Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- quirky
- darkly comic
- sardonic
- cult movie night
- late night viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film an incoherent and poorly developed crime thriller whose strongest asset is Jodie Foster's performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Milo is assigned to kill Anne Benton but instead becomes romantically attached to her.
The film combines mob pursuit, romantic escape, over-the-top performances, and comic oddities such as Milo playing saxophone.
Anne leaves her state and adopts another identity after witnessing a mob assassination.
The mob setting, pursuit plot, sunglasses-wearing hitman persona, and vaudevillian acting create a heightened noir-inflected atmosphere.
Films like Catchfire, and why
The Gauntlet
road-based crime thriller pairing fugitives with an unlikely romantic relationship
Something Wild
stylized crime romance built around a dangerous criminal and a woman pursued by authorities
After Hours
quirky action thriller mixing criminal violence, romance, and eccentric performances
Movie Details
- Director
- Dennis Hopper
- Release Date
- 1990-04-03
- Runtime
- 116 min
- Rating
- 5.3 / 10 (120)
Cast
- Dennis Hopper
- Jodie Foster
- Dean Stockwell
- Vincent Price
- John Turturro
- Fred Ward
- Julie Adams
- Tony Sirico
- Charlie Sheen
- Catherine Keener
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Catchfire about?
- After witnessing a mob killing, an artist flees under a new identity only to be pursued by the hitman who falls for her instead of pulling the trigger.
- What is Catchfire like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Catchfire as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Catchfire violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Catchfire as moderate.
- What did critics think of Catchfire?
- Critics broadly found the film an incoherent and poorly developed crime thriller whose strongest asset is Jodie Foster's performance.
- Which films are like Catchfire?
- Films with a similar feel include The Gauntlet, Something Wild, and After Hours.
- How long is Catchfire?
- Catchfire runs 116 minutes.
- Where can I watch Catchfire?
- In United States, Catchfire streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Howdy Amazon Channel.
