Breakdown
Paramount Pictures | Release Date: May 2, 1997 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
74
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Critic Reviews
Positive:
13
Mixed:
5
Negative:
1
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
San Francisco ChroniclePeter 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
91
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
Breakdown feels at first so casual, so comfortable with its own small expectations (a good but unglamorous cast, a sturdy but unspectacular plot), that the authentic feelings of suspense are a surprise. Read full review
90
The New York TimesJanet Maslin
His Breakdown is a tough, vigorous exercise in pure action, shot with throwback expertise and, most refreshingly, without special effects. Read full review
90
The A.V. ClubStephen Thompson
Breakdown is just a skillfully constructed, smartly conceived, escapist thriller that does just about everything right. Read full review
90
L.A. WeeklyF. 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
90
Los Angeles TimesJack Mathews
Mostow, with his first feature, has made such a convincing, fast-paced, edge-of-the-seat thriller that you'd swear you'd never seen anything quite like it. Read full review
90
VarietyTodd McCarthy
In his bigscreen feature debut, director and co-writer Jonathan Mostow displays real flair for visceral cinema while adroitly sidestepping many of the usual tripwires of this sort of film, particularly silly coincidences, stupid decisions on the part of characters with whom you're supposed to identify, and superheroics performed by ordinary people. Read full review
88
USA TodayMike Clark
Breakdown exploits so many traditional thriller situations that any suspense fan vet can easily devote a hand to counting off the predecessors it plunders. [02May1997 Pg 12.D]
80
EmpireBob McCabe
The great thing about Breakdown is simply that what you see is what you get. Want 90 minutes of edge of the seat tension? You got it. Want an unravelling nightmare that stays with you long after the movie? You got it. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Breakdown is a fine thriller, and its ending is unworthy of it. Read full review
75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Rick Groen
Breakdown is a taut little thriller, the kind of well-crafted yarn that sets itself attainable goals and then meets them. Read full review
75
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
It starts slowly, but builds to a spectacular climax with hearty sound effects and deftly directed stunts. Read full review
70
Washington PostRichard Harrington
Jonathon Mostow, who wrote the script and then directed the movie, travels mostly familiar backroads and crosses bridges when he comes to them, actually managing a pretty good cliff-hanging denouement on the latter. Read full review
60
Washington PostStephen Hunter
The movie's surrender to banality is all the more dispiriting because it gets off to such a good start. Read full review
60
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
There are echoes of Stephen Spielberg's "Duel," as well as "Roadgames," "The Hitcher" and "The Hills Have Eyes," but director/cowriter Mostow isn't interested in hommages: He's just looking to crank up the suspense (not the in your face action, thank heavens), bit by miserable bit, and does a very nice job of it. Read full review
50
Chicago ReaderJonathan Rosenbaum
Each set piece is effectively executed, but the characters and their motivations become progressively dimmer and more confused. Read full review
50
San Francisco ExaminerBarbara Shulgasser
When you really think about Breakdown - and believe me, that would probably require spending more time thinking about the movie than the filmmakers did - it doesn't make much sense. Read full review
40
Austin ChronicleRussell Smith
Breakdown further illustrates the axiom that every truly original movie must be remade again and again until it achieves a state of sublime, all-encompassing idiocy. Read full review
38
ReelViewsJames 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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