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Only the Brave

Only the Brave is a 2017 American biographical drama film directed by Joseph Kosinski and written by Ken Nolan and Eric Warren Singer.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Only the Brave is a 2017 American biographical drama film directed by Joseph Kosinski. It tells the story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a wildfire crew from Prescott, Arizona, and their role in the 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire. The film is based on a GQ article by Sean Flynn and was released in North America by Columbia Pictures on October 20, 2017, including in Canadian cinemas as part of the North American market.

Plot and subject

The film dramatizes the formation and work of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a municipal wildland firefighting crew in Prescott, Arizona. Its central event is the Yarnell Hill Fire, where the crew suffered a catastrophic loss, with 19 of 20 members dying in June 2013.

Production and release

Only the Brave was directed by Joseph Kosinski from a screenplay by Ken Nolan and Eric Warren Singer. It premiered in 2017 and was distributed in North America by Columbia Pictures, with a release date of October 20, 2017.

Source material

The film is based on Sean Flynn’s GQ article "No Exit," which covered the Granite Mountain Hotshots and the Yarnell Hill Fire. The movie’s story is presented as a dramatization of real events.

Cast

The ensemble cast features Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Jeff Bridges, James Badge Dale, Taylor Kitsch, Jennifer Connelly, Ben Hardy, Alex Russell, and others.

Key facts

  • The film is based on the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, an elite firefighting crew from Prescott, Arizona.
  • It depicts the crew’s work and the events surrounding the Yarnell Hill Fire in June 2013, in which 19 of 20 members died.
  • The film was directed by Joseph Kosinski and written by Ken Nolan and Eric Warren Singer.
  • Its ensemble cast includes Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Jeff Bridges, James Badge Dale, Taylor Kitsch, Jennifer Connelly, and others.
  • It was released in North America by Columbia Pictures on October 20, 2017.
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Canadian context

The film screened internationally and is part of the broader North American market for Hollywood biographical dramas, which are commonly distributed in Canadian cinemas and streaming services.

Frequently asked questions

What is Only the Brave about?
It is a biographical drama about the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a wildland firefighting crew from Arizona, and the Yarnell Hill Fire.
Who directed Only the Brave?
The film was directed by Joseph Kosinski.
What is Only the Brave based on?
It is based on Sean Flynn’s GQ article "No Exit."
When was Only the Brave released?
It was released on October 20, 2017, in North America.
Who stars in Only the Brave?
The cast includes Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Jeff Bridges, James Badge Dale, Taylor Kitsch, and Jennifer Connelly.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Only_the_Brave_(2017_film)
    Supports: Director, writers, cast, plot basis, release date, and dedication to the Granite Mountain Hotshots.
  2. Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/only-the-brave/umc.cmc.3bqtr025s92kutmyy1inrfyuv
    Supports: Synopsis, cast, runtime, and 2017 release information.
  3. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/80182216
    Supports: 2017 year, genre, and brief synopsis.
  4. Eric Marsh Foundation — https://ericmarshfoundation.org/pages/granite-mountain-hot-shots-movie
    Supports: Summary of the Granite Mountain Hotshots story, the June 30, 2013 fatalities, and the film’s release year.
  5. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/only_the_brave_2017
    Supports: Release date and genre classification.