SummaryStephen McCaffrey (Russell) and his younger brother Brian (Baldwin) are two feuding siblings carrying on an heroic family tradition in the Chicago fire department. Stephen is so relentless that he drives Brian out of firefighting and into arson investigation. Brian becomes involved in a puzzling series of arson attacks, each ignited by explosive ... Read More
Directed By:Ron Howard
Written By:Gregory Widen
Backdraft
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
39
User score
Generally Favorable
7.0
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
39
17% Positive
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
50% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
33% Negative
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
75
Fire, as this movie makes clear, is nothing if not photogenic, and Howard has done a beautiful job of conjuring both its danger and its deceptive, primal beauty.
60
Visually, [the film] often is exhilarating, but it's shapeless and dragged down by corny, melodramatic characters and situations.
User score
Generally Favorable
7.0
61% Positive
46 Ratings
46 Ratings
30% Mixed
23 Ratings
23 Ratings
9% Negative
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
Jan 7, 2024
10
Watching this movie it occurred to me why there are so few movies that center around firemen, and that is because this movie is perfect. No one will ever make a better fireman movie. Acting, soundtrack, effects, plot. It is all there. Back when ILM meant something.
May 21, 2014
10
Not a lot of people can truly say that they have a one unique favorite movie thats stands out from the rest. However for me Backdraft does. Directed by Ron Howard with an all star cast , Backdraft is the story of Chicago Firefighters of Engine 17. The film begins seeing young Brian McCaffrey (William Baldwin) witnessing his fathers death at a building fire. We cut to 17 years later Brian having just graduated as a candidate Firefighter , he and his older brother Lt Stephen McCaffery (Played By Kurt Russell) don't get along so well , Stephen tempers with Brians station so that Brian is sent to his Department , Stephen looks over Brian & worrys about him after a factory fire , Brian did not listen to Stephens orders and nearly got killed. After a few weeks Stephen convinces Brian to give up being a Firefighter. Meanwhile thorought the movie , the Department responds to numerous calls that have been killing people with Backdrafts. Brian get's a new Job withfire inspector Donald Rimgale (Played by Robert De Niro), Him & Donald investigate how & who is causing the backdrafts which end in an epic finally and a extremly sad ending. Why do I love this movie ? well beside from the fact that it has stunning special effects & visuals , amazing music & strong performances. I love it being that I watched it at a very young age and since then , my whole life i've wanted to be a firefighter , sure its farfetched & far from real but thats not the point. The movie made me love Firefighters & My dream is to someday be a professional firefighter. I could watch this movie 10 times a day and never get tired of it. Its one of those movies that get's even better after you watch it again & again . Backdraft.....Thank you.
50
It's sad to see two talented actresses, Rebecca de Mornay and Jennifer Jason Leigh, wasted in puppet parts. [17 June 1991, p.28]
40
Howard, as usual, seems bent on mixing genres to make several movies at once--monster movie, crime movie, coming-of-age movie, and action-adventure movie (among others)--yielding an overall narrative that's not boring but not especially suspenseful or focused either.
40
Absolutely marvelous special effects are the salvation and the curse of this movie.
30
Gregory Widen's script is like a Mad parody played straight, full of "Scenes We Wouldn't Like to See."
10
A noisy, impenetrable and totally nonsensical cogitation on the nature of firefighters and the sizzling "animal" they love...We just wish somebody would call 911 for boredom.
Aug 29, 2012
10
I love Backdraft it's my alltime favorite firefighter movie this movie is claer cut of how a ood cast,great direction and story plus jaw dropping fire scenes filled with special effects can amke a movie so good.Backdraft's storyline starts out in familar territory then begins to tread on unexplored areas of **** cast in this film is as much of a presence as the **** Howard who reallys surprised me with this movie tis wasn't something he usually did bt he pulled it off wonderfully.That is why I gave this film a perfect score.
May 14, 2019
6
+Incredible practical action set pieces
+Excellent soundtrack from Hanz Zimmer
+Great lighting/cinematography
+Superb cast
-Weak script Backdraft is an incredibly well made film from the 90's peak of hollywood cinema sporting a superb cinematic look with a great cast and action pieces. Sadly the screenplay falls short failing to capitalise on some of the many plot ideas instead just throwing it all into the pot giving 'narrative texture' but to the detriment of 'narrative depth'. Despite this the detailed dramatic scenes of Backdraft let the film progress at a good pace yet something feels off with the overall story which left me confused rather than satisfied overall.
Dec 26, 2017
6
The pacing can be slow at times and the motivations of the characters aren't always clear as the film tries to hard to be mysterious. The films strengths are in the action sequences and the cinematography. An enjoyable film for fans of the genre and movie lovers.
Jan 23, 2021
5
Too long movie with some unrealistic scenes and many simple characters. Sometimes the movie is too heroic and then it is ridiculous. Anyway some action scenes were good.
Jun 16, 2020
3
This film is decent but seemed like a wasted opportunity. William Baldwin’s character is well fleshed out and his journey through the film is quite well written and believable. Unfortunately no other character including kurt Russell’s character gets that chance.
The film is largely about Brian McCaffrey (Baldwin) so it’s a mystery why Russell is first in the cast whose character is too one dimensional. He seems to never be talking about anything but “the job”.
Scott Glenn does a great job as Adcox but seems a little uneven. His motivation only becomes clear at the very end of the film and his lack of regard for Brian is a little hard to believe given what his motivations are.
Both female leads are too one dimensional also. Not enough time is spent on the reasons for Russell and De Mornays failed marriage and Jennifer Jason Leigh’s character isn’t given a proper third act.
I liked the Irish tradition attached to the fire fighting clan party which you don’t see in films anymore and the brawl that broke out between two different surnames within the firefighting world which you get the impression has been passed through generations.
The film builds up to a good ending but overall it’s early scenes were my favourite part of the film when a quite believable world is created but not expanded enough on.
Bryan’s friend Tim should’ve gotten Atleast one more scene later in the film but for some reason is just forgotten after a significant moment for his character.
De Niro is very good as always and plays his part well but seems totally removed from the rest of the story.
A good effort but could’ve been better seems a li
Production Company:
- Imagine Entertainment
- Trilogy Entertainment Group
Release Date:May 24, 1991
Duration:2 h 17 m
Rating:R
Tagline:One breath of oxygen and it explodes in a deadly rage.
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 3 Nominations
Awards Circuit Community Awards
• 3 Nominations
MTV Movie + TV Awards
• 2 Nominations
