Playing with Fire (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Playing with Fire is a 2019 family comedy directed by Andy Fickman, starring John Cena as Jake, Keegan-Michael Key and John Leguizamo. It runs 1 hour 36 minutes and earned $69.4 million worldwide on a $29.9 million budget. Critics gave it 24 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.2/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 36m (96 min)
- Director
- Andy Fickman
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- Budget
- $29.9M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Playing with Fire About?
The premise of Playing with Fire without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
While battling a wildfire, a team of firefighters, led by the dedicated Jake Carson (John Cena), unexpectedly finds themselves caring for three lost children. Suddenly, their focus shifts from containing the blaze to the challenges of childcare. They quickly learn that raising kids can be just as demanding as fighting fires, requiring courage, quick thinking, and a willingness to embrace the unexpected.
Playing with Fire Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- fire station
- pet dog
- muscleman
- shower
- firefighter
- nail gun
- birthday party
- my little pony
- birthday
- birthday present
- singing
- diaper change
+38 more Show fewer
- male nannies
- forced to care for a small child
- sibling relationship
- baby girl
- poop joke
- bare chested man
- building on fire
- cell phone
- helicopter rescue
- birthday cake
- internet
- cutting seatbelt
- flat tire
- forest
- wedding
- death of parents
- scientist
- car falling off a cliff
- helicopter
- tough guy
- bare chested male
- low brow comedy
- slapstick comedy
- running away
- rainstorm
- three word title
- reference to barbara bush
- reference to bts band
- reference to johnny cash
- reference to neil armstrong
- forest fire
- smokejumper
- reference to norman schwarzkopf
- redding california
- reference to mahatma gandhi
- reference to amazon alexa
- slapped in the face
- reference to lance armstrong
Playing with Fire Cast & Characters
John Cena leads the cast as Jake, with Keegan-Michael Key as Mark and John Leguizamo as Rodrigo. Directed by Andy Fickman; 17 actors are credited in all.
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Director Andy Fickman
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John Cena as Jake -
Keegan-Michael Key as Mark -
John Leguizamo as Rodrigo - Tyler Mane as Axe
Also Starring in Playing with Fire
· 13 more- Dennis Haysbert Commander Richards
- Brianna Hildebrand Brynn
- Christian Convery Will
- Finley Rose Slater Zoey
- Judy Greer Dr. Amy Hicks
- Lynda Boyd Patty
- Daniel Cudmore Burly Smoke Jumper #1
- Kurt Long Scared Dad
- Tommy Europe Burly Smoke Jumper #2
- Chris Webb Burly Smoke Jumper #3
- Ash Lee
- Jasmine Vega
- Shelby Wulfert
More from Andy Fickman
More films directed by Andy Fickman, best-rated first: She's the Man, The Game Plan, Race to Witch Mountain and Parental Guidance.
Playing with Fire Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Playing with Fire 24 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 37/100, strongest in character & emotion (50) and weakest in story & flow (25).
Playing with Fire Echo Score Breakdown
Overall, Playing with Fire struggles to deliver a cohesive and engaging family comedy. The direction and cinematography are frequently described as dull and uninspired, leading to a flat visual experience. The script is criticized as predictable and contrived, undermining both pacing and originality. Performances by the cast receive mixed reactions: some praise the actors' earnest efforts, while others find characterizations one-note. As a result, the film leaves a predominantly negative impression with occasional moments of genuine warmth.
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 filmmaking is consistently regarded as uninspired and flat. Critics note dull lighting and uninventive framing, while one review highlights amateurish composition and lack of rhythm. The visual style fails to elevate material or create cohesion. The net impression is a largely lackluster aesthetic.
- Character & Emotion 50
When it comes to character and emotion, the film elicits mixed responses to performance depth. Some critics appreciate the actors' evident investment and earnest attempts to infuse humor, while others criticize one-note portrayals and abrupt character entrances. Emotional resonance is sporadic rather than consistent. Overall, character development feels uneven.
- Story & Flow 25
In terms of story and flow, the narrative is widely viewed as predictable and contrived. Reviews frequently cite repetitive tropes, uninspired gags, and a lack of pacing or originality, leading to moments of tedium. Occasional humorous beats and heartfelt intentions are undermined by transparent plotting. Ultimately, the story offers limited engagement.
- Sensory Experience 35
In terms of sensory experience, the film's audio-visual elements receive largely negative feedback. Critics describe lighting and color grading as dull and flat, and sight gags as clichéd and overdone. Occasional slapstick humor achieves brief laughs, but overall the score, sound design, and visual style lack cohesion. The sensory impact is underwhelming.
- Rewatch Factor 50
When considering rewatch factor, viewer sentiment is divided. Some families and enthusiastic viewers report moderate enjoyment on repeat viewings, praising lighthearted moments, while many note the predictable plot and uninspired craft reduce replay value. The film's sporadic charm is insufficient to encourage consistent revisit. The lasting appeal is limited.
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IMDb 5.2 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 24 Metascore
User score 4.8
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 66% User score
See on TMDB -
Movie Insider 3.4 /5
See on Movie Insider
Playing with Fire Plot Summary
What happens in Playing with Fire from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Superintendent Jake Carson is the skilled leader of a team of smoke jumpers stationed in the remote woodlands of California, close to the town of Redding. Known for his ability to handle crises, Jake takes immense pride in his profession, diving headfirst into perilous situations to save civilians. His team consists of the incredibly loyal Mark Rogers, the anxious and neurotic Rodrigo Torres, and the enormous mute known as Axe, who is rarely seen without his trusty fireman’s axe.
Full summary
The whole story of Playing with Fire, scene by scene
Playing with Fire Box Office & Budget
Playing with Fire grossed $69.4 million worldwide on a $29.9 million budget, 2.3 times what it cost. $44.5 million came from the US and Canada and $25 million (36%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$69.4M
2.3× its budget
- US & Canada
- $44.5M
- International
- $25M
- Budget
- $29.9M
Playing with Fire Trailers & Videos
3 videos: 1 trailer and 2 clips.
- Clip Playing With Fire Movie Clip - Sparkle Pony (2019) | Movieclips Coming Soon
- Clip Playing With Fire (2019) - Fire Hose Hijnks Scene (4/10) | Movieclips
How Well Do You Know Playing with 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 commanding officer of the smoke jumper unit?
Cars in Playing with Fire
17 cars on screen, including the AM General HMMWV M1035 and the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.
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AM General HMMWV M1035 Important role -
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Important role -
2013 Ram Heavy Duty 3500 Important role -
2018 Can-Am Outlander XT Minor role
Seen Playing with Fire?
Movies Like Playing with Fire
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Fireman Save My Child, Playing with Fire and The Fireman.
Playing with Fire FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Playing with Fire, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Playing with Fire?
Playing with Fire runs 1 hour 36 minutes (96 minutes).
When was Playing with Fire released?
Playing with Fire was released on November 8, 2019.
Who directed Playing with Fire?
Playing with Fire was directed by Andy Fickman.
More films by Andy Fickman Who is in the cast of Playing with Fire?
Playing with Fire stars John Cena as Jake, Keegan-Michael Key as Mark and John Leguizamo as Rodrigo, among 17 credited actors.
How much did Playing with Fire make at the box office?
Playing with Fire grossed $69.4 million worldwide ($44.5 million domestic, $25 million international) on a budget of $29.9 million.
How is Playing with Fire rated?
Playing with Fire has 5.2/10 on IMDb, 24 on Metacritic, 66% on TMDB and 3.4/5 on Movie Insider.
Does Playing with Fire have a post-credit scene?
No. Playing with Fire has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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