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Backdraft

Backdraft

Silently behind a door, it waits. One breath of oxygen and it explodes in a deadly rage. In that instant it can create a hero...or cover a secret.

1991137 minRMidcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
Director
Ron Howard
Starring
Kurt Russell, William Baldwin, Robert De Niro, Donald Sutherland

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.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Backdraft?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Backdraft to rent or buy on Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Backdraft?

Backdraft earns 11 badges, led by Spectacle and Visual feast.

Show 3 more
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Backdraft worth watching?

Backdraft's Midcredits score is the 69th percentile of all films, from 152K ratings across 6 sources. 63% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

69th percentile

Better received than 69% of films

82nd percentile among Action71st percentile among 1990s
Acclaim (how much people like it)66th
Approval (how many liked it)70th

66 /100

66th percentile of all films

80th percentile among Action70th percentile among 1990s

Critics 39 · Audience 67

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.9 — solid but not unanimous.

63% liked it

70th percentile of all films

80th percentile among Action71st percentile among 1990s
63% rated it 7–1037% rated it 1–6

Critics 72% · Audience 75%

On Rotten Tomatoes, critics and audiences approve at similar rates.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 3 Oscar noms · 0 wins / 13 noms overall

  • NominatedAcademy Awards· Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing
  • NominatedAcademy Awards· Best Effects, Visual Effects

95th percentile

152K ratings across platforms

90th percentile among Action93rd percentile among 1990s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 30% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$40M
Opening weekend$13M
Domestic gross$78M
Worldwide gross$152M

Returned 3.8× its budget — 89th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the film boasts stunning, realistic fire sequences but is burdened by a melodramatic, cliché-ridden script.

Fans praised

  • spectacular fire effects and stunt work
  • Kurt Russell's strong performance as the older brother
  • emotionally stirring brotherhood drama

Detractors panned

  • illogical firefighting tactics and unrealistic behavior
  • overstuffed with clichéd melodrama and subplots
  • corny dialogue and hammy acting

What stands out

Effects and spectacle90

stunning, realistic fire and stunt work; Oscar-nominated

Cinematography80

beautiful, gritty visuals; great location shooting in Chicago

Sound and music75

Hans Zimmer's score adds operatic weight; sound design praised for intensity

ActingDivisive70

Kurt Russell praised as compelling; De Niro, Sutherland, Walsh strong but limited; Baldwin mixed; some critics call acting melodramatic

CharactersDivisive45

brothers' rivalry plausible but clichéd; several supporting roles derided as one-dimensional stereotypes

PacingDivisive45

overlong at 137 minutes; bogs down in melodrama between fire scenes

Plot and storyDivisive35

overloaded with subplots, lacks focus; arson investigation feels contrived

DialogueDivisive30

cheesy, overwrought lines; occasional memorable one-liners

Preferred by

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Over-30s

Over-30s scored it 14 points higher than under-30s.

Critics vs users

Preferred by Critics

Critics scored it 16 points higher than users.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 4 points apart
  • US vs non-US 4 points apart

Watch experience

What is Backdraft like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Tense and gripping: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something tense that holds you to the end.

It is intense and leaves you bittersweet.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Tense and gripping.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TenseThrillingMelancholic
Heaviest: late
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Adventurous · 11% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its material straight, balancing heroic earnestness with a serious look at the dangers and brotherhood of firefighting.
The rideThe film sustains a tense, high-octane energy during fire and investigation scenes, with quieter, melancholic interludes for the family drama; the emotional weight climaxes in the third act's fiery resolution.
StructureThe story follows a linear progression from Brian's childhood trauma through his return to firefighting, his investigation, and the climactic confrontation.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Bittersweet.

BittersweetRousing · 10% of films
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves a mix of pride in the firefighters' courage and sorrow for the personal costs, especially the brother's sacrifice.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Monster
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% (this title) · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Institutional injustice: A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).

21% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeThe brothers investigate a series of arson murders, uncovering a conspiracy within city politics that threatens the fire department, while also battling the fire itself as a recurring threat.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfFamilybonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% (this title) · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Family bondsSacrifice · 4% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe central conflict is the strained relationship between two brothers, forcing them to confront their family legacy and find common ground.
StanceThe film celebrates the bonds of family and the heroism of firefighters, framing their sacrifice as noble and their reconciliation as triumphant.

The world

Late 20th centuryUrbanInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernForeground music · original score · Hans Zimmer
SettingChicago Fire Department in the late 1980s
MusicZimmer's score uses a powerful, brass-heavy theme that underscores both heroic action and emotional family moments.

Content guide

Is Backdraft okay for kids?

R

Backdraft is rated R: “Rated R for language and a scene of sensuality” (MPAA). As of September 28, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (65/100), sexual content at moderate (49/100), language at intense (74/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (42/100) and frightening material at intense (72/100). Overall it is heavier than 53% of R-rated films.

Ratings in 16 other countries
  • UK15
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany16
  • FranceU
  • Ireland15
  • Denmark15
  • FinlandK-16
  • Greece15
  • Hungary18
  • Netherlands12
  • Norway12
  • Poland16
  • PortugalM/12
  • RO15
  • Spain16
  • Sweden11
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 72% of all filmsHeavier than 53% of R-rated films
Violence & Gore
Intense
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 43%
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 52%
Profanity
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 63%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 54%
Frightening / Intense
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 68%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is language, frightening material, and violence. Everything else sits at or below what R-rated films usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Backdraft have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Backdraft?

Cast

3 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Kurt Russell
as Stephen McCaffrey
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
William Baldwin
as Brian McCaffrey
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Robert De Niro
as Donald Rimgale
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Donald Sutherland
as Ronald Bartel
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Jennifer Jason Leigh
as Jennifer Vaitkus
Scott Glenn
as John Adcox
Rebecca De Mornay
as Helen McCaffrey
Jason Gedrick
as Tim Krizminski
J.T. Walsh
as Martin Swayzak
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.
Tony Mockus Sr.
as Chief John Fitzgerald
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Backdraft?

Movies like Backdraft include World Trade Center (2006), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) and Ransom (1996). Of the 12 closest matches, several are films by Ron Howard, and several are disaster survival stories.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

7 of these 12 share its subject: family bonds. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Backdraft?

386 other films share the rarest tag below, up against: soldier. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.