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Smoke Signals

Play trailer Poster for Smoke Signals PG-13 1998 1h 28m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 93 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Arnold (Gary Farmer) rescued Thomas (Evan Adams) from a fire when he was a child. Thomas thinks of Arnold as a hero, while Arnold's son Victor (Adam Beach) resents his father's alcoholism, violence and abandonment of his family. Uneasy rivals and friends, Thomas and Victor spend their days killing time on a Coeur d'Alene reservation in Idaho and arguing about their cultural identities. When Arnold dies, the duo set out on a cross-country journey to Phoenix to retrieve Arnold's ashes.
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Smoke Signals

Smoke Signals

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Critics Consensus

Smoke Signals tells a familiar story from an underrepresented point of view, proving that a fresh perspective can help subvert long-established expectations.

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Critics Reviews

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Eleanor Ringel Cater Atlanta Journal-Constitution 11/08/2023
B
Smoke Signals is a road movie with an acid sense of humor and a heritage-ridden theme that’s as universal as it is specific. Go to Full Review Ann Hornaday Baltimore Sun 11/08/2023
3/4
Smoke Signals may be the most delightfully quirky surprise of the summer, a shaggy-dog tale that from its opening moments... portrays the Native American legacy of pride and pain with deep emotion, grace and irreverence. Go to Full Review Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times 11/08/2023
It is a warm film of friendship and reconciliation, and whenever it refers to historic injustices or contemporary issues in Native American culture, it does so with wry, glancing humor. Smoke Signals is indeed poignant, but above all it's pretty funny. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand Apr 26
[Sherman] Alexie’s screenplay is full of modest but vivid details and first-time director Eyre has an almost effortless touch in getting them on the screen with an easy mosaic-like mix of snapshots of life on the Rez and on the road mixed. Go to Full Review Farah Cheded A Good Movie To Watch 03/17/2024
Hollywood’s first Native American feature is this charming perspective-reorienting dramedy. Go to Full Review Sara Wildberger Miami Herald 11/08/2023
3.5/4
It’s the first feature film for director Chris Eyre, and his young leads are relative newcomers to the big screen, but their energy and the freshness of their point of view overcome any rough spots. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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TI H @MeInCharacter Oct 7 I consider this to be a road trip movie with deep emotional impact. It's a hidden gem that you should watch. The character of Thomas will warm your heart. You've never seen a character quite like him before. See more Ty W 09/24/2024 In contention for the worst movie I've ever seen. See more Camden G 06/18/2024 Lacking depth, and unoriginal See more S R @ScottR 12/30/2023 Saw this since it had to do with CDA tribe and I have been to the reservation. It was an interesting movie to see their perspective on being an Indian, but the it was tedious and not well written. It did have some good moments and characters, but it could've been more concise. Saw on delta. See more Dave W 11/03/2023 Love this movie. A great story of friendship, learning from your past, accepting your past and creating your own identity. Great performances all around See more Ali N 08/07/2023 Sometimes it's a good day to die. And sometimes it's a good day to watch Smoke Signals, Because it's a damn good movie. This is what I thought diversity in films would look like when Hollywood finally started embracing it. But diversity in Hollywood today looks nothing like Smoke Signals, Because Smoke Signals is actually good. Hollywood doesn't make good movies anymore. And now I'm wondering if they ever did, Because Hollywood didn't make Smoke Signals either. See more Read all reviews
Smoke Signals

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Cast & Crew

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Chris Eyre

Director

Adam Beach

Victor Joseph

Evan Adams

Thomas Builds-the-Fire

Irene Bedard

Suzy Song

Gary Farmer

Arnold Joseph

Tantoo Cardinal

Arlene Joseph

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Smoke Signals

Smoke Signals (1998) Smoke Signals (1998) Smoke Signals (1998) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Arnold (Gary Farmer) rescued Thomas (Evan Adams) from a fire when he was a child. Thomas thinks of Arnold as a hero, while Arnold's son Victor (Adam Beach) resents his father's alcoholism, violence and abandonment of his family. Uneasy rivals and friends, Thomas and Victor spend their days killing time on a Coeur d'Alene reservation in Idaho and arguing about their cultural identities. When Arnold dies, the duo set out on a cross-country journey to Phoenix to retrieve Arnold's ashes.
Director
Chris Eyre
Producer
Scott M. Rosenfelt, Larry Estes
Screenwriter
Sherman Alexie
Distributor
Miramax Films
Production Co
Miramax
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 16, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 16, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$6.8M
Runtime
1h 28m
Sound Mix
Surround
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