Don't Breathe

Name: Don't Breathe
Genre: Thriller, Horror, Crime
Released: August 26, 2016
Duration: 88 min
Rating: 71
Cast: Daniel Zovatto, Dylan Minnette, Emma Bercovici, Franciska Töröcsik, Jane Levy

2016

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 39 Critics

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 500 Ratings

See All

7.4

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.4	Your Score
7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 500 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Don't Breathe

Movie Details & Credits

Screen Gems | Release Date: August 26, 2016

Starring: Daniel Zovatto, Dylan Minnette, Emma Bercovici, Franciska Töröcsik, Jane Levy, Stephen Lang

Summary: A trio of friends break into the house of a wealthy blind man, thinking they’ll get away with the perfect heist. They’re wrong.

Director: Fede Alvarez

Genre(s): Thriller, Horror, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 88 min

See All Details and Credits

Awards & Rankings

34	#34 Most Discussed Movie of 2016
41	#41 Most Shared Movie of 2016

Watch Now

Buy On

Stream On

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) - Brad Wheeler

Aug 25, 2016

A home invasion story that is as artfully terrifying as "Home Alone" was entertainingly hilarious. Read full review

Entertainment Weekly - Christian Holub

Aug 25, 2016

Thought-provoking but rather lacking in the second-by-second scares genre fans tend to expect. Read full review

Los Angeles Times - Justin Chang

Aug 25, 2016

[Alvarez is] a master at orchestrating tension in close quarters, at painting his characters into a corner one minute and dangling them out a window the next. Read full review

RogerEbert.com - Brian Tallerico

Aug 25, 2016

Like a lot of films of this breed, Don’t Breathe gets a little less interesting as it proceeds to its inevitable conclusion, replacing tension with shock value, but it works so well up to that point that your heart will likely be beating too fast to care. Read full review

ScreenCrush - Britt Hayes

Aug 25, 2016

Alvarez has crafted an intense, relentless and confident thriller that only occasionally fails. Read full review

Washington Post - Pat Padua

Aug 25, 2016

Despite the violence, the real horror of Don’t Breathe may be the sense of futility that all its characters feel, whether they can see or not. Read full review

Consequence of Sound - Marten Carlson

Aug 12, 2016

There is an unpredictability to the film that is, at times, refreshing. This unpredictability turns into meandering, however, leading to narrative incoherence at many points. Read full review

SEE ALL 39 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

Thegodfatherson

Aug 26, 2016

Don't Breathe is a knockout. It is a gruelling film that features an excellent Stephen Lang and is very well directed by Fede Alverez. Alvarez (Evil Dead) crafts a horror experience that is one for the ages. Extremely well written and shot, it is a prime example of one of the best horrorDon't Breathe is a knockout. It is a gruelling film that features an excellent Stephen Lang and is very well directed by Fede Alverez. Alvarez (Evil Dead) crafts a horror experience that is one for the ages. Extremely well written and shot, it is a prime example of one of the best horror films ever made. This one will go down as a classic.… Expand

18 of 24 users found this helpful186

JunelKean

Jan 28, 2018

Usually, the intruders are the antagonists in a home invasion thriller. But "Don't Breathe" exactly knows how to turn the tables and be an effective suspense film. It centers on three crooks who decided to rob a house of a blind old man (Lang) - this sounds easy! But what starts as a normalUsually, the intruders are the antagonists in a home invasion thriller. But "Don't Breathe" exactly knows how to turn the tables and be an effective suspense film. It centers on three crooks who decided to rob a house of a blind old man (Lang) - this sounds easy! But what starts as a normal robbery ends up being a night of terror for our lead characters. Hence, we have a suspenseful edge-of-the-seat thrill ride that's going to hunt you!

Don't Breathe doesn't waste its time in crafting the arcs of each character. The robbers feel real - they have desires, motivations and fears. So when they're in trouble, you empathize with them. And this goes the same with the blind man. But when the twist is revealed, you abhor him.

But the one who deserves most of the credit is no other than director Fede Alvarez. His take on the genre is completely masterful from utilizing squeaky floorboards to narrow hallways and your all-time favorite, jumpscares. Just when you think the scares are over, it's just beginning to roll. And as how Detroit is presented, he carries the maximum amount of tension out of the minimum amount of setting.

VERDICT: A terrifying fear-fest of never-ending surprises and scares. Don't Breathe is exactly what you would expect and experience from the title itself.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Movie3

Jul 15, 2018

Suspense done right! This intense wallop of a home-invasion gone wrong just takes the shocks and thrills up to 11!

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

LeZee

Dec 4, 2016

The right house, but an underestimated person!

It's a great comeback for the director after his first film, 'Evil Dead' remake had got a mixed response. This film might feel very familiar to you if you have got a good knowledge of the B movies. It was still a very refreshing and veryThe right house, but an underestimated person!

It's a great comeback for the director after his first film, 'Evil Dead' remake had got a mixed response. This film might feel very familiar to you if you have got a good knowledge of the B movies. It was still a very refreshing and very thrilling. The film was short, because there were none segments wasted, it comes to the point quickly. I mean the event, because the story was a one liner, but the event was what this film based on.

Three youngsters who rob the houses when the people are out, mark their new target on a blind war veteran. But when it does not go as they have planned, they find trapped inside his house. Struggling to escape from there, they also get so close to what they had come for. Though it becomes a suicidal, and left without any option, what's next for them and the result of their attempt is what becomes the film's conclusion.

Really a great effort. Almost a one night based theme with the limited cast. The title is not just what the film revolves, it also for us to hold breath while watching it and most probably sitting on the edge of our seat throughout. But I'm very disappointed with many flaws, or maybe you can say those unexplained stuffs. Like the end seems very silly, because there were lots of evidence to prove the film character had committed a crime, but easily got out. Likewise there are many more, but the film does not explain and I believe there are sure reasons behind them.

The writers did not care to waste time on those, because they wanted only a thriller, a non-stop one and they got one. Now it is going to be remade in Kollywood and also a sequel was announced. I expected that when I saw the ending. Maybe, a prequel, though sequel seems more interesting idea after what happened in this. Surely one of the best thriller of the year, so make sure you watch it soon.

7/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

mijxero

Sep 15, 2016

I have to start off by saying that fundamentally this is a well done horror/thriller movie. It was an enjoyable movie to see. My only complaint is that all the characters except for the younger man were rotten. I really didn't know if I was supposed to like them because I really couldn'tI have to start off by saying that fundamentally this is a well done horror/thriller movie. It was an enjoyable movie to see. My only complaint is that all the characters except for the younger man were rotten. I really didn't know if I was supposed to like them because I really couldn't care who lived/died. I didn't like the characters or the ending which is what subtracts from a solid movie.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

Jcondic

Dec 4, 2016

Don’t Breathe starts off as a great thriller but the story suffers in the final act mainly that scene with Jane Levy tied up. What drove the character didn’t make sense to me in that scene based on what we’ve seen earlier because Levy had nothing to do with his daughter. I found itDon’t Breathe starts off as a great thriller but the story suffers in the final act mainly that scene with Jane Levy tied up. What drove the character didn’t make sense to me in that scene based on what we’ve seen earlier because Levy had nothing to do with his daughter. I found it unnecessary.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Gramatika

Nov 23, 2017

Only a person with no taste could like this garbage. This movie insults the viewer's intelligence in many ways - the plot is both unbelievable and disgusting, which is truly a grueling combination. There is no silver lining in this movie. Total disaster.

0 of 6 users found this helpful06

SEE ALL 105 REVIEWS