Backdraft

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

91K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

4,925

Play trailer3:25

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99+ Photos

Action Drama Mystery Thriller

Two feuding siblings carrying on a heroic family tradition as Chicago firefighters. But when a puzzling series of arson attacks is reported, they are forced to set aside their differences to... Read allTwo feuding siblings carrying on a heroic family tradition as Chicago firefighters. But when a puzzling series of arson attacks is reported, they are forced to set aside their differences to solve the mystery surrounding these crimes.Two feuding siblings carrying on a heroic family tradition as Chicago firefighters. But when a puzzling series of arson attacks is reported, they are forced to set aside their differences to solve the mystery surrounding these crimes.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

91K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

4,925

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 3 Oscars
- 1 win & 13 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 3:25

Backdraft

Photos132

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Storyline

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Did you know

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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
Experienced firefighters would know better than to ride elevators in buildings where fires may or may not be in progress.

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 & the Movies: 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 reviews198

Featured review

7/10

burn baby, burn

It's weird to think that when I went to see "Home Alone" in the theaters, "Backdraft" was advertised right before the movie came on. The whole thing is a little grimmer than we usually expect from Ron Howard. It focuses on mutually hostile brothers Stephen (Kurt Russell) and Brian McCaffrey (William Baldwin), both firefighters in Chicago having to put aside their differences to fight an arson outbreak.

True, it doesn't really sound like much of a plot, but Howard knows how to keep everything going. Stephen is the sort of guy with a bad attitude whom you can't help but respect. Brian mainly shows that there was once a time when Alec Baldwin's brothers could act. As for the climax, that is really something that is likely to shock you royally. But don't get me wrong. This is a good movie. Maybe not any kind of masterpiece, but worth seeing nevertheless. Above all, it's not a disaster movie (the less said about "The Towering Inferno" the better). Also starring Robert DeNiro, Donald Sutherland, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Scott Glenn, Rebecca DeMornay and J.T. Walsh.