On this day April 17, 1981, the prehistoric comedy Caveman premiered in theaters. Directed by Carl Gottlieb, the film starred Ringo Starr as Atouk, a lowly outcast who tries to survive in a wild world of dinosaurs, rival cavemen, and slapstick chaos. The cast also included Dennis Quaid, Shelley Long, and Barbara Bach.
Told almost entirely in caveman gibberish with visual gags and physical comedy, the movie took a lighthearted approach to Stone Age life. From encounters with stop motion dinosaurs to primitive inventions like the first rock band, Caveman leaned into its goofy charm and cartoon like humor.
While not a critical favorite, the film grossed 15.9 million dollars and has since become a cult comedy, especially for fans of physical humor and oddball 80s films.
Fun fact: Ringo Starr met his future wife Barbara Bach on the set of Caveman. They were married less than a year after the film’s release.
Trivia question: What 1981 comedy set in the Stone Age starred Ringo Starr and featured a language made up entirely of caveman gibberish?
Told almost entirely in caveman gibberish with visual gags and physical comedy, the movie took a lighthearted approach to Stone Age life. From encounters with stop motion dinosaurs to primitive inventions like the first rock band, Caveman leaned into its goofy charm and cartoon like humor.
While not a critical favorite, the film grossed 15.9 million dollars and has since become a cult comedy, especially for fans of physical humor and oddball 80s films.
Fun fact: Ringo Starr met his future wife Barbara Bach on the set of Caveman. They were married less than a year after the film’s release.
Trivia question: What 1981 comedy set in the Stone Age starred Ringo Starr and featured a language made up entirely of caveman gibberish?
