role
  • 1965 Ford Mustang in Free Fire 1965 Ford Mustang Minor role
Details

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
  • 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?

FAQ

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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