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Ladder 49

Play trailer 2:25 Poster for Ladder 49 PG-13 Released Oct 1, 2004 1h 54m Drama Action Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
41% Tomatometer 162 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
After saving the life of one of the civilians inside, firefighter Jack Morrison (Joaquin Phoenix) finds himself trapped in a burning warehouse with a broken leg. As his friend and mentor, Deputy Chief Mike Kennedy (John Travolta), tries to negotiate a rescue from without, Jack flashes back to various events in his life: the first, awkward days on the force, meeting the woman (Jacinda Barrett) who would become his wife and saving a small girl from a burning building.
Ladder 49

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Instead of humanizing the firemen, the movie idolizes them, and thus renders them into cardboard characters.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media Unabashed love letter to firefighters everywhere. Rated: 4/5 Dec 25, 2010 Full Review Empire Magazine Rated: 2/5 Apr 1, 2006 Full Review Steven D. Greydanus Decent Films Heartfelt, predictable, and finally surprisingly poignant. Rated: B- Mar 24, 2005 Full Review Eddie Harrison The List Gail Gilchriest's witless script leaves Phoenix with little to do but flex his muscles, while Travolta rarely steps outside the realms of cliché in his role as a supposed mentor figure. Rated: 2/5 Apr 23, 2019 Full Review Megan Basham National Review If looked at as a tribute to our way of life, as opposed to an action blockbuster, it could resonate with audiences in a way no other film touching on the subject has to date. Feb 6, 2018 Full Review Joshua Starnes ComingSoon.net Except for Jack no one else in the film is very well defined, and it often falls back onto types. The actors are good, and make the best of what they've got, but what they've got is very thin. Rated: 6.5/10 Mar 29, 2011 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Andrew S Coming from a family of firefighters this is one of the best firefighter movies of all time And I genuinely don’t understand the low rating As for me and my family it will always be one of the best and a true classics Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/02/24 Full Review J C So I've been a FF both career and volunteer for going on 16 years now. I was going through my fire academy and we all went to one of the guys houses to watch this movie and I fell in love even more woth the profession. The action scenes aren't perfect because a lot doesn't transfer to the big screen very well but the brotherhood and the moments between the guys, the personalities and the families is dead on. Everytime I watch movie this I fall in love all over again. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/26/24 Full Review Seth D Almost 20 years on and Ladder 49 still holds up as a wonderful Firefighter movie… remember the critics are just that and have never ever put their lives on the lines for US! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/20/23 Full Review Evan A Ignore what the clueless critics say about this movie. Ladder 49 is EXCELLENT. Ask any fireman who's seen this film, they will tell you that it nails the brotherhood and life of many firefighters. The movie pulls you in and makes you feel for the characters, by the end you will be bawling over the hardships they face and the sacrifices they make in order to save innocent lives. 10/10 highly recommend Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/06/23 Full Review Audience Member Great movie, it's no backdraft but its an awesome film. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review steve d Bland, forgettable and by the numbers. Those who love this kind of film will enjoy but it has nothing new to offer. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Ladder 49

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Cast & Crew

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Jay Russell

Director

Joaquin Phoenix

Jack Morrison

John Travolta

Chief Kennedy

Jacinda Barrett

Linda Morrison

Robert Patrick

Lenny Richter

Morris Chestnut

Tommy Drake

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Ladder 49

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Ladder 49

A Scene from the film LADDER49 Starring JOAQUIN PHOENIX. A Scene from the film LADDER49 Starring JOAQUIN PHOENIX. A Scene from the film LADDER49 Starring JOAQUIN PHOENIX. On the set of the film LADDER49 Starring JOAQUIN PHOENIX. A Scene from the film LADDER49 Starring JOAQUIN PHOENIX. A Scene from the film LADDER49 Starring JOAQUIN PHOENIX. A Scene from the film LADDER49 Starring JOAQUIN PHOENIX. A Scene from the film LADDER49 Starring JOAQUIN PHOENIX. A Scene from the film LADDER49 Starring JOAQUIN PHOENIX. A Scene from the film LADDER49 Starring JOAQUIN PHOENIX. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis After saving the life of one of the civilians inside, firefighter Jack Morrison (Joaquin Phoenix) finds himself trapped in a burning warehouse with a broken leg. As his friend and mentor, Deputy Chief Mike Kennedy (John Travolta), tries to negotiate a rescue from without, Jack flashes back to various events in his life: the first, awkward days on the force, meeting the woman (Jacinda Barrett) who would become his wife and saving a small girl from a burning building.
Director
Jay Russell
Producer
Casey Silver
Screenwriter
Lewis Colick
Distributor
Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co
Casey Silver Productions, Touchstone Pictures, Beacon Pictures, Beacon Communications, Fantail Films Inc.
Rating
PG-13 (Language|Intense Fire/Rescue Situations)
Genre
Drama, Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 1, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$74.5M
Runtime
1h 54m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)