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Backdraft

  • 19911991
  • RR
  • 2h 17m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
82K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,398
220
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.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
82K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,398
220
    • Ron Howard
    • Gregory Widen
  • Stars
    • Kurt Russell
    • William Baldwin
    • Robert De Niro
    • Ron Howard
    • Gregory Widen
  • Stars
    • Kurt Russell
    • William Baldwin
    • Robert De Niro
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 188User reviews
    • 79Critic reviews
    • 38Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars

    Videos1

    Backdraft
    Trailer 3:25
    Watch Backdraft

    Photos101

    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
    • Marty Swayzak
    Tony Mockus Jr.
    • Chief John Fitzgerald
    • (as Tony Mockus Sr.)
    Cedric Young
    • Grindle
    Juan Ramírez
    • Ray Santos
    Kevin Casey
    • Nightingale
    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
      • Ron Howard
      • Gregory Widen
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    4.9
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    6.9
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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 At 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 reviews188

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Excellent portrayal of actual events
    Ron Howard did a wonderful job of bringing some of the real-life problems that firefighters face everyday in Backdraft. I'm kind of tired of hearing the Monday morning quarterbacks on this site trying to talk about how bad it was and that it wasn't realistic, etc. Take it from a REAL firefighter who has lost brothers in REAL fires and has lived through a REAL backdraft, it's NOT all fun and games, and it's far from glamourous. This movie did an excellent job capturing some of the emotions that flow through every firehouse in America today, particularly after 9/11, we are a brotherhood in which the "I go---we go" mentality is a very REAL concept that most of us live by everyday. And the corruption part of the story, well that's Hollywood for ya, if it doesn't have death, destruction, and corruption...then it doesn't sell very well. Yes there are corrupt politicians and it wouldn't surprise me if things like that did happen, but it's far from commonplace and was just to enhance the film and give you a person to "hate" in the film (JT Walsh, God rest his soul).

    So I give it 4 out of 4 stars, very realistic, well directed, EXCELLENT acting on Kurt Russell and Robert DiNiro's parts, and can't wait til I find it on DVD to buy it.
    helpful•76
    20
    • Seattle911
    • Jan 10, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 24, 1991 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Chicago Firehouse Restaurant, 1401 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, USA
    • Production companies
      • Imagine Films Entertainment
      • Trilogy Entertainment Group
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 2 hours 17 minutes
      • Color

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