Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Brilliantly designed thriller weakened by heavy violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Don't Breathe
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 15 parent reviews
Based on 38 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is filled with intense and disturbing content, including graphic violence and strong language that makes it unsuitable for younger viewers. While some find it a gripping and suspenseful thriller, others criticize the over-the-top violence and a particularly unsettling scene involving sexual assault, leading to mixed opinions on its entertainment value and appropriateness for teens.
- intense violence
- graphic content
- strong language
- inappropriate for kids
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In DON'T BREATHE, three down-and-out, desperate Detroit dwellers -- social outcast "Money" (Daniel Zovatto), his girlfriend, Rocky (Jane Levy); and clean-cut, worrying Alex (Dylan Minnette) -- have a scheme. They rob houses using keys and codes stolen from Alex's father's job at a security company. When they learn about an elderly, blind war veteran (Stephen Lang) who keeps several hundred thousand dollars in his house, they figure it can be their "one last final score." Rocky wants to get her young daughter out of town and away from her abusive mother, while Alex has unrequited feelings for Rocky and wants to join her. Unfortunately, their "simple" plan turns nasty when the old man turns out to be more than a meek victim.
Is It Any Good?
The first three-quarters of this simple, intense thriller are something close to masterful -- and then it goes a little too over the top, with an outlandish reveal and elements of torture and gore. Director Fede Alvarez (the 2013 Evil Dead remake), starts Don't Breathe with nary a misstep, using the desolate Detroit locations to strong effect and establishing the space of the veteran's house clearly and concisely, never resorting to shaky-cam.
Plus, the crisp sound design highlights every creak and crack of the house, without an overuse of music. Character development is slight, but at least Rocky is sympathetic, with abuse in her past and a desire to protect her daughter. And for a long time, all of this is brilliantly sustained, suggesting a trust in the audience -- but then the movie betrays that trust by unleashing a ridiculous back story for the victim, as well as unnecessarily heightened violence. A bit more thought could have made this a suspense classic, but at least it's nearly there.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Don't Breathe's violence. Is all of it necessary to the story? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
How much did you care about the main characters, given that they're thieves and robbers? Does the movie generate sympathy for them? How?
What are the relationships like between the main characters and their parents (Rocky and her mother, and Alex and his father)? How are these relationships reflected in the characters' behavior?
How does smoking affect the characters? Does it make them seem cool? Dangerous? Desperate?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 26, 2016
- On DVD or streaming : November 29, 2016
- Cast : Jane Levy , Dylan Minnette , Stephen Lang
- Director : Fede Alvarez
- Inclusion Information : Latino Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studios : Sony Pictures Releasing , Screen Gems
- Genre : Thriller
- Run time : 88 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : terror, violence, disturbing content, and language including sexual references
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate