Breach

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Breach

PG-13,

2007,

1h 50m,

Biography/

Crime/

Drama/

Mystery & Thriller/

Action

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Watchlist

Watchlist

84%

171 Reviews

Tomatometer

67%

250,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

171 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Eric O'Neill (Ryan Phillippe), a low-level surveillance expert with the FBI, believes he is accomplishing his dream of becoming a full-fledged agent, with his unexpected promotion and assignment to work with renowned agent Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper). However, he soon learns the reason for his promotion is to gain Hanssen's trust and find proof that he is a traitor to the country.

Critics Consensus

Powered by Chris Cooper's masterful performance, Breach is a tense and engaging portrayal of the FBI's infamous turncoat.

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Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

Aug 31, 2007

3/5

Breach is slow, but never ponderous, and not at all like your average spy thriller. It has less obvious thrills and more depth.

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Anthony Quinn

Independent (UK)

Aug 31, 2007

3/5

A sombre game of cat-and-mouse. What it lacks in genuine tension it amply compensates in the understated performances of the two leads.

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David Gritten

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Aug 31, 2007

Intriguing and intelligent, Breach may be too understated for its own good.

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Jana Monji

Age of the Geek

Apr 11, 2025

4/5

It's worth remembering this astonishing bit of US history, where a young investigator took down his boss, an FBI agent named Robert Hanssen. These two men are caught between truth and lies and only one of them likes the lie.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Feb 19, 2021

2.5/4

Cooper works hard to provide any psychological subtext to the story behind the headlines.

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David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

Feb 14, 2021

Breach sheds no light on any of the potentially fascinating material. ... The film prides itself on not being able to explain anything about Hanssen's activities.

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Hermione S

Dec 31, 2018

Bland, expressionless, uninspiring acting; shallow, low-fidelity plot and a surprisingly soporific execution left me utterly frustrated. I kept thinking something I didn't see coming would surprise me but it never did... and the premise that this rookie agent was able to repeatedly and convincingly lie to this veteran seemed unlikely. That the plot was aided by actions of the veteran that were there solely to make the storyline more believable (which they failed to do because they seemed gratuitous), and that the rookies wife was utterly nosy and difficult despite knowing that her husband was not allowed to share work stories with her left me just incredulous. I was surprised at the high tomato meter rating but was disappointed enough to leave a rating here so people get my perspective.

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Harry P

Jul 18, 2018

Gee, they made a movie for grownups and nobody watched it.

Leia R

May 27, 2018

Excellent and intriguing true spy story.

Anakin W

Feb 11, 2018

solid performance by Cooper

Theodore P

Jun 11, 2017

Chris Cooper is wonderful in this film--it is a true virtuoso performance. The film is riveting and suspenseful and definitely worth a watch! Considering the Russian investigation now, we can see a whole new relevance to this film.

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Finn P

Jun 9, 2017

if only R.P. had better acting chops this move would have really been a blockbuster. Chris Cooper spiked the football on this one. Out of the park incredible performance

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Billy Ray

Director

Chris Cooper

Robert Hanssen

Ryan Phillippe

Eric O'Neill

Laura Linney

Kate Burroughs

Dennis Haysbert

Dan Plesac

Gary Cole

Rich Garces

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Synopsis

Eric O'Neill (Ryan Phillippe), a low-level surveillance expert with the FBI, believes he is accomplishing his dream of becoming a full-fledged agent, with his unexpected promotion and assignment to work with renowned agent Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper). However, he soon learns the reason for his promotion is to gain Hanssen's trust and find proof that he is a traitor to the country.

Director: Billy Ray
Producer: Bobby Newmyer, Scott Strauss, Scott Kroopf
Screenwriter: Adam Mazer, William Rotko, Billy Ray
Distributor: Universal
Production Co: Outlaw Productions, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, Universal Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual Content|Language|Violence)
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 16, 2007, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $33.0M
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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