Breakdown

Year: 1997

Runtime: 93 min

Language: English

Director: Jonathan Mostow

Budget: $36M

Thriller

While driving along a lonely highway, Jeff Taylor experiences a sudden, unexpected turn of events when his wife Amy disappears. With the police unable to find any leads and the surrounding community offering little help, Jeff begins a dangerous search for answers. He must face his deepest anxieties as he desperately tries to find Amy and determine what has become of her.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Breakdown (1997)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Breakdown (1997). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:21

Main Characters – Breakdown (1997)

Meet the key characters of Breakdown (1997), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:21

Major Themes – Breakdown (1997)

Explore the central themes of Breakdown (1997), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:21

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Desperate Survival Thrillers Like Breakdown

Ordinary people pushed to extremes in relentless, high-stakes race against time.If you liked the tense, high-stakes chase in Breakdown, you'll find more movies like it here. These films feature characters in immediate peril, racing against the clock in a hostile environment. They share a similar feel of relentless pacing, high intensity, and the desperate struggle of an ordinary person fighting back.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically follows a linear, fast-paced structure where a clear and immediate threat—such as a kidnapping or pursuit—propels the protagonist into action. There is little room for subplots; the story is a direct, propulsive journey of confrontation, evasion, and the protagonist's transformation from victim to active agent in their own salvation.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared core experience: a sustained, high-intensity thrill ride built on a simple, urgent premise. They connect through their fast pacing, tense tone, heavy emotional weight centered on survival, and the visceral journey of a determined protagonist facing down a threat.

Thrillers With Isolated Paranoia Like Breakdown

The terrifying isolation of being alone and hunted in a vast, empty landscape.Find more movies that create tension like Breakdown, where the setting itself becomes a character. These stories trap their protagonists in vast, empty landscapes, fostering a deep sense of isolation and paranoia. If you liked the feeling of being alone and hunted on the open highway, you'll appreciate these similar thrillers.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern exploits the irony of feeling trapped in an open space. The protagonist's journey is one of increasing alienation and suspicion, as they realize the normal rules of society don't apply. The plot often involves uncovering a hidden conspiracy or network of antagonists within a seemingly benign community or landscape, leading to a confrontation where the protagonist must rely solely on themselves.

Why These Movies?

This thread connects films through their unique atmospheric blend of vast settings and intense psychological confinement. The shared elements are a mood of deep paranoia, a claustrophobic feel despite open spaces, a protagonist who is completely isolated, and a tone of sustained suspense built on uncertainty and distrust.

Unlock the Full Story of Breakdown

Don't stop at just watching — explore Breakdown in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Breakdown is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Breakdown Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Breakdown, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Breakdown Timeline

Track the full timeline of Breakdown with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Breakdown Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Breakdown that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

More About Breakdown

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Breakdown: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

Similar Movies to Breakdown

Discover movies like Breakdown that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.