Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- goofy
- buoyant
- irreverent
- lazy afternoon
- family comedy night
What critics said
Critics found the prehistoric farce uneven and derivative, though several acknowledged its energetic cast and amusing dinosaur effects.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Atouk's rivalry with Tonda and his desire for Lana turn Stone Age tribal life into a broad comic society.
Atouk begins as a rejected member of the tribe before becoming leader of the misfit group and challenging Tonda.
The film foregrounds caveman antics, physical disputes, tar-pit peril, and comic dinosaur encounters.
Dinosaur sequences are a defining attraction, with critics specifically identifying the special-effects dinosaurs as the film's real star.
Films like Caveman, and why
One Million Years B.C.
prehistoric setting, broad physical comedy, and playful fantasy adventure
The Three Ages
silent-era physical farce and anachronistic comedy built around prehistoric life
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
ensemble slapstick, absurd situations, and intentionally goofy visual humor
Movie Details
- Director
- Carl Gottlieb
- Release Date
- 1981-04-17
- Runtime
- 91 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (204)
Cast
- Ringo Starr
- Dennis Quaid
- Shelley Long
- Jack Gilford
- Barbara Bach
- Carl Lumbly
- John Matuszak
- Avery Schreiber
- Richard Moll
- Cork Hubbert
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Caveman about?
- A clever prehistoric outcast uses ingenuity, friendship, and slapstick audacity to challenge a brutish tribal leader for power and love.
- What is Caveman like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Caveman as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Caveman violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Caveman as mild.
- What did critics think of Caveman?
- Critics found the prehistoric farce uneven and derivative, though several acknowledged its energetic cast and amusing dinosaur effects.
- Which films are like Caveman?
- Films with a similar feel include One Million Years B.C., The Three Ages, and Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
- How long is Caveman?
- Caveman runs 91 minutes.
- Where can I watch Caveman?
- In United States, Caveman streams on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
