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Backdraft

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 15; suggested age 14.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Ron Howard popcorn-muncher is sappy, not smokin'.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–15

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Though there's a lot of macho kidding, Brian learns the power of family and integrity.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Stephen starts a fight after drinking. Lots of dead bodies; people catch on fire and nearly die.

  • Sex:

    Two couples have sex, though not explicitly on-screen. Some shots show rear male nakedness.

  • Language:

    Fairly mild for the R rating.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Some drinking, and Donald constantly smokes while investigating fires.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Backdraft

Parents need to know that there's a lot of CSI-type imagery here: charred, dead bodies and body parts pickled in jars. A burned body is imbedded in the windshield of a car, legs sticking straight out over the hood. Brian, Stephen, and the other firefighters face tremendous danger in burning buildings. A character dies in a fire. A fireman goes through a floor and nearly falls to his death. Another firefighter catches on fire and is severely burnt but survives. The film also depicts a couple's impending divorce. They sleep together one last time, confusing and hurting their son. There is some rear nudity (mostly male) and some sexual situations.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how Brian and Stephen's sibling rivalry affects their working relationship. Does it help or hurt their dangerous work? This may be a good time to talk to kids about how sibling rivalry affects them at school and with friends. It's also a good opportunity for divorced parents to talk to their children about how the split affected them.
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