Ladder 49 | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

Table of Contents
Where to Watch Ladder 49 What to Know Critics Reviews Audience Reviews My Rating Cast & Crew More Like This Related Movie News Videos Ladder 49 Photos Ladder 49 References
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.

Watch on Fandango at Home Rent Now

Where to Watch

Ladder 49

Ladder 49

What to Know

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (162) Critics Reviews
Ladder 49 | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Nell Minow Common Sense Media Unabashed love letter to firefighters everywhere. Rated: 4/5 Dec 25, 2010 Full Review Ladder 49 | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Empire Magazine Rated: 2/5 Apr 1, 2006 Full Review Ladder 49 | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Steven D. Greydanus Decent Films Heartfelt, predictable, and finally surprisingly poignant. Rated: B- Mar 24, 2005 Full Review Ladder 49 | Rotten Tomatoes (4) 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 Ladder 49 | Rotten Tomatoes (5) 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 Ladder 49 | Rotten Tomatoes (6) 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
See Also
'Ladder 49' transcends firefighters' action tale movie review (2004) | Roger Ebert

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews

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 5/5 Stars • 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 5/5 Stars • 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 5/5 Stars • 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 5/5 Stars • 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 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Joel C A very "by the numbers" Hollywood version of the lives of firefighters. A lot of recognizable faces amongst the actors, that in itself makes the film enjoyable, plus it's all-round well made. Just a bit overly happy and romanticized, but of course that pays off in the end. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/24/21 Full Review Read all reviews

Ladder 49

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Jay Russell Director Joaquin Phoenix Jack Morrison John Travolta Chief Kennedy Jacinda Barrett Linda Morrison Robert Patrick Lenny Richter Morris Chestnut Tommy Drake
Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

More Like This

View All Best Movies to Stream at Home

The Guardian 37% 80% The Guardian Watchlist Biker Boyz 22% 54% Biker Boyz Watchlist Warrior 84% 92% Warrior Watchlist Fighting 40% 36% Fighting Watchlist Hidalgo 46% 64% Hidalgo Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Related Movie News

View All Related Movie News
Box Office Guru Preview: "Wild Hogs" Aims to Run Over "Ghost Rider" Box Office Guru Preview: Ashton vs. Ashton – This Time It’s Personal Bruce Willis Starts Shooting "Die Hard 4" — in Baltimore

Videos

View All videos

Ladder 49

Ladder 49: Trailer 1 Ladder 49: Trailer 1 2:25 View more videos

Photos

View All Ladder 49 photos

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

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)
Most Popular at Home Now
Ladder 49 | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

References

Top Articles
From Margins to Prosperity: A Blueprint for Economic Empowerment in 3T Regions
Memajukan Literasi di Daerah 3T
Address frontier regions - Opinion - The Jakarta Post
Latest Posts
60 years of innovation | 3T 60th Anniversary Dreambox
2 Bar Bowl
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Velia Krajcik

Last Updated:

Views: 6637

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Velia Krajcik

Birthday: 1996-07-27

Address: 520 Balistreri Mount, South Armand, OR 60528

Phone: +466880739437

Job: Future Retail Associate

Hobby: Polo, Scouting, Worldbuilding, Cosplaying, Photography, Rowing, Nordic skating

Introduction: My name is Velia Krajcik, I am a handsome, clean, lucky, gleaming, magnificent, proud, glorious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.