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Breaking

  • 2022
  • PG-13
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
10K
YOUR RATING
Michael Kenneth Williams and John Boyega in Breaking (2022)
A Marine war veteran faces mental and emotional challenges when he tries to reintegrate back into civilian life.
Play trailer2:16
9 Videos
22 Photos
DocudramaTrue CrimeCrimeDramaThriller

A Marine war veteran faces mental and emotional challenges when he tries to reintegrate into civilian life.A Marine war veteran faces mental and emotional challenges when he tries to reintegrate into civilian life.A Marine war veteran faces mental and emotional challenges when he tries to reintegrate into civilian life.

  • Director
    • Abi Damaris Corbin
  • Writers
    • Abi Damaris Corbin
    • Kwame Kwei-Armah
    • Aaron Gell
  • Stars
    • John Boyega
    • Nicole Beharie
    • Selenis Leyva
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    10K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Abi Damaris Corbin
    • Writers
      • Abi Damaris Corbin
      • Kwame Kwei-Armah
      • Aaron Gell
    • Stars
      • John Boyega
      • Nicole Beharie
      • Selenis Leyva
    • 75User reviews
    • 88Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos9

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:16
    Official Trailer
    Breaking
    Trailer 2:16
    Breaking
    Breaking
    Trailer 2:16
    Breaking
    John Boyega Asks His 'Breaking' Co-Stars Anything
    Clip 4:04
    John Boyega Asks His 'Breaking' Co-Stars Anything
    The Legacy of Michael Kenneth Williams
    Clip 4:07
    The Legacy of Michael Kenneth Williams
    Breaking: Trigger The Alarm
    Clip 1:29
    Breaking: Trigger The Alarm
    Breaking: Wait, Wait, Wait
    Clip 1:15
    Breaking: Wait, Wait, Wait

    Photos22

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    + 18
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    Top cast43

    Edit
    John Boyega
    John Boyega
    • Brian Brown-Easley
    Nicole Beharie
    Nicole Beharie
    • Estel Valerie
    Selenis Leyva
    Selenis Leyva
    • Rosa Diaz
    Michael Kenneth Williams
    Michael Kenneth Williams
    • Eli Bernard
    Connie Britton
    Connie Britton
    • Lisa Larson
    Jeffrey Donovan
    Jeffrey Donovan
    • Major Riddick
    Olivia Washington
    Olivia Washington
    • Cassandra Brown-Easley
    London Covington
    London Covington
    • Kiah Easley
    Robb Derringer
    Robb Derringer
    • Chief Jack Quail
    Carmine Giovinazzo
    Carmine Giovinazzo
    • Ken Pierce
    Kate Burton
    Kate Burton
    • Tami Stackhouse
    Albert Kong
    Albert Kong
    • Steve Yen
    Elise Neal
    Elise Neal
    • Juanita
    Kelli Dawn Hancock
    Kelli Dawn Hancock
    • Briefing Officer
    • (as Kelli Hancock)
    Mel Fair
    Mel Fair
    • Mark Cavanaugh
    Keith Ewell
    Keith Ewell
    • Keith James
    Miriam Silverman
    Miriam Silverman
    • Hana
    Shannon Walsh
    Shannon Walsh
    • 911 Julie
    • Director
      • Abi Damaris Corbin
    • Writers
      • Abi Damaris Corbin
      • Kwame Kwei-Armah
      • Aaron Gell
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews75

    6.310K
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    Featured reviews

    gortx

    Solid drama with fine performances

    Solid drama based on the true story of an ex-Marine who took over a Georgia bank in 2017 threatening to blow it and a pair employees up with a bomb. The soldier, Brian Brown-Easley, played by John Boyega has been caught up in a dispute with The Veteran's Administration. At wit's end, he decides that making a spectacle will get the attention of the media.

    Director and Co-Writer Abi Damaris Corbin sets up the situation in a fairly straightforward manner. The emphasis is clearly on Brown-Easley as the movie methodically shows the hours leading up to the takeover. As the situation escalates, we get more glimpses of his ex-wife and child. The two bank employees provide an element of immediate endangerment. Nicole Beharie is particularly good as the calm but determined manager as is the late Michael K. Williams as the hostage negotiator.

    When the movie moves past the immediate hostage situation inside the bank, the script gets a bit more dicey. The point of view and background details get a bit muddled. The acting holds it together, but, a more directed narrative would have tightened the suspense all the more. Brown-Easley's story did all too briefly cast a light on military veterans' plight, but, alas, the moment passed soon after the situation was finalized.

    BREAKING is good calling card for Corbin, and Boyega's performance should lead to more opportunities outside the Star Wars/sci-fi universe.
    7Cyns-Corner

    A tragically unnecessary true event

    Based on a tragically unnecessary true event, Breaking is not a feel-good movie. But it also didn't feel like a waste of time, as it shone the spotlight on a long-standing issue with the U. S. government and the far too many times it lets its veterans down, driving many of them to take desperate measures such as suicide, among other things. One of those "other things" is demonstrated in this film as it tells the story of the 2017 bank hostage event carried out by a former Marine Corps veteran, Brian Brown-Easley, who is in financial trouble (due to the VA not carrying through with assistance) and decides to rob a bank. But it's not a typical bank robbery. He just wants the VA to deliver to him what they owe. You can imagine the rest of the story. This is equal parts infuriating and heartbreaking. John Boyega pulls off a solid performance here, as always, and it was bittersweet to see Michael Kenneth Williams in what was one of his final roles. Recommended.
    7jaymakak

    Who doesn't like Discount Denzel?

    John Boyega even bears a striking resemblance to Denzel Washington while simulating the borrowed mannerisms and speech patterns he performs with great aplomb.

    Michael Kenneth Williams shows one last time why his character artistry is so profoundly missed.

    Not the first time this story, or one nearly identicle to it has been told, but the underlying theme bears repeating. And until the very apparatus that was created to care for all Americans who served this country can be reasonably adequate in addressing the problems assocated with modern warfare and combat in general, tragedies like this will continue to occur.
    6theredsky

    892 Review

    I was privileged enough to see this as part of the 2022 Sundance Film Festival and it was decent. My biggest praise for this film is the performances. All of them are great especially John Boyega. I've only seen him in the sequel trilogy where he doesn't have a lot to do so it was really fun seeing him finally have the spotlight and he does a fantastic job here. Michael K. Williams and Nicole Beharie do a fantastic job as well here. Another big plus here is the message about how we treat veterans when they come home. It's awful how the government treats our veterans and that is what the movie is trying to tell here and it really works at the end. My main issues with this film were its presentation. None of the technical aspects of the film stand out at all. The cinematography and music are fine. The editing is fine. All of it is fine but it could be better. They also had this ugly filter on whenever Michael K. Williams is on screen. The film's tension is pretty good though. There were definitely points especially at the end where I could really feel nervous about the characters. This is based on a true story so most people know what happened but you still feel your heart racing towards the end. There were times though when the film was trying to be tense and it just didn't come through for me. I would recommend checking this out whenever the film hits theaters if you're interested in Boyega or the story this film is based on.
    7jmccrmck-65172

    the movie delivers

    Escalate or diffuse ? Overwhelming force or appropriate response to a human being in crisis ? The reviews here are not that positive ; I disagree.

    This is a poignant story rendered capably and one that keeps the story moving and interesting not to mention outstanding acting by all the characters portrayed. That's the point of my review , a movie with a compelling story. If you are up for fantasy and 'cartoon' movies , then look elsewhere. If you up for a real movie , by all means go to see this one. The story is different but it reminds me of the Clint Eastwood produced movie :' Richard Jewel' and , that was, IMO a good movie . And please remember when you see a one star review to click on the link for the user of the the one star review because more often than not it is a one and done user review in other words , a troll posting a bad review and to put it mildly : insincere, sincerely yours an actual person who watched the movie and posted in my imdb blog .

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Final film appearance of Michael Kenneth Williams
    • Quotes

      Brian Brown-Easley: Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait! Wait! Wait!, that's all I've been told, is to wait! What do I need to do to get the attention I need *right now*!

    • Crazy credits
      In the opening scenes, the movie title BREAKING can be seen printed in white letters on the road as Brian is walking with his back to the camera.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Everything Wrong with...: Everything Wrong With AmbuLAnce in 21 Minutes or Less (2023)

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    FAQ18

    • How long is Breaking?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 26, 2022 (Canada)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Quiebre
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Salmira Productions
      • Little Lamb
      • UpperRoom Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,806,359
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $985,921
      • Aug 28, 2022
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,806,359
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 43 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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