Breakdown
Seen it?1997 | 93 min | Crime, Mystery, Thriller, Action, Drama
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
It earned strong reviews (82% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it's still drawing plenty of interest, despite soft box office. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime-drama fans, anyone who likes to be kept guessing and action fans. If you loved Fargo or Thelma & Louise, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Tense, dark and gritty.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 33 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: expect violence.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
On their cross-country drive, a married couple, Jeff and Amy Taylor, experience car trouble after their SUV breaks down. Stranded in the New Mexico desert, the two catch a break when a passing truck driver offers Amy a ride to a nearby café to call for help. Meanwhile, Jeff is able to fix the car and make his way to the café, but Amy isn't there. He tracks down the trucker ― who tells the police he's never seen Jeff or his wife before. Jeff then begins a desperate, frenzied search for Amy.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
82% on Rotten Tomatoes, 73 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.0 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$50 million worldwide on a $36 million budget
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 300K people sought it out in the past year, and interest is climbing
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Jonathan Mostow
- Kurt RussellJeff Taylor
- J.T. WalshWarren 'Red' Barr
- Kathleen QuinlanAmy Taylor
- M.C. GaineyEarl
- Jack NoseworthyBilly
- Rex LinnSheriff Boyd
- Ritch BrinkleyAl
- Moira SiniseArleen Barr
- Kim RobillardDeputy Len Carver
- Thomas KopacheCalhoun