The film stars Sean Astin, with a supporting cast of Brendan Fraser, Mariette Hartley, Richard Masur and Pauly Shore.

One day, while digging a pool in his backyard, Dave discovers the caveman, who is frozen in a gigantic block of ice.

A beeping smoke alarm leads them to Dave's bedroom, where they discover the caveman attempting to start a fire.

During a school field trip to the La Brea Tar Pits, Link grieves after realizing that the cavepeople he knew are all dead.

During a driver's ed lesson, Link drives away in a car with Dave, Stoney, and Robyn before stopping at a dance club.

Dismayed at the caveman's antics and Robyn's desire to go to the upcoming prom with Link, Dave tries to abandon him, but Stoney reprimands him, leading to a fight between the two.

Matt is left humiliated, Dave and Robyn make up, and the three boys lead the entire prom in an impromptu caveman-like dance with Infectious Grooves providing the music.

Originally, Ben Stiller, Keith Coogan, and Jeff Maynard, were cast as the three main characters Link, Stoney, and Dave for a screen test.

[8] Encino Man was directed by Les Mayfield, a veteran of behind-the-scenes promotional documentaries, making his feature-film debut.

[9] Filming locations across northern Los Angeles included Los Angeles Mission College in Sylmar and Six Flags Magic Mountain, while the family home was filmed at 7532 Sedgwick Court, West Hills, and the minimart scene was shot at 6586 Van Nuys Blvd, Van Nuys.

The film tested well with teen audiences, and Mayfield thanked Wayne's World, which was released three months before Encino Man, for showing a comedy aimed at this demographic could do well.

Costume designer Marie France decided not to buy clothes; instead, she custom made the wardrobe for the characters of Stoney and Link.

For Fraser, who stands at 6 feet 3 inches (190 cm), it was a matter of practicality, easier than trying to find the sizes needed, and she dressed him in baggy, knee-length shorts and oversized T-shirts.

The website's critical consensus reads: "Encino Man isn't the first unabashedly silly comedy to embrace its stupidity and amass a cult following, but whether or not it works for you will largely be determined by your tolerance for Pauly Shore.

It takes a different and more feminist approach, parodying the fashion industry and featuring numerous cameos by drag queens.

[21] In Evan Wright's book about the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Generation Kill, the U.S. Marine company commander is nicknamed Encino Man, supposedly for his incompetence.