Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsCannes Film FestivalStar WarsAsian Pacific American Heritage MonthSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Smoke Signals

  • 1998
  • PG-13
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
13K
YOUR RATING
Evan Adams, Adam Beach, and Irene Bedard in Smoke Signals (1998)
Trailer
Play trailer1:04
1 Video
66 Photos
Buddy ComedyComing-of-AgeQuirky ComedyRoad TripComedyDrama

Arnold rescued Thomas from a fire when he was a child. Thomas thinks of Arnold as a hero, while Arnold's son Victor resents his father's alcoholism, violence and abandonment of his family.Arnold rescued Thomas from a fire when he was a child. Thomas thinks of Arnold as a hero, while Arnold's son Victor resents his father's alcoholism, violence and abandonment of his family.Arnold rescued Thomas from a fire when he was a child. Thomas thinks of Arnold as a hero, while Arnold's son Victor resents his father's alcoholism, violence and abandonment of his family.

  • Director
    • Chris Eyre
  • Writer
    • Sherman Alexie
  • Stars
    • Adam Beach
    • Evan Adams
    • Irene Bedard
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    13K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Chris Eyre
    • Writer
      • Sherman Alexie
    • Stars
      • Adam Beach
      • Evan Adams
      • Irene Bedard
    • 141User reviews
    • 38Critic reviews
    • 76Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 15 wins & 8 nominations total

    Videos1

    Smoke Signals
    Trailer 1:04
    Smoke Signals

    Photos65

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 59
    View Poster

    Top cast23

    Edit
    Adam Beach
    Adam Beach
    • Victor Joseph
    Evan Adams
    Evan Adams
    • Thomas Builds-the-Fire
    Irene Bedard
    Irene Bedard
    • Suzy Song
    Gary Farmer
    Gary Farmer
    • Arnold Joseph
    Tantoo Cardinal
    Tantoo Cardinal
    • Arlene Joseph
    Cody Lightning
    Cody Lightning
    • Young Victor Joseph
    Simon Baker
    Simon Baker
    • Young Thomas Builds-the-Fire
    Monique Mojica
    • Grandma Builds-the-Fire
    John Trudell
    John Trudell
    • Randy Peone
    Chief Leonard George
    • Lester Fallsapart
    • (as Leonard George)
    Michael Greyeyes
    Michael Greyeyes
    • Junior Polatkin
    Darwin Haine
    Darwin Haine
    • Boo
    Michelle St. John
    • Velma
    Elaine Miles
    Elaine Miles
    • Lucy
    Cynthia Geary
    Cynthia Geary
    • Cathy the Gymnast
    Gary Taylor
    • Cowboy
    Perrey Reeves
    Perrey Reeves
    • Holly
    Nicolette Vajtay
    • Julie
    • Director
      • Chris Eyre
    • Writer
      • Sherman Alexie
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Dance Me Outside
    7.1
    Dance Me Outside
    DreamKeeper
    7.5
    DreamKeeper
    Powwow Highway
    7.2
    Powwow Highway
    Hey, Viktor!
    6.7
    Hey, Viktor!
    Skins
    7.0
    Skins
    The Business of Fancydancing
    6.6
    The Business of Fancydancing
    Reel Injun
    7.5
    Reel Injun
    Skinwalkers
    7.1
    Skinwalkers
    The Rez
    7.9
    The Rez
    Indian Horse
    7.3
    Indian Horse
    Rhymes for Young Ghouls
    6.5
    Rhymes for Young Ghouls
    A Thief of Time
    7.0
    A Thief of Time

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The first movie to be written, directed, and co-produced by Native Americans.
    • Goofs
      There is no way that one bus driver could have driven the same bus continuously from Idaho to Arizona. Federal law would prohibit it.
    • Quotes

      Thomas Builds-the-Fire: How do we forgive our fathers? Maybe in a dream. Do we forgive our fathers for leaving us too often, or forever, when we were little? Maybe for scaring us with unexpected rage, or making us nervous because there never seemed to be any rage there at all? Do we forgive our fathers for marrying, or not marrying, our mothers? Or divorcing, or not divorcing, our mothers? And shall we forgive them for their excesses of warmth or coldness? Shall we forgive them for pushing, or leaning? For shutting doors or speaking through walls? For never speaking, or never being silent? Do we forgive our fathers in our age, or in theirs? Or in their deaths, saying it to them or not saying it. If we forgive our fathers, what is left?

    • Crazy credits
      Any similarity to actual persons, living, dead, or indigenous, is purely coincidental.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Out of Sight/Smoke Signals/Doctor Dolittle/Picnic at Hanging Rock/Insomnia (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Her Song
      Music and Lyrics by André L. Picard Jr.

      Performed by André L. Picard Jr. and John Sirois

    User reviews141

    Featured review

    Excellent movie about just being Indian, from Indians.

    I lived where this was filmed and really enjoyed the movie for the content and the location. The inside jokes about being Indian were great and since I no longer live on the reservation it reminded me of home. The story was believable and the actors brought it to life. I had to call my brother and tell him to watch it again and look closer at the end credits and background of the film, it is wonderful. Congratulations to the Cast & Crew.
    • myshadow68
    • Jul 23, 2002
    • Permalink

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ20

    • How long is Smoke Signals?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 27, 1998 (Iceland)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Señales de humo
    • Filming locations
      • Worley, Idaho, USA
    • Production companies
      • ShadowCatcher Entertainment
      • Welb Film Pursuits Ltd.
      • Nortel
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $6,745,362
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $43,574
      • Jun 28, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,745,362
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 29 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Evan Adams, Adam Beach, and Irene Bedard in Smoke Signals (1998)
    Top Gap
    What is the Spanish language plot outline for Smoke Signals (1998)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.