Backdraft

Name: Backdraft
Genre: Action, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Released: May 24, 1991
Duration: 137 min
Rating: 38
Cast: Donald Sutherland, Kurt Russell, Robert De Niro, William Baldwin

1991

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 12 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 124 Ratings

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 124 Ratings

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Backdraft

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: May 24, 1991 | R

Starring: Donald Sutherland, Kurt Russell, Robert De Niro, William Baldwin

Summary: Stephen 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 byStephen 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 phenomena known as backdrafts. Before the smoke clears, love affairs are rekindled and lives are shattered as the McCaffrey brothers fight to resolve their differences and solve the mystery. (Universal)… Expand

Director: Ron Howard

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 137 min

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Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert

What I regret is that all of the expertise lavished on this movie couldn't have been put at the service of a more intelligent story about real firemen, real working conditions, real heroism, and the real craft and art of fire-fighting. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

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. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Not only do the firefighting scenes evoke a feeling of gritty authenticity, but the fire itself really does seem to be alive. Read full review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

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. Read full review

Kathleen Maher

Absolutely marvelous special effects are the salvation and the curse of this movie. Read full review

Michael Sragow

Gregory Widen's script is like a Mad parody played straight, full of "Scenes We Wouldn't Like to See." Read full review

Rita Kempley

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. Read full review

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User Reviews

sammyramone

Aug 29, 2012

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 onI 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 storytelling.The cast in this film is as much of a presence as the fire.Ron 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.… Expand

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

Godzilla1954

May 21, 2014

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 McCaffreyNot 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.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Bob

May 18, 2006

memorable realistic action and great actors.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

PamL.

May 20, 2006

Saw this movie on VHS as a rental and liked it enough to buy it. I found it to be an interesting tale about brothers, teamwork, risk-taking, and trust.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Compi24

Jan 1, 2013

Thanks to a refreshingly straightforward story, stellar directorial skills from Ron Howard, and an absolutely mind-blowing set of special effects, "Backdraft" makes for a worthy blockbuster of the greatly intelligent kind.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

kublay0880

Dec 18, 2012

It's definitely a good story, a poor performance on Baldwin but Russell does a good job, excellent special effects, and for those critics that say that there were too many fire in the movie I say HELLO!!!!! it's a firefighter's story, it's absolutely expected to see some flames in the movieIt's definitely a good story, a poor performance on Baldwin but Russell does a good job, excellent special effects, and for those critics that say that there were too many fire in the movie I say HELLO!!!!! it's a firefighter's story, it's absolutely expected to see some flames in the movie don't you think? Well, it has a good plot and a great ending.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Johnd6780

Jun 16, 2020

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 aboutThis 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… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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