Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsCannes Film FestivalStar WarsAsian Pacific American Heritage MonthSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Break Up

  • 1998
  • R
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
5.0/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
Bridget Fonda and Kiefer Sutherland in Break Up (1998)
Trailer
Play trailer1:07
1 Video
16 Photos
CrimeMysteryThriller

Jimmy is married to the abusive Frank, but she's building a nest egg so she can leave. For a year, she's been deaf as a result of one of his beatings. One night, he pushes her over the stair... Read allJimmy is married to the abusive Frank, but she's building a nest egg so she can leave. For a year, she's been deaf as a result of one of his beatings. One night, he pushes her over the stairwell, and she ends up in the hospital. When a charred body in her husband's car is pulled ... Read allJimmy is married to the abusive Frank, but she's building a nest egg so she can leave. For a year, she's been deaf as a result of one of his beatings. One night, he pushes her over the stairwell, and she ends up in the hospital. When a charred body in her husband's car is pulled from a pond, the cops want to talk to her, but she bolts for her sister's, loses her savin... Read all

  • Director
    • Paul Marcus
  • Writer
    • Anne Amanda Opotowsky
  • Stars
    • Kiefer Sutherland
    • Bridget Fonda
    • Hart Bochner
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.0/10
    2.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Paul Marcus
    • Writer
      • Anne Amanda Opotowsky
    • Stars
      • Kiefer Sutherland
      • Bridget Fonda
      • Hart Bochner
    • 20User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Break Up
    Trailer 1:07
    Break Up

    Photos15

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast29

    Edit
    Kiefer Sutherland
    Kiefer Sutherland
    • John Box
    Bridget Fonda
    Bridget Fonda
    • Jimmy Dade
    Hart Bochner
    Hart Bochner
    • Frankie Dade
    Steven Weber
    Steven Weber
    • Officer Andrew Ramsey
    Penelope Ann Miller
    Penelope Ann Miller
    • Grace
    Tippi Hedren
    Tippi Hedren
    • Mom
    Leslie Stefanson
    Leslie Stefanson
    • Shelly
    Mike Hagerty
    Mike Hagerty
    • George
    • (as Michael Hagerty)
    Tom Harrison
    • Nan
    Charles Noland
    Charles Noland
    • Neighbor
    Muse Watson
    Muse Watson
    • Baker Cop #1
    Matt O'Toole
    Matt O'Toole
    • Liquor Store Owner
    Abraham Verduzco
    • Boy
    Anna Getty
    Anna Getty
    • Waitress
    Zack Tiegen
    • L.A.P.D. Cop
    • (as Zach Tiegan)
    Gina Aponte
    Gina Aponte
    • L.A.P.D. Female Cop
    Tommy Townsend
    • County Sheriff
    Robin Thomas
    Robin Thomas
    • Doctor
    • Director
      • Paul Marcus
    • Writer
      • Anne Amanda Opotowsky
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews20

    5.02.1K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    5carl-36

    Good premise, but....

    The basic story was pretty good, the acting, especially in the initial scene that sets the film up was realistic. In fact, Fonda's acting throughout was excellent even though the script made her dumber then a nail. You keep yelling at the screen, "Call the cops! Call the cops!" Of course, she doesn't.

    And the self-mutilation scene -- wouldn't this guy be in pain for days if not weeks? Drove me nuts.

    Keifer Sutherland often plays a real good bad guy -- but not this time. Now he's a cop who never met a donut he didn't like.

    Go ahead and rent this movie. Just keep a can of Spackle handy to plug up the holes in the story -- like who fed Duke the dog?
    cantona-4

    Worthless plot

    Totally worthless film with no story and no good acting at all!
    7flimbuff

    WORTH WATCHING

    Nothing great here but a nicely acted story about an abused deaf wife (Fonda) of a small time crook (Bochner)who gets involved with one of her husband's plans and his mistress. Sutherland and Weber are cops drawn into what turns out to be a unmysterious murder investigation and the story just flows along.
    4onapproach-1

    Weak, disorganized plot. Written for an Oprah world.

    The plot was really weak and confused. This is a true Oprah flick. (In Oprah's world, all men are evil and all women are victims.)
    5=G=

    Worth a watch...barely.

    "The Break Up" is not a thriller or a mystery or an action flick. It's a somewhat disjointed and flawed drama with Fonda at the center delivering a solid performance. There is just enough meat on the bones of this flick to give the viewer something to chew on as long as expectations aren't too high. An okay journeyman flick recommended for Fonda or Sutherland fans.

    More like this

    Ground Control
    5.7
    Ground Control
    Desert Saints
    6.0
    Desert Saints
    The Killing Time
    5.3
    The Killing Time
    Carrie
    5.4
    Carrie
    The Right Temptation
    5.4
    The Right Temptation
    Crazy Moon
    6.3
    Crazy Moon
    Article 99
    6.1
    Article 99
    Flashback
    6.2
    Flashback
    Eye for an Eye
    6.2
    Eye for an Eye
    Behind the Red Door
    6.3
    Behind the Red Door
    The Last Days of Frankie the Fly
    5.4
    The Last Days of Frankie the Fly
    Promised Land
    5.7
    Promised Land

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Many of the featured extras that played Bakersfield cops were actual officers from local stations. In a few of the scenes the director told them "just do it as you would in real life."
    • Goofs
      When Jimmy is pointing a revolver at Officer Ramsey in the rest room, and later when she shoots Frankie with the same gun, it is obvious from the frontal camera angle that the weapon is not loaded. Its chambers are clearly empty.
    • Quotes

      Jimmy Dale: Momma, he tried to kill me!

      Mom: Well... that's none of my business.

    • Soundtracks
      Theme For The Break Up
      Performed by Paula Frazer

      Courtesy of Tarnation

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ15

    • How long is Break Up?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 21, 1998 (Italy)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Break Up
    • Filming locations
      • Bakersfield, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Front Street Pictures
      • Millennium Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $9,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Bridget Fonda and Kiefer Sutherland in Break Up (1998)
    Top Gap
    What is the English language plot outline for Break Up (1998)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.