A man searches for his missing wife after his car breaks down in the middle of the desert.A man searches for his missing wife after his car breaks down in the middle of the desert.A man searches for his missing wife after his car breaks down in the middle of the desert.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
- Awards
- 1 win & 2 nominations total
Moira Sinise
- Arleen
- (as Moira Harris)
Alitzah
- Spanish Girl
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
7.067.8K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Featured reviews
one word-WOW
This is great! The action and intensity never let up for a second. Kurt Russell gives a riveting performance as the hero in search of his missing wife, and JT Walsh is a fine bad guy.
You will keep yourself on the edge of your seat the entire time and will not want to turn it off, even at the end. It's that good. I promise.
If you like intensity and good movies, rent this one. You will not regret it.
*** out of ****
You will keep yourself on the edge of your seat the entire time and will not want to turn it off, even at the end. It's that good. I promise.
If you like intensity and good movies, rent this one. You will not regret it.
*** out of ****
Great thriller with good performances
"Breakdown" is a twist of a thriller and a horror-movie. The story is very good, and you keep asking yourself, what will happen next. Russell and Walsh are making stunning performances, and the movie keeps you attracted for every second.
One of the best thrillers of the 90's!
In my opinion, Breakdown is one of the best thrillers of the 1990's. It has everything, great scenery, great acting, aand a great plot too! This one will keep you guessing for quite a while, and even after you figure out the ending, you'll still be guessing who's gonna come out on top, Kurt Russell, or the bad guys. I highly recommend this movie, if for nothing more than to pay tribute to the late great, J.T. Walsh.
First-Rate Action Suspense Thriller.
Kurt Russell and Kathleen Quinlan play Jeff & Amy Taylor, who are traveling by car across country to California. After stopping at a gas station, they develop engine trouble in the middle of the desert. Desperate, his wife agrees to a ride with a friendly trucker(played memorably by J.T. Walsh), who promises to get them help. When she doesn't return(and after the car starts working again) Jeff drives back into town, only to find to his dismay that not only isn't his wife there, but that they never showed up at all. He does find the trucker, only to be shocked when told by him that he doesn't know what he's talking about! Thus begins a game of cat and mouse, hunter and hunted between Jeff and a particularly nasty gang of kidnappers, demanding ransom.
Extremely exciting film involves the viewer with the couple's plight right away, and seldom goes wrong. Direction by Jonathan Mostow is efficient and inspired, and the performances really ring true, as does the smart script, leading to a cliffhanging climax.
Cautionary tale about not going along with strangers works well as a variation on "Duel". Not to be missed.
Extremely exciting film involves the viewer with the couple's plight right away, and seldom goes wrong. Direction by Jonathan Mostow is efficient and inspired, and the performances really ring true, as does the smart script, leading to a cliffhanging climax.
Cautionary tale about not going along with strangers works well as a variation on "Duel". Not to be missed.
In the middle of a desert
Jeff Taylor (Kurt Russell) and Amy Taylor (Kathleen Quinlan) are a couple who are moving to San Diego.Their car breaks down in a desert.Amy goes along with a truck driver to call some help from the diner.But she never comes back.Jeff drives all around the desert looking for his wife and he asks some people for his wife, but everybody says they haven't seen her.What has happened to Amy?Watch the movie and find out.Breakdown is totally worth checking out.Kurt Russell's performance is amazing and the other actors are great too. Breakdown is a thrilling action thriller, that keeps the suspense on every second of the movie.
Did you know
- TriviaM.C. Gainey said that Earl was the darkest character he ever played in a film and regretted it afterwards.
- GoofsIn the final chase sequence, the pickup truck is repeatedly rammed from behind, yet shows no damage when stopped on the bridge.
- Alternate versionsThe film originally had a prologue added at the behest of the producers showing Kurt Russell's character as a cameraman in a war zone. He witnesses the death of a young girl and this prompts the cross country trip with his wife to start a new job. Director Jonathan Mostow did not like the opening and asked Paramount to test screen one version with the prologue and one without. After the screenings, the studio executives agreed with Mostow and opted to remove the prologue.
- ConnectionsEdited into Breakdown: Alternate Opening (2021)
- SoundtracksBurgers & Fries
Written by Ben Peters
Performed by Charley Pride
Courtesy of the RCA Records Label of BMG Entertainment
- How long is Breakdown?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $36,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $50,159,144
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $12,307,128
- May 4, 1997
- Gross worldwide
- $50,159,144
- Runtime
- 1h 33m(93 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content






