Firestorm (1998)

12% of critics liked it
(25 reviews)
29% of users liked it
(6,222 ratings)

This Chris Soth screenplay is directed by Dean Semler, the Oscar-winning Dances With Wolves cinematographer who also did cinematography for Waterworld and Last Action Hero. The film's action hero is Howie Long (Broken Arrow), Fox Sports commentator and former NFL star. Wyoming firefighter Jesse… More This Chris Soth screenplay is directed by Dean Semler, the Oscar-winning Dances With Wolves cinematographer who also did cinematography for Waterworld and Last Action Hero. The film's action hero is Howie Long (Broken Arrow), Fox Sports commentator and former NFL star. Wyoming firefighter Jesse Graves (Long) leads a team of smoke-jumpers who parachute into forest fires. Inside a penitentiary, killer Earl Shaye (William Forsythe) devises an escape plan in order to recover a hidden $37 million. He murders a fellow inmate and takes his place in a group of convicts headed out to fight a forest fire. They make an escape, pose as visiting Canadian firefighters, and are ready to look for the loot when retired firefighter Wynt (Scott Glenn) discovers the escape. Shaye's group rescues trapped ornithologist Jennifer (Suzy Amis, Titanic's Lizzy Calvert). Jesse parachutes in, but time is running out, since the original fire and the backfire will soon combine to create a firestorm. Filmed on location in British Columbia with fire-enhancement special effects by Chris Corbould. Not to be confused with Firestorm: 2024 A.D. (1996) or Firestorm: 72 Hours in Oakland (1993). ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 29 min.
Directed By: Dean Semler
Written By: Chris Soth
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Jun 1, 1997 Wide
On DVD: Dec 18, 2001
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
In movies, as in life, you take your warmth where you can find it, but this particular wienie roast is bound to leave you cold.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...boasts an old-fashioned sensibility that benefits from several surprisingly thrilling set pieces...
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
No one should mistake Firestorm for a "quality" motion picture. It's not, and it wasn't designed to be.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
It is just a run-of-the-mill action movie.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Bruce B

II am not much of a TV Movie or a Howie Long fan. Reason I watched this Movie was because Suzy Ames was in it and I am trying to watch all her movies, though Titanic will be torture to sit through (Chick Flick). This movie is about Fire jumpers on the west coast jumping and fighting… More
II am not much of a TV Movie or a Howie Long fan. Reason I watched this Movie was because Suzy Ames was in it and I am trying to watch all her movies, though Titanic will be torture to sit through (Chick Flick). This movie is about Fire jumpers on the west coast jumping and fighting forest fires. When movie started I figured it was going to be a boring and it was, but as the movie continued it become more exciting and enjoyable. I venture to say that this is the best of Howie Long. The maker of this movie and captured one's attention was William Forsythe the bad guy, and very bad guy at that as he eliminated his friends one by one. The movie itself is about a crew of fire jumpers coming across escaped con's and all are trapped in a forest fire. Suzy Amis plays a good part and adds some to the movie. Not bad for a TV Movie, but only 3 1/2 stars
Dean M

Good and dangerously action of firestorm. Sometimes spectacular and often hailariously corny, but gosh darnit, occasionally educational. For instance, did you know that at 300 degrees trees explode from their boiling sap?
Marcus W

Something went badly wrong here. What was supposed to be a so-so action flick starring someone who plays baseball (or something), turned out to be a well-directed, smartly written and nicely paced action flick. They even made the effort to write in a decent villain. Somewhere between… More
Something went badly wrong here. What was supposed to be a so-so action flick starring someone who plays baseball (or something), turned out to be a well-directed, smartly written and nicely paced action flick. They even made the effort to write in a decent villain. Somewhere between Con Air and Backdraft - and definitely worth a watch.