Afterburn Review: A Fit for Dave Bautista Wasteland Fans

This Afterburn review starts with a simple question: can a post-apocalyptic action-comedy get by on attitude alone? Director J.J. Perry puts Dave Bautista at the center of a loud, jokey wasteland adventure. It's a fun idea that doesn't always match its ambition.

Afterburn Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The Afterburn plot begins after a massive solar flare destroys the Eastern Hemisphere. What life remains has been mutated by radiation and fallout, and the world has become a dangerous scavenger's playground.

Bautista plays Jake, a treasure hunter who leads a crew through the ruins. Their jobs involve retrieving priceless objects, with the Mona Lisa, the Rosetta Stone and the Crown Jewels among the targets. Along the way they face rival hunters, mutants and pirates.

The tagline sums up the tone: "The apocalypse isn't for everybody." The film treats the end of the world as a backdrop for jokes and set pieces rather than a source of despair.

What Works in Afterburn

The premise is the biggest draw. Turning the apocalypse into a museum heist makes for a pleasing mix of genres, and it gives the action a distinct flavor. It's a fresh spin on the wasteland adventure, and it keeps the film moving.

• The tone: The film never takes itself too seriously, which suits a story about stealing famous art from a ruined planet.

• The pace: At 106 minutes, it doesn't overstay its welcome.

• The scale: The film aims for big, explosive spectacle, and several scenes deliver the kind of loud fun the genre promises.

Fans of action movie reviews will find plenty of familiar pleasures here, from chases to brawls to the occasional big blast.

Afterburn Cast and Performances

The Afterburn cast is led by Dave Bautista, who has the right mix of bulk and deadpan humor for Jake. He sells the jokes without winking too hard, and he remains easy to root for even when the script gives him little to chew on.

Olga Kurylenko plays Drea, and she adds some needed edge to the crew dynamic. Kristofer Hivju appears as General Volkov, bringing a larger-than-life presence suited to the film's heightened world. Samuel L. Jackson turns up as Valentine, and his screen time is a welcome jolt of personality.

Daniel Bernhardt (Gorynych) and Simon Merrells (Tank Commander) round out a cast that fits the film's pulpy mood. Not everyone gets much to do, but the actors understand the assignment.

Where Afterburn Stumbles

The script is the weak point. Writers Matt Johnson and Nimród Antal set up an inventive world, but the jokes land unevenly and the characters stay lightly sketched. Much of the humor feels familiar rather than sharp.

The world-building also stays shallow. The mutants, pirates and rival hunters feel like genre furniture rather than real threats, so the stakes rarely build. Viewers hoping for a richer sci-fi story may feel let down.

The budget is reportedly around $60 million, and some of the effects can look less polished than that figure suggests. The film is entertaining in moments, but it rarely pushes past the ordinary.

Is Afterburn Worth Watching?

Afterburn is worth watching if you want a breezy, undemanding action-comedy and you like Dave Bautista. It is not a standout of the genre, but it offers enough energy and goofy charm to fill an evening.

Audiences have been fairly warm, with a TMDB score of 6.2 out of 10 from 369 votes. That matches our view: a decent time, not a memorable one.

The Afterburn release date was August 20, 2025, and the film is rated R, so expect strong language and violence. If you like your comedy movie reviews with explosions, it's a reasonable pick. For something with more sharpness, you might check our Osiris review for another action-heavy sci-fi option.

For more details on the production, see the Afterburn page on IMDb.

Who Will Enjoy Afterburn

• Dave Bautista fans who enjoy his mix of muscle and humor.

• Viewers who like post-apocalyptic adventures with a lighter touch.

• Casual action fans who want a short, noisy watch without much homework.