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David Keith, Drew Barrymore, George C. Scott, Martin Sheen, Heather Locklear ... see more see more... , Art Carney , Louise Fletcher , Moses Gunn , Freddie Jones , Steve Boles , Keith Colbert , Curtis Credel , Antonio Fargas , Joan Foley , Robert Miano , Laurens Moore , Jeff Ramsey , Leon Rippy , John Sanderford , Drew Snyder , Cassandra Ward-Freeman , George P. Wilbur , Orwin Harvey , Stanley Mann , Richard Warlock , Jack Magner , Larry Sprinkle , Wendy Womble , William Alspaugh , Carey Fox , Nina Jones

Firestarter is based on a bone-chilling novel by Steven King. Drew Barrymore plays Charlie McGee the young daughter of Andrew (David Keith) and Vicky (Heather Locklear) McGee, who years earlier had be... read more read more...en guinea pigs for a top secret experiment. As a result, Charlie has acquired the unenviable ability to start fires simply by thinking about fires. Charlie is pursued over hill and dale by The Shop, a secret government organization bent upon using her skills for nefarious purposes. The special effects are undeniably startling, even when the script and dialogue are straight out of the funny papers (it's hard to keep a straight face during the New York Times final shot!) The high-priced cast--including George C. Scott, Art Carney, Louise Fletcher--seems to be having a grand ole time. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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56% liked it

51,895 ratings

Critics

41% liked it

22 critics

R, 1 hr. 55 min.

Directed by: Mark L. Lester

Release Date: May 11, 1984

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DVD Release Date: October 10, 2000

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Flixster Reviews (1,188)

  • TheDudeLebowski65
    April 16, 2012
    TheDudeLebowski65
    The problem with Firestarter is that it is a horror film that relies way too much on elaborate special effects. The book written by Stephen King was good, entertaining, scary and effective at delivering thrills. This is a film that cheaply relies on the effects to try and create ... read morethe same atmosphere that the book had, but the payoff is horrible. This is one of the worst Stephen King adaptations that I have seen. King himself, voted this film as one of the worst of his book to screen adaptations. This film was bad, and considering the cast, you'd expect something good, right? However this is a poorly constructed film that relies little on story and more on effects. I think the film would have been much better if the filmmakers would have developed the story a bit more and focused less on visuals. This is a sloppy attempt at bringing Stephen King's book to the screen. Firestarter could have been a good film, unfortunately the film fails and instead of elaborating on the story; it just becomes a visual feast for the eyes with no substance. If you're looking for a good adaptation of a Stephen King novel, you won't find it here. If you're a fan of the book, you'll be disappointed in this film. This is a film that only visually looks good, but doesn't offer anything else. If you're looking for good horror elements, look elsewhere. You won't find it here. The script and directing are horrible, and it's a shame that they couldn't bring a great book to the screen in a more memorable manner. This film is bad, and is quite forgettable.
  • FrizzDrop
    August 25, 2011
    FrizzDrop
    Another haphazard adaptation of a Stephen King novel, this quintessential eighties horror movie includes the cute factor of a young and drug free Drew Barrymore, still rising high off her role in E.T. and Hollywood acting dynasty status. The story has a simplistic premise, but th... read moree backstory and subsequent plot usually keep it interesting, including the cast of characters, each of which bring their own brand of lukewarm acting to the table. Keith is only present to give a Southern accented performance, grasping his temples and letting two trails of blood come out of his nose. Barrymore is still young, inexperienced in the craft that is acting, if we're being blunt. Sure, she's cute and can call upon her own baseless emotions to culp a performance, but she's years away from a decent portrayal of an actual human. Scott is supposed to be Native American but besides a ponytail and the name Rainbird is white as, well, George C. Scott. His, though, is the only performance truly worth watching, as he is diabolical, inserting himself into Barrymore's life with ease, eye patch and craggy voice narrating the entire tawdry deal. The effects were pretty lackluster, even for the eighties, even for the content they were dealing with. It's understandable why this wasn't given the proper attention, as it was the fifth Stephen King adaptation of that particular year. (Others included The Dead Zone and Children of the Corn). Still, it's an interesting if not obnoxious film, and it's always good to see Barrymore in the early years, before she became a decent actress and erased her childhood.
  • ajv2688
    January 17, 2011
    ajv2688
    This is an incredible horror drama, and it stars Drew Barrymore as the kid, she does a great job. The story is fantastic, it's exciting and dramatic. I love this movie, it's one of my favourites.
  • romy861
    March 7, 2010
    romy861
    This was one of my favourites growing up. Looking at it again now, I am not sure people watching it for the first time now would find it as good, but it was for it's time, and I still enjoy a rewatch. Drew Barrymore really was a good actress, even when she was younger.
  • ScoopOnline
    December 19, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    If you get on her bad side...YOU'RE TOAST.
  • matertenebraum
    July 27, 2009
    matertenebraum
    Despite the fact that the films usually revolve around good and interesting stories, film adaptations of Stephen King's works are often not the best horror movies. Firestarter isn't the best known of his books, and that's slightly odd as this film adaptation is one of the best ba... read moresed on his stories. The film takes obvious influence from Brian De Palma's 'The Fury', as aside from the fact that this one is about a young girl that can start fires, and De Palma's film features a boy with psychic abilities; the way that both plots play out is very similar indeed. The plot has a number of problems, and the characters don't always act logically; but this is offset by the likable nature of the film, and characters that are easy to get along with due to their relatively simplistic nature. The film follows the aftermath of an experiment in which people were given an experimental drug. The ultimate result of this experiment was a child born of Andy and Vicky McGee; a child with a unique ability known as 'pyrokinesis' - the ability to start fires at will.

    The film benefits from a range of cult stars. A young Drew Barrymore takes the title role, and although her acting skills hadn't been honed by the time this film was released, and she is more than a little bit wooden; she provides an interesting lead. David Keith and Martin Sheen back her up well in supporting roles, but the main acting plaudits go to the great George C. Scott who is good in what is probably the meatiest role of the piece. The running time is a little long for a film like this, but it's well used and the fact that the story doesn't get caught up with needless elements such as the girl's mother and father falling in love is definitely a good thing. The plot is very relaxed for most of the way through, and director Mark L. Lester seems content to just let things play out. That is until the last fifteen minutes; when the plot reaches its full potential and explodes with a fun and exciting finale. The film does feel more than a little bit like a TV movie at times; and the dumbed down techno soundtrack doesn't help this. Overall, the film definitely isn't perfect; but it's an enjoyable watch and King films have definitely been a lot worse!
  • kiriyamakazou
    April 11, 2009
    kiriyamakazou
    Drew Barrymore plays a little girl that can start fires with her mind. David Keith plays her father and exhibits a total lack of chemistry with his supposed daughter. I was never "involved" when they were together and wouldn't have cared had one killed the other repetitively. The... read more effects are very shoddy with the fires looking unimpressive and lacking real impact, and Keith pulling out his hair when mind controlling. Does he need to do this to activate his power? Luckily we have a couple of great villains and great actors. Sheen and George C. Scott as a government agent and a government assassin. These two do have chemistry, as does Scott and Barrymore. This adds to conflict at the end, but when you'd rather see a young girl with a loopy murderer than her own father, the film is in dire need of an overhaul.
  • bottcorecords1
    February 14, 2009
    bottcorecords1
    Drew Barrymore stars as a little girl who can create fires with her mind. Her dad (David Keith) volunteered for some drug experiments back before she was born. In fact, it was during these experiments (which gave him psychic powers to "push" people's minds into doing what he wa... read morents them to do) he met and fell in love with her mother, played by Heather Locklear. The government agency known as "The Shop" (they're the ones who gave them their psychic powers) one day decide for unknown reasons to kill the mother, and this sets the father and daughter on the lam. George C. Scott plays an assassin of Native American(?) descent, who manipulates the young firestarter into trusting him. It's his goal, you see, to kill her and take her power into the afterlife with him when he dies, but he must look her in the eyes to do this. David Keith is a suitable Kurt Russel stand-in, and Art Carney's appearance in this film is pretty welcome too. But Barrymore is just a tad too precocious. Still, for a Stephen King film, it could be worse (Maximum Overdrive, anyone?).
  • FilmFanatik
    November 4, 2008
    FilmFanatik
    I prefer the novel because this movie is almost NEARLY the novel and I don't like movies that do that.
  • Redlats
    March 10, 2008
    Redlats
    Drew Barrymore is quite cute in this movie and she plays a cool role - one who can start fires at will. But the movie goes on for too long.

View All Firestarter Reviews

Critic Reviews

Felix Vasquez Jr.
February 2, 2011
Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed

While no means a masterpiece, it's a Stephen King film worthy of viewing once or twice... Full Review

Chuck O'Leary
January 23, 2006
Chuck O'Leary, FulvueDrive-in.com

A scene-stealing performance by a menacing George C. Scott and a terrific musical score by Tangerine Dream elevate this entertaining companion piece to 1978's The Fury.

Rich Cline
April 18, 2005
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

corny and overblown

Kevin Carr
November 2, 2004
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures

Stephen King didn't like it, but it really ain't that bad.

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
August 21, 2004
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

More interested in special effects than in dramatic flare.

Ken Hanke
November 5, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

It's not great. It mainstreams all the novel's subversiveness, but it's watchable.

Alex Sandell
July 23, 2003
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum

Bad movie. Bad career move. Bad in all respects.

Widgett Walls
March 5, 2003
Widgett Walls, Needcoffee.com

One of the better King book-to-film adaptations.

Karina Montgomery
September 19, 2002
Karina Montgomery, Cinerina

"back off" indeed

Robert Roten
August 25, 2002
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope

Weak horror flick with sick overtones of pedophilia.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Firestarter Trivia

  • What actor played the father of Drew Barrymore's character in 1984's Firestarter?  Answer »
  • What was the name of the famous childhood actress who played the "Firestarter"?  Answer »
  • Who played the little girl in Firestarter?  Answer »
  • Drew Barrymore was a favorite young heroine of novelist and screewriter Stephen King. Name two stories-to-movies she starred in for King as a child:  Answer »
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