Fire Birds

Fire Birds (1990)

  • 6% of critics liked it
    (16 reviews)

  • 41% of users liked it
    (6,573 ratings)

Nicolas Cage stars in the below-par action film Firebirds -- a dying ember from Reagan-era nationalistic jingoism. In this Top Gun retread, Cage plays Jake Preston, a hotshot Army helicopter pilot who is being trained to use the U.S. Army's Apache aircraft to destroy the drug fields of a South… More

PG-13, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By
David Green
Genres
Action & Adventure
In Theaters
May 24, 1990 Wide
On DVD
Feb 3, 2004

Critic Reviews

  • Variety Staff, Variety

    Fire Birds resembles a morale booster project leftover from the Reagan era.

  • Vincent Canby, New York Times

    Fire Birds has one director (David Green), two writers (Nick Thiel and Paul F. Edwards) and many laughs, all of them unintentional.

  • Hal Hinson, Washington Post

    Cage is a magnetic presence, for sure, but little things -- like making an actual connection with his costar -- are beyond him.

  • Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com

    In a certain way, with the help of insomnia and perhaps the closure of one eye, Fire Birds actually works in a minor key. Let's just say it's the best 77-minute Apache helicopter actioner starring Nicolas Cage I've ever seen.

  • , TV Guide's Movie Guide

    What makes Birds truly riveting entertainment is not the conflict between good and bad guys, but the clash between the film's apparent intent and the loony subversiveness of its performances.

Read all 10 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Jason O


    Jake Preston (Nicolas Cage) is a helicopter pilot training for war against a famous nemesis. Jake is the most skilled flyer of everybody, but he has a team of other helicopter flyers behind him including Brad Little (Tommy Lee Jones), who helps Jake train to be an even better pilot.… More

  • Dean !


    At last!!! I have been trying to remember the name of this film and find it for ages! Known as Wings of the Apache in the UK. This is basically Top Gun with the Apache gunship helicopter...I didn't even realize at the time Nicholas Cage and Tommy Lee Jones were in this! Must have… More

  • Daniel J D


    I saw this movie by accident. Tommy Lee Jones had some good throwaway lines though.

  • RJ M


    A blatant Top Gun ripoff, this movie showcases the US Army Apache Helicpoter. Nicolas Cage assumes the Tom Cruise role as the hotshot helicopter pilot training to fly the Apache. Tommy Lee Jones is the token instructor who's seen it all, but remains in awe of the hotshot new… More

Cast

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