Overview
A towering inferno tests the limits of human courage and ingenuity as chaos unfolds.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- tense
- urgent
- melodramatic
- classic disaster movie night
- 1970s film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard it as a technically impressive and visually spectacular disaster film whose suspense and production scale are undermined somewhat by its lengthy runtime and thin personal drama.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Glass Tower's extreme height turns stairwells, elevators, floors, and rooftop access into recurring sources of danger and cinematic scale.
Doug Roberts discovers that his wiring specifications were ignored while construction and commercial interests proceed toward the dedication party.
The fire produces multiple rescue situations across the tower while O'Hallorhan and Roberts coordinate responses from different levels.
The film uses a star-heavy cast, a massive high-rise set piece, and elaborate fire and rescue effects in the style of the mid-1970s disaster cycle.
Films like The Towering Inferno, and why
The Poseidon Adventure
Shared disaster-film spectacle, ensemble survival drama, escalating structural crisis, and rescue-centered action.
Airport
Shared 1970s disaster-film format, large ensemble cast, engineering catastrophe, and suspenseful rescue sequences.
Earthquake
Shared large-scale disaster spectacle, professional responders, personal sacrifice, and escalating survival tension.
Movie Details
- Director
- John Guillermin
- Release Date
- 1974-12-14
- Runtime
- 165 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (1087)
Cast
- Steve McQueen
- Paul Newman
- William Holden
- Faye Dunaway
- Fred Astaire
- Susan Blakely
- Richard Chamberlain
- Jennifer Jones
- O. J. Simpson
- Robert Vaughn
Where to watch in United States
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Towering Inferno about?
- A skyscraper dedication party becomes a vertical fight for survival when ignored electrical faults ignite an uncontrollable high-rise inferno.
- What is The Towering Inferno like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Towering Inferno as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Towering Inferno violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Towering Inferno as mild.
- What did critics think of The Towering Inferno?
- Critics broadly regard it as a technically impressive and visually spectacular disaster film whose suspense and production scale are undermined somewhat by its lengthy runtime and thin personal drama.
- Which films are like The Towering Inferno?
- Films with a similar feel include The Poseidon Adventure, Airport, and Earthquake.
- How long is The Towering Inferno?
- The Towering Inferno runs 165 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Towering Inferno?
- In United States, The Towering Inferno is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
