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Backdraft

  • 1991
  • R
  • 2h 17m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
84K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,659
1,642
Backdraft (1991)
Trailer for firemen drama
Play trailer3:25
1 Video
99+ Photos
ActionDramaMystery

Two Chicago firefighter brothers, who don't get along, have to work together while a dangerous arsonist is on the loose.Two Chicago firefighter brothers, who don't get along, have to work together while a dangerous arsonist is on the loose.Two Chicago firefighter brothers, who don't get along, have to work together while a dangerous arsonist is on the loose.

  • Director
    • Ron Howard
  • Writer
    • Gregory Widen
  • Stars
    • Kurt Russell
    • William Baldwin
    • Robert De Niro
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    84K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,659
    1,642
    • Director
      • Ron Howard
    • Writer
      • Gregory Widen
    • Stars
      • Kurt Russell
      • William Baldwin
      • Robert De Niro
    • 189User reviews
    • 80Critic reviews
    • 38Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 1 win & 11 nominations total

    Videos1

    Backdraft
    Trailer 3:25
    Watch Backdraft

    Photos103

    William Baldwin, Kurt Russell, Scott Glenn, and Cedric Young in Backdraft (1991)
    William Baldwin and Kurt Russell in Backdraft (1991)
    Backdraft (1991)
    Kurt Russell in Backdraft (1991)
    William Baldwin and Kurt Russell in Backdraft (1991)
    Backdraft (1991)
    Backdraft (1991)
    Backdraft (1991)
    Backdraft (1991)
    Backdraft (1991)
    Backdraft (1991)
    Backdraft (1991)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kurt Russell
    Kurt Russell
    • Stephen McCaffrey
    William Baldwin
    William Baldwin
    • Brian McCaffrey
    Robert De Niro
    Robert De Niro
    • Donald Rimgale
    Donald Sutherland
    Donald Sutherland
    • Ronald Bartel
    Jennifer Jason Leigh
    Jennifer Jason Leigh
    • Jennifer Vaitkus
    Scott Glenn
    Scott Glenn
    • John Adcox
    Rebecca De Mornay
    Rebecca De Mornay
    • Helen McCaffrey
    Jason Gedrick
    Jason Gedrick
    • Tim Krizminski
    J.T. Walsh
    J.T. Walsh
    • Martin Swayzak
    Tony Mockus Sr.
    • Chief John Fitzgerald
    Cedric Young
    • Grindle
    Juan Ramírez
    • Ray Santos
    Kevin Casey
    • Nightengale
    Jack McGee
    Jack McGee
    • Schmidt
    Mark Wheeler
    Mark Wheeler
    • Pengelly
    Richard Lexsee
    Richard Lexsee
    • Washington
    Beep Iams
    • Sean McCaffrey
    Ryan Todd
    Ryan Todd
    • Brian Age 7
    • Director
      • Ron Howard
    • Writer
      • Gregory Widen
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Kurt Russell, Kevin Casey, Scott Glenn and William Baldwin did a lot of their own stunts, and stunt coordinator Walter Scott was so impressed by their performances that he listed them as stunt performers in the credits.
    • Goofs
      The first victim's body doesn't land on the car after the explosion, but is there when firefighters arrive.
    • Quotes

      Lt. Steven McCaffrey: Look at him... That's my brother goddammit!

    • Alternate versions
      Network television version featured additional footage:
      • the firemen from Engine 17 visit a recently widowed firefighter's wife
      • Stephen (Kurt Russell) has an emotional scene with Inspector Rimgale (Robert De Niro) over the fire where Tim (Jason Gedrick) was burned
      • During the news conference where Alderman Swayzak (J.T. Walsh) is exposed, Brian (William Baldwin) visits Jennifer (Jennifer Jason Leigh) as she is packing up her office, having recently quit.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: One Good Cop/FX2/Switch/Spartacus/Drowning by Numbers (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      Set Me In Motion
      Written by Bruce Hornsby (as B.R. Hornsby) & John Hornsby

      Performed by Bruce Hornsby & The Range (as Bruce Hornsby and The Range)

      Courtesy of The RCA Records Label of BMG Music

    User reviews189

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Howard's film is solid, better than you think
    Ron Howard's action/thriller about two brothers (Baldwin and Russell), who have some differences but need to work together to find out whose causing recent arson fires in their district. THe film is done well, good acting for the most part, brilliant direction, and a decent screenplay. I thought William Baldwin started out the first couple scenes with a bit of a constant smirk on his face, but his acting seemed to improve (or maybe grow on me), he gave a satisfying performance. Meanwhile Russell was solid as well as his older brother who is an old-fashioned bitter fireman who takes too many risks. The female performances were rather average, Jennifer Jason Leigh was decent as Jennifer a girl who helps Brian (Baldwin). Rebecca DeMornay is not so great as Steven (Russel)'s ex-wife. Robert DeNiro was great in his role as a fire department detective trying to solve the case. J.T. Walsh was also decent in his role, which was similar but expanded in F. Gary Gray's THe Negotiator. The best performance of the film came from Scott Glenn who was great as a firefighter known as "Axe". I haven't seen Ladder49, so this is my favorite firefighter movie as of now. The script had some problems, as it didn't flow well, but the actors managed to save it although i was particularly upset with one dialogue between jennifer jason leigh and william baldwin which seemed like a complete rip-off of the scene where Michael Corleone and Kay see each other again after Michael is back from Sicily in Godfather part 1. But for the most part the script was average, not bad, but saved by brilliant direction, solid acting and great action. The music was done very well and suited the film, props to Hans Zimmer for yet another great score. The cinematography was also very good, especially in the fire scenes, good job by Mikael Salomon. 8/10
    helpful•54
    9
    • PersianPlaya408
    • Aug 8, 2005

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    FAQ3

    • Why do the veteran firefighters in Engine17 keep calling Brian and Tim "probies"?
    • Why does Steven repeatedly refuse to wear his face mask when fighting a fire?
    • Why was Steven being harder on Brian during drilling than he was on Tim, who was also a new recruit?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 24, 1991 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Bức Tường Lửa
    • Filming locations
      • Chicago Firehouse Restaurant, 1401 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, USA(Station 17 second story dorm and locker room interiors.)
    • Production companies
      • Imagine Films Entertainment
      • Trilogy Entertainment Group
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $40,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $77,868,585
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $12,686,200
      • May 26, 1991
    • Gross worldwide
      • $152,368,585
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 17 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

    Related news

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