Breakdown
Paramount Pictures | Release Date: May 2, 1997
8.3
USER SCORE
Universal acclaim based on 138 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
118
Mixed:
10
Negative:
10
Watch Now
Stream On
Stream On
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand
Review this movie
VOTE NOW
 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Check box if your review contains spoilers 0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
10
TylerDurden900Jul 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.
36 of 37 users found this helpful361
All this user's reviews
10
AmadeusEApr 11, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A classic thriller. One of Kurt Russell's best movies. I grew up with this movie. First saw it as a kid and first time viewing will leave you absolutely breathless. Watching it again now as an adult is just as enjoyable. Enjoying the atmosphere, the way the plot unfolds again and the overall superiority over today's movies. Not to mention Kurt Russell's fantastic acting. The same level of great acting that he deployed in his next movie Soldier, which is a badass action movie that's further enhanced by Kurt Russell's aforementioned acting skills.

As a little comment on the plot, I'd say his wife would have been good riddance, though. Stupid ass jumping into a stranger's truck without a second thought. I'm assuming they're supposed to be in their 40s too. At 40 years, she should already know better. That's not a millenial woman either, so there's absolutely no excuse, haha.… Expand
10 of 10 users found this helpful100
All this user's reviews
10
Surpass80Jan 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
10 of 10 users found this helpful100
All this user's reviews
10
oustApr 26, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. When Red (J.T. Walsh) says to Jeff (Kurt Russell): "49 minutes, Jeff. Time to get the show on the road." - it is exactly 49 minutes until the end of the movie.… Expand
10 of 10 users found this helpful100
All this user's reviews
9
TryASummersaultMar 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 isThis 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
6 of 6 users found this helpful60
All this user's reviews
10
Vial44May 1, 2021
:::::::::::::::::::::::,,,,,,,,,,-----------------------!!!!!!!......,...........>>
5 of 5 users found this helpful50
All this user's reviews
10
Maxilla328May 14, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Very Scary Road Trip Movie!

I just saw this movie again for the first time since it was released in '97 and it was just as scary now as ever before. I love the open road and enjoy long drives but after recently watching this movie again I may have to re think my love of the open highway! Yikes!! Kurt Russell is great in this film as the hapless husband who tries to rescue his wife from the group of crazies who are holding her for ransom. But without spoiling the plot, this movie does remind me of one of the other really scary rod trip movie Wolf Creek. Both movie have slightly similar overtones of nutty backwoods (or back roads) people who kidnap innocent passerbys. This movie held me to the edge of my seat due to the suspenseful plot. Check it out but be sure to lock your car doors and check the rear view mirror!… Expand
5 of 5 users found this helpful50
All this user's reviews
10
Exemplify78May 18, 2021
⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$#$$$$$$$$$$$$$
4 of 4 users found this helpful40
All this user's reviews
10
RindApr 23, 2021
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
3 of 3 users found this helpful30
All this user's reviews
10
ConsortApr 24, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Boom mic visible When the Sheriff 'questions' Kurt Russell on the road after pulling him over in the F150 pickup, the boom microphone is clearly visible, as it's attached to the back of the pickup.… Expand
3 of 3 users found this helpful30
All this user's reviews
10
AssonanceMay 4, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Factual Errors After the bank manager gets up from his desk to start the transfer, there is a wider shot of Jeff at the desk. The computer monitor has no power cord attached.… Expand
3 of 3 users found this helpful30
All this user's reviews
10
Carouse97May 14, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Russell throws off the familiar guise, rejects showboat heroics and sweats for real. He's never been better.
Kurt Russells character Jeff, search for his wife is reminiscent of The Vanishing and yet there is something else, an insidious violence that declares open season on strangers. Whatever is going on, and you never quite know for certain, it has an ugly echo of the dark side of the country.

This could easily have been a style-washed film noir of the Red Rock West variety. Instead, Mostow remains believable, therefore increasing the tension. He makes you feel Taylor's terror and rage. He makes you breathe fast and shallow. Russell can be beef-caked and plastic films like Escape From New York, Big Trouble In Little China. He can be solid wood Stargate and stiff-upper ed The Thing. What Mostow achieves with him here is remarkable.

Taylor is not presented in Stallonescope, rather as an ordinary bloke who doesn't know what to do. Russell can slip into stereotype at the scratch of a producer's pen. What makes Breakdown such a convincing ride is his ability to convey fear and courage simultaneously. Taylor's out of his depth. He's scared, but he's going on. Russell throws off the familiar guise, rejects showboat heroics and sweats for real. He's never been better.… Expand
3 of 3 users found this helpful30
All this user's reviews
10
Ulna319May 16, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Absolutely perfect

You can really relate to Kurt Russell in this movie. We may not have ever been trapped in a State-turned-prison (Escape from New York/LA), but we've all taken road trips, and we all know the discomfort that follows. Very realistic, whilst having that tough Kurt Russell edge. This movie leaves you on the edge of your seat, so I'd suggest grabbing more than a few cans of drink before watching, so you don't have to take any breaks from this thriller. You'll want to watch it more than once.… Expand
3 of 3 users found this helpful30
All this user's reviews
10
timoneDec 1, 2021
Now I would say that this is more like a abduction thriller and I think I know the story straight up. The plot is about Jeffery Taylor (Kurt Russell) and his wife going to San Diego and almost crashed into the truck. So they went to the gasNow I would say that this is more like a abduction thriller and I think I know the story straight up. The plot is about Jeffery Taylor (Kurt Russell) and his wife going to San Diego and almost crashed into the truck. So they went to the gas station and they off again and all of the sudden, the jeep breaks down so Jeffery tries to call someone but the phone is dead. The lorry stopped and the man named Red Barr (played by J.T. Walsh) went to Jeffery and his wife push the jeep of the road and asks if they wanna ride in the lorry, Jeffery stays with the jeep. So when Jeffery forgot to wire the jeep he went Belle's Diner to see if his wife is here. Jeffery went to talk to Red Barr but Red said he never see him before in his life. Jeff is confused and hails a passing police car and told the cop that he had done something with his wife. So the cop went to look at the truck and there's nothing in it. Jeffery went to the police station and Belle's Diner again. The bartender didn't see his wife. So Jeff talks to Billy who says he his wife went on another truck. Jeffery went to find his wife but he was ambushed by Earl so he drove away from him and went into the river and got knocked out by Billy. So he wakes up by the bad guys. Their leader Red Barr tells him to the $90.000 for the ransom. So he went to the bank, called Red and went in the truck got taped by Earl. When Earl discovers Jeffery's ruse for the ransom, Jeffery stabs him, tapes him and tortures him by driving holy-grocal-molyly. The cop saw the truck speeding, Jeff stops and warns him that the bad guys kidnapped his wife, Earl shoots the cop so he shoots him. Jeff calls the officers to get the ambulance for a wounded cop. While Jeff's not talking, he hides underneath the lorry and climbed in. While arrived, he quietly enters Red's house and forces Red and his men to release his wife from the freezer before locking them in the cellar. Jeff and his wife went outta here. After Billy escapes from Jeffery, he frees Red and his men. While Jeff and his wife escapes, Red and his gang catches them. Red's truck got dameged at the back. Then he rams Jeff's vehicle off the bridge, his truck got hanged and Jeffery fights Red by hurling him of the truck and the truck got destroyed and that was it. Wow, what a thriller! I enjoyed this much more and I never got tired of it. For all you ''Fast and Furious'' fans out here, this is the film that you will enjoy. It has suspence in it and it has thrills in it, I've seen it a million times and I'll probably seen a million more.… Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
All this user's reviews
10
DefameApr 30, 2021
Breakdown is Kurt Russell's niftiest flick. The twists are ingenious, the cast is engaging and the movie is realistic in its depiction of a kidnapping A+.
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
All this user's reviews
10
Xlyophone199May 6, 2021
♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇@&@&@&@&@&@&@&@&@&@&@&@&@&@&@&@&@&&&&@&@&@@@@@@@&@&@&@&@&
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
All this user's reviews
9
Stagger74Jul 16, 2021
********************************************************
》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
All this user's reviews
10
RialtoAug 13, 2021
Breakdown is another classic film of 1997, there was many classics movies that year such as Face/Off, The Game, Gattaca, Devil's Advocate, Grosse Pointe Blank, The Relic, Titanic, Con Air, Jackie Brown, Mimic, Romy and Michelle, Addicted toBreakdown is another classic film of 1997, there was many classics movies that year such as Face/Off, The Game, Gattaca, Devil's Advocate, Grosse Pointe Blank, The Relic, Titanic, Con Air, Jackie Brown, Mimic, Romy and Michelle, Addicted to love, Event Horizon, Starship Troopers, The Fifth Element, Scream 2, Good will hunting, Liar Liar & Murder at 1600. Breakdown is a classic thriller that deserves its spot alongside of these films and as a masterpiece of crackling suspense.… Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
All this user's reviews
10
SputterApr 21, 2021
asdfghjklopiuyytrewqzxcvbnmmnbvcxzlkjhgfdsaopiuytrewqssnkvmgornodhdushfomkmkk
3 of 4 users found this helpful31
All this user's reviews
9
Shroud189Jun 26, 2021
♡♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥
3 of 4 users found this helpful31
All this user's reviews
8
MikeyStephensMar 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 toOne 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 6 users found this helpful24
All this user's reviews
8
Rcavey92212Mar 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 awesomeAction 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 14 users found this helpful014
All this user's reviews
7
HellHoleHorrorFeb 16, 2022
This reminded me of Red Rock West (1992) but it was also like a remake of Duel (1971). It plays as an action thriller. It is pretty tacky but oddly riveting. It is a guilty pleasure. The action is good but there isn’t a huge amount of it. TheThis reminded me of Red Rock West (1992) but it was also like a remake of Duel (1971). It plays as an action thriller. It is pretty tacky but oddly riveting. It is a guilty pleasure. The action is good but there isn’t a huge amount of it. The story is passable. It is never especially exciting and being an action film it is often ridiculous.… Expand
0 of 5 users found this helpful05
All this user's reviews
9
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
9
Exigent93Jun 6, 2021
$,$,$,$,$,$,$,$,$,$,$,$,$,$,$,$,$,$,$,$,$,$,$,$,$,$,$,$,
●》●》●》●》●》●》●》●》●》●》●》●》●》●》●》●》
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
Embalmer98Jun 10, 2021
●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
",",",",",",",",",",",",",",",,+,+,+,+,+,+,÷,÷,÷,÷,÷,=..
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
Aerialist277Jun 19, 2021
♤¿♤¿♤¿♤¿♤¿♤¿♤¿♤¿♤¿♤¿♤¿♤¿♤¿♤¿♤¿♤¿♤¿♤¿♤¿♤¿♤¿♤
:;:;:;:;:;:;:;::;:;:;:;:;:;:;◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
More From This Movie

74 Critic Reviews

8.3 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 81 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
2 77 Project Hail Mary
3 75 Send Help
4 73 Hoppers
5 72 The Sheep Detectives
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL