Look, there’s no point in even trying to pretend that 2002’s fantasy blockbuster Reign of Fire is a good movie, because it isn’t. And yet, there’s also a compelling argument to be made that it absolutely f*cking rules at the same time, which a lot of people are inclined to believe that it does.
It sounds like a fever dream to realize that Academy Award winners Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey co-starred with action extraordinaire Gerard Butler in a $60 million epic that finds a ragtag group of human survivors trying to live in a world where dragons have returned and razed the planet to the ground, but it does, and the world is much better off for it.
A majestic dose of cheese capable of killing the lactose intolerant, Reign of Fire was largely lambasted by critics and sank without a trace at the box office, but any story that sees McConaughey devour so much scenery that it’s borderline dangerous to his health is destined to find a second life as a cult classic and guilty pleasure, which is also a feat the film accomplished with ease.
And yet, Suicide Squad director David Ayer revealed himself to be a man of the people after echoing the opinion that despite its many demented highlights, one fatal flaw in the marketing remains a sin for which Reign of Fire can’t be forgiven.
A franchise would have been nice, and a remake or reboot might be welcomed under the right circumstances, but at the very least we want dragons vs. helicopters or no dice.