Breathless

1959, Crime/Drama, 1h 30m

74 Reviews 25,000+ Ratings

critics consensus

Breathless rewrote the rules of cinema -- and more than 50 years after its arrival, Jean-Luc Godard's paradigm-shifting classic remains every bit as vital. Read critic reviews

You might also like

See More

The Battle of Algiers

Rent/buy

Rent/buy

Subscription

Rent/buy

Rate And Review

Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer
Step 2 of 2

How did you buy your ticket?

Let's get your review verified.
Fandango

AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info

Cinemark Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Regal Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
How did you buy your ticket?
- Fandango
- AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew
  
  Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info
- Cinemark Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Regal Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You haven’t finished your review yet, want to submit as-is?

You can always edit your review after.
Are you sure?

Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers.
Want to submit changes to your review before closing?

Breathless Photos

Breathless (1959)

Breathless (1959)

Breathless (1959)

Breathless (1959)

Breathless (1959)

Breathless (1959)

View All Photos (17)

Movie Info

Petty thug Michel (Jean-Paul Belmondo) considers himself a suave bad guy in the manner of Humphrey Bogart, but panics and impulsively kills a policeman while driving a stolen car. On the lam, he turns to his aspiring journalist girlfriend, Patricia (Jean Seberg), hiding out in her Paris apartment while he tries to pull together enough money to get the pair to Italy. But when Patricia learns that her boyfriend is being investigated for murder, she begins to question her loyalties.

Genre:

Crime, Drama
Original Language:

French (France)
Director:

Jean-Luc Godard
Producer:

Georges de Beauregard
Writer:

Jean-Luc Godard, François Truffaut
Release Date (Theaters):

Feb 7, 1961 wide
Release Date (Streaming):

Jan 7, 2003
Box Office (Gross USA):

$47.1K
Runtime:

1h 30m

Cast & Crew

Jean-Paul Belmondo
Michel Poiccard alias Laszlo Kovacs

Jean Seberg
Patricia Franchini

Daniel Boulanger
Police Inspector

Jean-Pierre Melville
Parvulesco

Henri-Jacques Huet
Antonio Berrutti

Van Doude
The Journalist

Show all Cast & Crew

News & Interviews for Breathless

10 Movie Classics the Oscars Ignored

On DVD This Week: Game of Thrones, Finding Dory, Better Call Saul, and More

Critic Reviews for Breathless

All Critics (74) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (71) | Rotten (3)

Full Review… Archer Winsten New York Post

Full Review… Jake Wilson The Age (Australia)

Full Review… Stanley Kauffmann The New Republic

Full Review… Adam Nayman eye WEEKLY

Full Review… Chris Vognar Dallas Morning News

Full Review… Jonathan F. Richards Film.com

Full Review… Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies

Full Review… Dilys Powell Sunday Times (UK)

Full Review… Fico Cangiano CineXpress Podcast

Full Review… Neely Swanson Easy Reader (California)

Full Review… Sabina Dana Plasse Film Threat

Full Review… Sarah Brinks Battleship Pretension

View All Critic Reviews (74)

Audience Reviews for Breathless

Jun 02, 2018

3/06/2018 - Overrated. The films opening scene is great, but afterwards basically nothing happens until Michel's death, which couldn't have come soon enough.

Peter B Super Reviewer
Mar 07, 2013

An iconic film of the French New Wave that revolutionized film-making in general, Breathless is unconventional in many ways but undeniably impressive and unique. From its frequent jump cuts to its leisurely pacing and improvisational dialogue, Breathless is far from a typical drama, and it demonstrates New Wave director Jean-Luc Godard's endless love of film and film-making that separates the movie from its counterparts and makes it a must-see movie for any self-respecting film buff.

Joey S Super Reviewer
Feb 08, 2013

A landmark in cinema history, due mostly to revolutionary editing techniques, pop culture references, and a biting undercurrent of intellectualism.

Kase V Super Reviewer
Oct 12, 2012

This is the first Godard movie I can say I was vividly entertained throughout the whole movie. A unique love story between a murderer and an American girl in France. Stuffed with memorable dialogue and every moment something was happening. Practically every single second was filled. I still hate Godard's cinematography style, it's annoying and confusing. Unlike the other Godard works I've seen though this one kept you into it, and started the French new wave.

Daniel D Super Reviewer

See All Audience reviews