Breakdown

Name: Breakdown
Genre: Thriller
Released: May 2, 1997
Duration: 93 min
Rating: 73
Cast: J.T. Walsh, Kathleen Quinlan, Kurt Russell

1997

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 87 Ratings

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8.9

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8.9	Your Score
8.9	User Score Universal acclaim based on 87 Ratings

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Breakdown

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: May 2, 1997 | R

Starring: J.T. Walsh, Kathleen Quinlan, Kurt Russell

Summary: Jeff Taylor (Russell) and his wife Amy (Quinlan) are headed toward a new life in California when their car's engine dies on a remote highway. Amy accepts a ride from a helpful trucker (Walsh) while Jeff waits with the car. But when Jeff shows up at the agreed rendezvous, he finds his wife's not there. The locals aren't talking; the policeJeff Taylor (Russell) and his wife Amy (Quinlan) are headed toward a new life in California when their car's engine dies on a remote highway. Amy accepts a ride from a helpful trucker (Walsh) while Jeff waits with the car. But when Jeff shows up at the agreed rendezvous, he finds his wife's not there. The locals aren't talking; the police aren't much help. With no one to turn to, Jeff battles his worst fears and begins a desperate, danger-ridden search to find Amy -- before it's too late! (Paramount Pictures)… Expand

Director: Jonathan Mostow

Genre(s): Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 93 min

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Awards & Rankings

30	#30 Best Movie of 1997
61	#61 Most Discussed Movie of 1997
55	#55 Most Shared Movie of 1997

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Metascore

Positive:

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Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Peter Stack

Bucking the lava tide of computer special effects gushing out of Hollywood this season, the makers of Breakdown use old-fashioned ingenuity -- plus a compelling star, a fast- paced mystery and a deadpan villain -- to come up with a sizzler. Read full review

F. X. Feeney

Breakdown recalls so many good movies, in such unpredictable order, that by the end it simply stands on its own, a solid, logical, edge-of-the-seat sluiceway of escape and pursuit. Read full review

Elvis Mitchell

His Breakdown is a tough, vigorous exercise in pure action, shot with throwback expertise and, most refreshingly, without special effects. Read full review

David Sterritt

It starts slowly, but builds to a spectacular climax with hearty sound effects and deftly directed stunts. Read full review

Roger Ebert

Breakdown is a fine thriller, and its ending is unworthy of it. Read full review

Stephen Hunter

The movie's surrender to banality is all the more dispiriting because it gets off to such a good start. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Breakdown is the latest in a seemingly endless traffic jam of thrillers that opens strong but finishes abominably. Read full review

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User Reviews

TylerDurden900

Jul 18, 2014

Breakdown is a fantastic thriller with Kurt Russell. The movie has great imagination and few movies can
have no flaws or slower paced scenes. Breakdown is a thriller in the tradition of all the classic thrillers.

15 of 16 users found this helpful151

Surpass80

Jan 26, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Red's (J.T. Walsh's) 18-wheeler is visible, in the background behind Earl (M.C. Gainey), when he first approaches Jeff at the gas station… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

BrandonU.

Nov 2, 2005

A very well made thriller with great performaces from Kurt Russell and the late, great, J.T. Walsh.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

TryASummersault

Mar 11, 2018

This thriller is absolutely relentless from the start and actually horrifyingly plausible. The desert setting proves for a great backdrop for the chaos to ensue and the suspense and tension is heavily consistent. The final gripping 20 min is some of the most intense thrilling cinema I'veThis thriller is absolutely relentless from the start and actually horrifyingly plausible. The desert setting proves for a great backdrop for the chaos to ensue and the suspense and tension is heavily consistent. The final gripping 20 min is some of the most intense thrilling cinema I've ever seen and was executed flawlessly. Kurt Russel once again proves to be one of the most excitingly underrated actors of all time with a stunningly determined performance. This is everything a thriller should be even at its simplest points, and delivers across the board for the genre.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Rcavey92212

Mar 18, 2020

Action packed, edge of your seat, sweaty palm inducing, adrenaline fueled thrill ride. Breakdown is one of those films that's so intense and so well done it just gets under your skin and drills itself into your psyche. Kurt Russell is awesome as a yuppie whose car breaks down in the middleAction packed, edge of your seat, sweaty palm inducing, adrenaline fueled thrill ride. Breakdown is one of those films that's so intense and so well done it just gets under your skin and drills itself into your psyche. Kurt Russell is awesome as a yuppie whose car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. His wife hops a truck to the nearest rest top to get help but upon arriving there she never showed up. He begins to look for the truck and upon finding it the driver swears to never having seen him before. From than on he's in a urgent race to try and save his wife before it's too late. I don't wanna give anything else away for those who haven't seen it. But it's truly a wild ride and needs to be celebrated more. To this day it still gets my heart racing and my mom can't even watch it.

Budget: $36m
Domestic Box Office: $50m
Worldwide Box Office: $50m

4.25/5… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MikeyStephens

Mar 10, 2014

One of my favourite films of all time, why?.

Because it felt real I had watched this young so I had a imagination that was way to big to control. I had liked and watched this great thriller genre that I would say now easily pitch's up to the master of thrillers like the great AldredOne of my favourite films of all time, why?.

Because it felt real I had watched this young so I had a imagination that was way to big to control. I had liked and watched this great thriller genre that I would say now easily pitch's up to the master of thrillers like the great Aldred Hitchcock would definitely recommend this classic to any who are interested in great stories and unpredictable conclusions.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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