A fiber optic cable, comprising: core elements (114, 124, 220) comprising: (i) an optical fiber; and (ii) a buffer tube surrounding the optical fiber; a multi-layered flame-retardant film structure surrounding the core elements (114, 124, 220), characterized in that the multi-layered film structure comprises: (i) a first film comprising an extrudable polymer that includes a base material and a flame-retardant filler material, wherein the first film has an average thickness over a 10-meter length of the cable that is less than 500 micrometers, wherein the first film is the interior-most layer of the multi-layered flame-retardant film structure, and wherein the first film includes a polar material and the adjoining buffer tube includes a nonpolar material or vice versa so that the first film does not bond or has reduced bonding to the adjoining buffer tube, and (ii) a second film comprising an extrudable polymer that includes a base material and a flame-retardant filler material, wherein the second film has an average thickness over the 10-meter length of the cable that is less than 500 micrometers. core elements (114, 124, 220) comprising: (i) an optical fiber; and (ii) a buffer tube surrounding the optical fiber; (i) an optical fiber; and (ii) a buffer tube surrounding the optical fiber; a multi-layered flame-retardant film structure surrounding the core elements (114, 124, 220), characterized in that the multi-layered film structure comprises: (i) a first film comprising an extrudable polymer that includes a base material and a flame-retardant filler material, wherein the first film has an average thickness over a 10-meter length of the cable that is less than 500 micrometers, wherein the first film is the interior-most layer of the multi-layered flame-retardant film structure, and wherein the first film includes a polar material and the adjoining buffer tube includes a nonpolar material or vice versa so that the first film does not bond or has reduced bonding to the adjoining buffer tube, and (ii) a second film comprising an extrudable polymer that includes a base material and a flame-retardant filler material, wherein the second film has an average thickness over the 10-meter length of the cable that is less than 500 micrometers. (i) a first film comprising an extrudable polymer that includes a base material and a flame-retardant filler material, wherein the first film has an average thickness over a 10-meter length of the cable that is less than 500 micrometers, wherein the first film is the interior-most layer of the multi-layered flame-retardant film structure, and wherein the first film includes a polar material and the adjoining buffer tube includes a nonpolar material or vice versa so that the first film does not bond or has reduced bonding to the adjoining buffer tube, and wherein the first film is the interior-most layer of the multi-layered flame-retardant film structure, and wherein the first film includes a polar material and the adjoining buffer tube includes a nonpolar material or vice versa so that the first film does not bond or has reduced bonding to the adjoining buffer tube, (ii) a second film comprising an extrudable polymer that includes a base material and a flame-retardant filler material, wherein the second film has an average thickness over the 10-meter length of the cable that is less than 500 micrometers.