Panic Room

Name: Panic Room
Genre: Thriller
Released: March 29, 2002
Duration: 112 min
Rating: 65
Cast: Jodie Foster, Kristen Stewart

2002

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 36 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 436 Ratings

See All

8.4

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8.4	Your Score
8.4	User Score Universal acclaim based on 436 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

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

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

The Panic Room

Now Playing: The Panic Room

Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: March 29, 2002 | R

Starring: Jodie Foster, Kristen Stewart

Summary: A newly divorced mother (Foster) and her young daughter are caught in a cat-and-mouse game with three intruders who break into their New York apartment searching for a hidden cache of cash.

Director: David Fincher

Genre(s): Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 112 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Anthony Lane

There is something horribly apt in the way Fincher closes the drama in joyless exhaustion, leaving you certain that there will be a sequel to these events, not onscreen but in someone's home, tonight. [8 April 2002, p. 95]

Shawn Levy

Richly frightening film. Read full review

Desson Thomson

The movie, which suggests a combination of "Wait Until Dark" and "Rear Window," not only takes your breath away on an aesthetic level, it eloquently evokes the mother's and daughter's vulnerability. Read full review

Steven Rea

Works the basics with style and intelligence. Read full review

Mike Clark

Things move fast enough to make it a movie to enjoy and then forget. Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Soon enough a pointed ode to New York City nerve-rack and survival skills dissolves into a far more average, less compelling, and sometimes just slapdash-vicious cat-and-mouse game. Read full review

New Times (L.A.) Robert Wilonsky

The cumulative effect is less thrilling than it is merely amusing. Read full review

SEE ALL 36 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

MovieGuys

Apr 4, 2014

Panic Room is a near-perfect suspense thriller by Fincher. Every aspect of it is intelligent, and the product is a very successful film. The movie benefits highly from the amazing cinematography. The camera pans the rooms, shows creative camera angles, and never misses an opportunity toPanic Room is a near-perfect suspense thriller by Fincher. Every aspect of it is intelligent, and the product is a very successful film. The movie benefits highly from the amazing cinematography. The camera pans the rooms, shows creative camera angles, and never misses an opportunity to produce amazing visuals. Fincher is the second master of suspense right next to Hitchcock himself, and knows how to keep us engaged and entertained throughout the film. The end result is a well-played, carefully executed, thrilling movie that never skips a beat.… Expand

12 of 13 users found this helpful121

Depose570

May 16, 2021

jgugyfyfguihhijbdwqwertyuiopllkjjhgfddsazxccbbnmkkoutdfjhjooiytedghjnknjohrednndsfhjkommuregjikkoutexvnjkmmmbvdf

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

cryhardhumor

Feb 24, 2015

David Fincher once again gives his viewers the feeling as though they are omnipotent as we look as a frighteningly realistic and heart stopping thriller. The performances are flawless, the direction is flawless, and the only flaw I have with it is a pretty basic plot and set up. AndDavid Fincher once again gives his viewers the feeling as though they are omnipotent as we look as a frighteningly realistic and heart stopping thriller. The performances are flawless, the direction is flawless, and the only flaw I have with it is a pretty basic plot and set up. And emotional and thrilling film.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

marcmyworks

Jul 1, 2016

Panic Room offers a very Hitchcock flare to a modern film. All shot in one location, the movie examines fear through the unknown. The underlying humour lies in the expertise of the villains as their plan systematically continues to fall apart throughout the film due to the protagonists quickPanic Room offers a very Hitchcock flare to a modern film. All shot in one location, the movie examines fear through the unknown. The underlying humour lies in the expertise of the villains as their plan systematically continues to fall apart throughout the film due to the protagonists quick thinking.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Honest-reviews

Jun 8, 2014

Surprisingly entertaining little flick. Would recommend to anyone whose already seen the best in genre (as it doesn't quite reach theses heights) but it a gripping, suspense-laden movie.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

Halfwelshman

Jul 15, 2012

Panic Room is a taught, clever thriller with a strong human core. The main body of the film is extremely enthralling - a battle of wits and endurance plays out between a caring, protective mother (Jodie Foster) and the good-natured "brains" behind a trio of home-invading criminals (ForestPanic Room is a taught, clever thriller with a strong human core. The main body of the film is extremely enthralling - a battle of wits and endurance plays out between a caring, protective mother (Jodie Foster) and the good-natured "brains" behind a trio of home-invading criminals (Forest Whitaker). It's among director David Fincher's most fun and unpretentious films (though he quite unfairly seems to dismiss it in interviews), and his technical ability as a director marries well with an electric script by David Koepp. Foster and Whitaker both impress, giving layered and engaging performances as contrasting characters who in fact have a lot in common in their shared intelligence, determination and resilience. A young Kristen Stewart is also very good, with her now famous moody, deadpan acting style lending itself well to playing an insecure, diabetic pre-teen. Panic Room's finale is admittedly a bit scrappy, and the arrival of one of the characters seems to serve the sole discernible purpose of bringing proceedings to an end, which is a welcome reprieve to an extent, as by this point the film is just beginning to tire. As a whole, Panic Room is well-crafted, entertaining and tense, and it actually leaves a lasting impression on the viewer, no matter what its helmsman Mr Fincher may think of it.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Mglovesfun

Apr 21, 2020

Hard for me to score this, as, as a piece of entertainment I thought it was a zero, I was so bored. And it was 100% joyless. As a piece of art, definitely not a zero. More like a 5 or a 6. But I'll score it mostly as a piece of entertainment and give it two.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

SEE ALL 42 REVIEWS

27	#27 Most Discussed Movie of 2002
67	#67 Most Shared Movie of 2002