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Joaquin Phoenix, John Travolta, Jacinda Barrett, Robert Patrick, Morris Chestnut ... see more see more... , Billy Burke , Balthazar Getty , Tim Guinee , Jay Hernandez , Kevin Chapman , Kevin Daniels , Brooke Hamlin , Robert Logan Lewis , Spencer Berglund

An everyday hero recalls his life as he's forced to look death in the eye in this adventure drama. Jack Morrison (Joaquin Phoenix) is a young firefighter who is a member of Ladder Company 49, led by C... read more read more...apt. Kennedy (John Travolta), a tough but compassionate man who looks upon his fellow firefighters as a family. While battling a blaze, Morrison finds himself trapped inside a burning building, and as Kennedy and his men try to find a way to rescue him, Morrison looks back on his life and how he came to choose such a dangerous career. Ladder 49 also features Jacinda Barrett and Brooke Hamlin as, respectively, Morrison's wife and daughter. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

83% liked it

324,462 ratings

Critics

41% liked it

159 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 54 min.

Directed by: Jay Russell

Release Date: October 1, 2004

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DVD Release Date: March 8, 2005

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Stats: 14,444 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (14,444)

  • CloudStrife84
    January 14, 2011
    CloudStrife84
    All my life, I've always wondered what it would be like to work as a firefighter. The excitement, the comradery and the opportunity to save lives. There's so many things that makes it an appealing career-choice. This movie captures it all really well, and gives you a good sense o... read moref what life must be like for these every-day heroes. Through some top notch directing and the dynamic chemistry between its cast members (with Joaquin Phoenix and John Travolta at the peak of their talent), we are treated to a highly absorbing experience, filled with humor, action and intense dramatic moments. Quite sad in a lot of places, but a movie that I'm glad I gave the chance. Because what I had initially dismissed as a standard-type drama, actually had a lot more to give than I gave it credit for. So if you're gonna watch a movie about fire-fighting, this is definitely the one to go for.
  • Deano78
    August 25, 2010
    Deano78
    A very good, action drama about the life of a firefighter seen in flashbacks. It's quite entertaining, seeing him work his way from rookie to the experienced fireman and how things change over the years. A very fine cast it has to be added and the fire, action scenes are really g... read moreood. Well worth checking out.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    August 6, 2010
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Quite possibly the worst Joaquin Phoenix film. Ladder 49 is a crappy drama film with overused cliches and we've already seen it all before. A bad Fireman film this is just a pointless excuse for a film. I view this film as a Backdraft ripoff, it borrows from many plot elements f... read morerom that film. Ladder 49 never really does anything very dramatic as it follows closely every dramatic cliche in the book, in other words; we've seen it all before.
    A total waste of time and definitely not a good film. A film with bad script, bad acting and bad plot, this is a film to miss.
  • BEACHBUNNI
    July 30, 2010
    BEACHBUNNI
    Given what happened to the firefighters in New York after the World Trade Center attacks, it was inevitable that a film showing the heroism of firefighters would arrive on screen..i gave it a five as i found it edge of the seat stuff..
    An everyday hero recalls his life as he is ... read more forced to look death in the eye in this adventure drama. Jack Morrison (Joaquin Phoenix) is a young firefighter who is a member of Ladder Company 49, led by Capt. Kennedy (John Travolta), a tough but compassionate man who looks upon his fellow firefighters as his family...
    well i think it is hard to make a bad fire fighter movie..
    this has a real tear jerker ending...bring out the tissues on this one girls!
  • ScoopOnline
    December 17, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    Everything they know. All that they love. Is what they risk every day.
  • sanjurosamurai
    November 30, 2009
    sanjurosamurai
    in one sense, i feel like more films should be made about this subject. in another sense none will ever probably be as good as backdraft.
  • SirPant
    September 18, 2009
    SirPant
    I really thought this film would suck big time but I found it quite entertaining!
  • kiriyamakazou
    November 17, 2008
    kiriyamakazou
    A fair tribute to brave firefighters, clearly detailing the struggle between career and family. It shows the fears and cheers that come with the job. From the very beginning we get a sense of real family within the firehouse, from the practical jokes to the way they deal with tra... read moregedy. The tragic scenes also come suddenly and show just how unpredictable such a job is. Unfortunately the film almost tries to do too much. There is a lot being juggled about here, with most of the supporting cast not given their due. Hernandez's character is particularly pointless, having about 2 lines and used to really just show a passage of time. The ending is also unfortunately cheesy with some poor indie rock track playing with slow motion clips. Luckily the intensity of the majority of the film keeps it interesting.
  • FiLmCrAzY
    November 16, 2008
    FiLmCrAzY
    omg i was blubbering so much its a relly good but powerfully emotional film if you dont watch it then you will be mssing a truly excelant film
  • DerekA101
    October 19, 2008
    DerekA101
    Ladder 49 is a tragically heart-warming story about a firefighter who gets trapped in a horrible fire. The movie is told through flashbacks which serves to introduce us to our protagonist: Jack Morrison (played by Joaquin Phoenix). The direction is effective, and it serves to t... read moreug on our emotions.

    Joaquin continues to impress me, but everyone else comes up flat. None of the roles were convincing except Joaquin's. It was almost like they were just reciting the script with no emotions.

    I feel that the rating for this film is inflated by so many because the ending is extremely powerful. It's a memorable climax that will more than likely bring tears to your eyes if you allow yourself to get enveloped into this endearing film. HOWEVER, I can't help but to feel this is playing off the emotions of people from the aftermath of September 11th. After 9/11 firefighters became an icon of heroism, and the makers of this movie cashed in on this theory.

    All in all, this is a pretty good film. If you have family members who are firefighters, then this film will hit home for you. It's a wonderful tribute to firemen... but I personally felt a lot of the scenes were fairly generic. It's a poorly acted tearjerker that I wouldn't watch again.

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Critic Reviews

Ben Kenigsberg
October 6, 2004
Ben Kenigsberg, Village Voice

A serviceable testament to the firemen who would bravely risk their lives to protect the safety of others, etc., etc. Full Review

Stephanie Zacharek
October 1, 2004
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Ladder 49 might have been an oversized Hollywood dazzler. Phoenix keeps it firmly and modestly on a human scale. Full Review

Ann Hornaday
October 1, 2004
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

Offers audiences a real rarity in theaters these days: a good, honest cry. Full Review

Desson Thomson
October 1, 2004
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Even the best scenes feel canned, secondhand, packaged. We've seen this all before. Full Review

Geoff Pevere
October 1, 2004
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

The story of Jack Morrison (Joaquin Phoenix), a guy so emotionally uncomplicated and unquestioningly dedicated to rescuing people he might have been raised by Saint Bernards. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
October 1, 2004
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

In its determination to create a tribute, the filmmakers smooth too many edges and simplify too many complex emotions. Full Review

Joe Baltake
October 1, 2004
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

It's a good movie. Full Review

James Berardinelli
October 1, 2004
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

I would classify Ladder 49 as a 'safe' movie. There's nothing daring about it, but it offers a solid emotional core and there is a touching payoff. Full Review

Roger Moore
October 1, 2004
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

Every cliché in every movie or TV show about firemen is recycled here but often to pleasant effect. Full Review

Lisa Rose
October 1, 2004
Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger

A testament to the courage of firefighters. And the laziness of screenwriters. Full Review

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Ladder 49 Trivia

  • What actor Walked the Line, went up Ladder 49, and saw the Signs?  Answer »
  • What firefighting movie takes place in Baltimore, Maryland?  Answer »
  • Which actor or actress can be attributed to the following titles? The Village Gladiator Walk the Line Ladder 49 Signs  Answer »
  • In what movie Joaquin Phoenix and John Travolta starts together?  Answer »
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