The Towering Inferno

PG

Released Dec 14, 1974

2 hr. 45 min.

Action

Mystery & Thriller

List

68%

37 Reviews

Tomatometer

72%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Classic 1970s disaster movie about a fire that breaks out in a state-of-the-art San Francisco high-rise building during the opening ceremony attended by a host of A-list guests. An overworked fire chief and the building's architect must cooperate in the struggle to save lives and subdue panic while a corrupt, cost-cutting contractor tries to evade responsibility for the disaster.

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Critics Consensus

Although it is not consistently engaging enough to fully justify its towering runtime, The Towering Inferno is a blustery spectacle that executes its disaster premise with flair.

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Nol P

TI started out nicely with some good promise but as the movie went along, the hokey levels started to go up and up. The special effects for the time were as good as they could accomplish and I always factor in timelines of movies with these reviews. It seemed that not many at all showed much fright and most were cool as beans almost always. I know I would have been scared as yes I am scared of fires. I take all accounts and precautions seriously to never be in one! I would have also shown way more concern that was shown by almost everyone there after the whole building was engulfed in flames. This is also a one and done watch for me and I give it yes a 5.5 of 10 only. Paul Newman and Steve McQueen were very cool actors of their time but their acting skills were not utilized nearly enough by this director who is at fault for the overall big picture. And with a very long running time too.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/25/24

Full Review

DanTheMan 2

Although it threatens to crumble throughout its slow-burn runtime, The Towering Inferno remains just as exhilarating today as it did 50 years ago, with the glass-spangled exterior burning with an uncontrollable lust for spectacle as the gold standard when it comes to disaster movies. With plenty of bombastic set pieces matched to an understated and delightful score by the legendary John Williams, Director John Guillermin utilises the big co-production budget to a triumphant degree, delivering tense and incredible stunt work and insane pyrotechnics, while netting himself a brilliant cast and all-rounded performances to match. Steve McQueen is just awesome (as he is in everything he's in) while Paul Newman gets to be the everyman hero alongside the lavish conflagration of other big-name stars. Rather than being a reflection on the true terror of a fire of this scale, The Towering Inferno is a gloriously constructed and tremendously entertaining film, with heroes to root for and villains to boo all built with the precision of an architect.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/13/24

Full Review

Jerry A

I don't care what the critics say Towering Inferno, Earthquake and The Swarm was good to me. I remember watching them back in the day when I a was a kid. I'm 53 now and yes it's out dated over time but still entertaining to me. Now more for nostalgia.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/16/23

Full Review

Tony B

A fantastic cast led by Paul Newman and Steve McQueen. Some really exciting and memorable scenes. A great score by John Williams. The special effects hold up very well. Definitely has more impact on the big screen than on TV.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/27/23

Full Review

Leaburn O

This film was pretty good 👍🏼

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/26/23

Full Review

Julia S

It was good but never really saw anyone actually putting the fire out it was all talking.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/12/23

Full Review

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John Guillermin

Director

Irwin Allen

Director

Steve McQueen

Chief O'Hallorhan

Paul Newman

Doug Roberts

William Holden

Jim Duncan

Faye Dunaway

Susan

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Pauline Kael

New Yorker

The movie doesn't stick together in one's head; this thing is like some junky fairground show -- a chamber of horrors with skeletons that jump up.

Jan 15, 2013

Full Review

Don Druker

Chicago Reader

Irwin Allen, the Busby Berkeley of natural disasters and other people's troubles, teams up with John Guillermin, a competent if undistinguished action director.

Feb 3, 2012

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

The Towering Inferno is one of the greatest disaster pictures made, a personal and professional triumph for producer Irwin Allen.

Sep 22, 2008

Full Review

Montezuma

Bay Area Reporter

The special effects are super and once you get used to the idea of a 136-story building in downtown San Francisco, you are ready for anything thrown at you.

Jun 27, 2023

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Nearly 50 years after its release, The Towering Inferno remains one of the golden standards in the disaster thriller genre.

Rated: 5/5

Mar 2, 2023

Full Review

Zita Short

InSession Film

This is a loud, bombastic, dumb blockbuster and it just doesn’t thrill audiences in the same way that it would have in 1974. I really question whether it became a sensation purely as a result of hype.

Rated: D

Feb 7, 2023

Full Review

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Synopsis

Classic 1970s disaster movie about a fire that breaks out in a state-of-the-art San Francisco high-rise building during the opening ceremony attended by a host of A-list guests. An overworked fire chief and the building's architect must cooperate in the struggle to save lives and subdue panic while a corrupt, cost-cutting contractor tries to evade responsibility for the disaster.

Director: John Guillermin, Irwin Allen
Screenwriter: Stirling Silliphant
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Rating: PG
Genre: Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 14, 1974, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015

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