The Towering Inferno poster

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The Towering Inferno

1974 · Movie · 165 min
B

MEANRANK

72/100

Averaged across 11 ratings · 129.7K votes

Every rating

Platform pages last read 29 September 2026. IMDb’s figure comes from IMDb’s own data file, which we re-read about once a month.

Google: Google retired the star ratings it used to show in search results, so this one no longer updates. More on where the numbers come from →

47–90 out of 100

Split

Lowest is Criticker on 47, highest is Google on 90.

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During the grand opening party of the world’s tallest skyscraper in San Francisco, a faulty electrical connection sparks a fire on a lower floor. The flames rapidly spread upwards, trapping the hundreds of celebrants at the top of the glass tower. The architect and the city’s fire chief must work together to contain the blaze and devise a desperate plan to rescue the guests before the entire structure collapses.

Details

Based on
The Glass Inferno by Frank M. Robinson
Released
14 December 1974
Country
United States
Language
English
Runtime
165 min
Rated
PG
Budget
$14.0M
Box office
$116.0M
Awards
11 wins, 14 nominations

This title elsewhere

Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen

Chief O'Hallorhan

Paul Newman

Paul Newman

Doug Roberts

William Holden

William Holden

Jim Duncan

Faye Dunaway

Faye Dunaway

Susan

Fred Astaire

Fred Astaire

Harlee Claiborne

Jennifer Jones

Jennifer Jones

Lisolette

Awards & nominations

See all 25 →

5 major awards won · 11 wins from 25 nominations across 11 ceremonies

Academy Awards 1974 Best Cinematography Fred J. Koenekamp and Joseph Biroc Winner
Academy Awards 1974 Best Film Editing Harold F. Kress and Carl Kress Winner
Academy Awards 1974 Best Song " We May Never Love Like This Again " Music and Lyrics by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn Winner
Golden Globe Awards 1974 New Star of the Year – Actress Susan Flannery Winner
Golden Globe Awards 1974 Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Fred Astaire Winner
Academy Awards 1974 Best Picture Irwin Allen Nominee
Academy Awards 1974 Best Supporting Actor Fred Astaire Nominee
Academy Awards 1974 Best Art Direction Art Direction: William J. Creber and Ward Preston ; Set Decoration: Raphaël Bretton Nominee
Show all 25 awards across 11 ceremonies

Awards from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.