Backdraft | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

73% Tomatometer 64 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings

Chicago firefighting brothers Stephen (Kurt Russell) and Brian (William Baldwin) have been rivals since childhood. Brian, struggling to prove himself, transfers to the arson unit. There he aids Don (Robert De Niro) in his investigation into a spate of fires involving oxygen-induced infernos called backdrafts. But when a conspiracy implicating a crooked politician and an arsonist leads Brian back to Stephen, he is forced to overcome his brotherly competitiveness in order to crack the case.

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Backdraft

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Critics Consensus

It's not particularly deep, but Backdraft is a strong action movie with exceptional special effects.

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Critics Reviews

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Backdraft | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Julie Salamon Wall Street Journal [Howard] gives the fire fighting scenes a satisfying feel of terror. But the psychological portraits of the fire fighters and the arson mystery that dominate the film are flimsy, like an art student's dutifully crafted reproductions of the great masters. Aug 10, 2022 Full Review Backdraft | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Bob Fenster Arizona Republic Although the movie is unrealistic in its depiction of fircfighting, it's a stunning piece of cinematic storytelling. Rated: 4/5 Aug 3, 2021 Full Review Backdraft | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Michael H. Price Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com Ron Howard and screenwriter Steve Widen have distilled an essence of fear. Rated: 8/10 Aug 3, 2021 Full Review Backdraft | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Matt Brunson Film Frenzy A hoary melodrama in which the clichés are more plentiful than the flames. Rated: 2/4 Nov 19, 2023 Full Review Backdraft | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Akos Peterbencze Vulnerable Man (Medium) Backdraft is an old-school flick filled with masculinity and heroism, which might feel toxic and over-the-top at times, but it’s still satisfying. Jul 21, 2023 Full Review Backdraft | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Robert Julian Bay Area Reporter In Universal's Backdraft, Ron Howard establishes that he can get the best actors in Hollywood to do work completely beneath their talents. Mar 2, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jason M D Backdraft is a great action movie with a great cast the story and plot for Backdraft is great it has aged very well and still holds up 33 years later i am doing this review Becaues I found out that there is a reboot in the works Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/25/24 Full Review Blu B It's a classic 90's popcorn flick. The highlight is the production value/cinematography which is really good. The camerawork is first class, the special effects are amazing, and so are the set designs for the fire scenes. They truly grab you by the edge of your seat and are the highlight. The music is really good also but I do wish it was a bit more catchy on it's own. Everything else is solid about this overall. Where this starts to buckle is when it tries (and works enough) merging the melodrama with Baldwin and Russell with the Arson plotline. It becomes very clunky at times and jumps around a bit. It really helps that it's directed and acted well. Russell is really good and the best thing in this. Glenn, Baldwin, and DeNiro are solid as well. Everyone else is just kind of ok and very forgettable including the love interest who feels hammed in. The plot twist is kind of farfetched but works just enough where i'll buy it. when it focuses on Baldwin growing and becoming a firemen and the tension with his brother is when this is at it's best mixed with the fire action. The love interests, the backstory with his Dad/killer, and the complex arson plot/plot twist really gives this a bloated feel at times especially as this goes on. But it 's acted well, got great production and special effects, and the drama that does work carries this. The arson subplot does start out interesting also but again the payoff isn't as strong. It's still a solid flick thanks to Howards direction as well. Anyone who is a fan of any actors in this, the director, fire movies, or 90's popcorn flicks will like this. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/06/24 Full Review Lane W I really well, done movie in my opinion Curt Russell at his best. I would highly recommend this movie to anybody that loves firefighting or kurt Russell. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/02/24 Full Review Glen A 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. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/07/24 Full Review Roxie R I give this 2 stars, simply due to the special effects. The acting is horrible, way over-played. The concept of ANY firefighter entering into a burning building without a face mask, ... not to mention the temperature of the internal burning fire burning out the lung tissue, ... simply so stupid. At least make it real, ... and this film failed on all accounts. Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 11/23/23 Full Review Alec B The fire effects have held up remarkably well, but that's about the only thing of note. This notion that fire is a "living breathing thing" and is essentially the the film's main villain ( I'd argue Scott Glenn was just a henchman) is entirely too stupid to forgive. Rated 1.5/5 Stars • Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 11/10/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Ron Howard Director Kurt Russell Stephen "Bull" McCaffrey William Baldwin Brian McCaffrey Robert De Niro Donald 'Shadow' Rimgale Donald Sutherland Ronald Bartel Jennifer Jason Leigh Jennifer Vaitkus
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Movie Clips

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Backdraft

Backdraft: Official Clip - Stephen's Final Words Backdraft: Official Clip - Stephen's Final Words 2:19 Backdraft: Official Clip - Swayzak Is Served Backdraft: Official Clip - Swayzak Is Served 0:55 Backdraft: Official Clip - That's My Brother Backdraft: Official Clip - That's My Brother 2:32 Backdraft: Official Clip - You Go, We Go Backdraft: Official Clip - You Go, We Go 2:18 Backdraft: Official Clip - Tim and the Backdraft Backdraft: Official Clip - Tim and the Backdraft 2:17 Backdraft: Official Clip - Ronald's Parole Hearing Backdraft: Official Clip - Ronald's Parole Hearing 1:52 Backdraft: Official Clip - Stephen the Hero Backdraft: Official Clip - Stephen the Hero 2:09 Backdraft: Official Clip - Catching the Arsonist Backdraft: Official Clip - Catching the Arsonist 2:04 Backdraft: Official Clip - Who Doesn't Love Fire? Backdraft: Official Clip - Who Doesn't Love Fire? 2:59 Backdraft: Official Clip - Fire Is a Living Thing Backdraft: Official Clip - Fire Is a Living Thing 2:07 View more videos

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Synopsis Chicago firefighting brothers Stephen (Kurt Russell) and Brian (William Baldwin) have been rivals since childhood. Brian, struggling to prove himself, transfers to the arson unit. There he aids Don (Robert De Niro) in his investigation into a spate of fires involving oxygen-induced infernos called backdrafts. But when a conspiracy implicating a crooked politician and an arsonist leads Brian back to Stephen, he is forced to overcome his brotherly competitiveness in order to crack the case.

Director
Ron Howard

Producer
Pen Densham, Richard B. Lewis, John Watson

Screenwriter
Gregory Widen

Distributor
Universal Pictures

Production Co
Imagine Entertainment, Trilogy Entertainment Group, Universal Pictures

Rating
R

Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Drama

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
May 24, 1991, Original

Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 19, 2016

Box Office (Gross USA)
$75.7M

Runtime
2h 17m

Sound Mix
Surround, DTS, Dolby, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track

Aspect Ratio
35mm, Scope (2.35:1)
Most Popular at Home Now
Backdraft | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

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