Ladder 49
Seen it?2004 | 115 min | Drama, Action, Thriller
Weeknight WatchWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
With middling reviews (41% on Rotten Tomatoes), it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing and action fans. If you loved The Dark Knight Rises, start here. Audiences love it more than critics do: a crowd-pleaser first.
- The mood
- Tense.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 55 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.
Under the watchful eye of his mentor, Captain Mike Kennedy, probationary firefighter Jack Morrison matures into a seasoned veteran at a Baltimore fire station. However, Jack has reached a crossroads as the sacrifices he's made have put him in harm's way innumerable times and significantly impacted his relationship with his wife and kids.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsBelow par
41% on Rotten Tomatoes, 47 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.5 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$101 million worldwide on a $60 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 86K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Jay Russell
- Joaquin PhoenixJack Morrison
- John TravoltaCaptain Mike Kennedy
- Jacinda BarrettLinda Morrison
- Robert PatrickLenny Richter
- Morris ChestnutTommy Drake
- Billy BurkeDennis Gauquin
- Balthazar GettyRay Gauquin
- Tim GuineeTony Corrigan
- Kevin ChapmanFrank Mckinny
- Jay HernandezKeith Perez