Backdraft (1991)
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Chicago firefighters hunt a serial arsonist while navigating internal tensions and a dangerous conspiracy.
The story
In Chicago, two brothers—experienced Lieutenant Stephen "Bull" McCaffrey and his younger brother Brian—work as firefighters for Engine 17. While Stephen is known for his unorthodox and often dangerous methods, Brian struggles to step out of his brother's shadow. Their lives are disrupted when a series of explosive fires occur, leading Inspector Donald "Shadow" Rimgale to investigate a potential serial arsonist. Brian joins Rimgale's team as an assistant, leading them into a web of corruption involving city officials and budget cuts that threaten the safety of the fire department and the city's residents.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Two brothers, Stephen "Bull" McCaffrey and Brian, serve in the Chicago Fire Department. Stephen's reckless style causes friction with the veteran John "Axe" Adcox and his own wife, Helen. When a series of explosive fires occur, Inspector Donald "Shadow" Rimgale is called in. Brian joins Rimgale's team, and they discover that Alderman Marty Swayzak is taking kickbacks to shut down firehouses. During a high-rise call, Stephen's insistence on speed leads to a backdraft that severely injures a trainee. Rimgale and Brian eventually confront Swayzak, interrupting a masked man attempting to set his home on fire. Rimgale is injured, and Brian realizes the arsonist is someone who knows firefighting tactics. Brian suspects Adcox, who has a burn on his back. Adcox admits he set the fires to kill Swayzak's associates because Swayzak benefited from firefighter deaths. During a chemical plant fire, Stephen saves Adcox from a collapsing catwalk, but Adcox falls to his death. Stephen survives the initial fall but dies later with Brian by his side. Brian agrees to keep Adcox's identity secret. Finally, Brian and Rimgale expose Swayzak's corruption at a press conference, destroying his mayoral ambitions.
- First release year
- 1991
- Runtime (minutes)
- 137
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Ron Howard
- Writers
- Gregory Widen · writer
- Cast and characters
- Kurt Russell · Brian McCaffrey; William Baldwin · Stephen "Bull" McCaffrey; Scott Glenn · John "Axe" Adcox; Jennifer Jason Leigh · Jennifer Vaitkus; Rebecca De Mornay; Donald Sutherland; Robert De Niro; Jason Gedrick; J. T. Walsh
- Genres
- action; thriller; drama
- Themes
- Brotherhood; Corruption; Sacrifice; Heroism
- Tone and mood
- Action-packed; Dramatic; Tense
- Premise and plot tags
- Arson; Firefighting; Crime; Conspiracy
- Franchise connections
- Backdraft
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews, praised for its special effects and performances, though it faced criticism for its story. It was a commercial success, grossing over $150 million worldwide.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 72% · review count: 65; Rotten Tomatoes · score: 6.2/10 · scale: 10
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Sound · 64th · Nomination; Academy Award · Best Visual Effects · 64th · Nomination
- Production trivia
- Kurt Russell pursued Tom Cruise for the role of Brian McCaffrey, but Cruise declined.; Robert Downey Jr., Brad Pitt and Keanu Reeves also auditioned for the role.; The film inspired a special effects attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood, which opened in 1992 and closed in 2010.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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