Grant Watson Fiction Machine Oct 15, 2025 8/10

Panic Room is a beautifully performed, inventively shot commercial thriller that uses a narrow physical setting to ratchet up tension and a smartly written screenplay to give the characters an uncharacteristic level of depth and complexity.

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Trace Thurman Horror Queers Podcast Apr 7, 2025 4/5

Taut and tense, Panic Room represents a smaller scale effort from director David Fincher that is no less meticulously crafted than his previous films.

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Joe Lipsett Horror Queers Podcast Apr 2, 2025 4/5

It may not be a "top tier" Fincher film, but this popcorn thriller is hugely entertaining and deserves more respect. It's a great time at the movies.

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Paul Lê Bloody Disgusting Mar 28, 2025 4/5

Beneath Panic Room’s polished surface lurks a story teeming with texture.

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Akos Peterbencze The Screen Dec 1, 2023

Though a bare-bones home invasion movie with a few memorable twists, a decent screenplay, and a solid cast, what still makes it outstanding in the genre is its gripping direction and meticulous focus that grants it another layer beyond the basics.

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Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault Sep 17, 2022 C-

Where’s David Fincher’s head these days? Whooshing through keyholes and coffee pots, I guess.

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Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies Aug 24, 2022 4/5

Led by strong performances top to bottom and a clear-eyed understanding of what it aims to be, “Panic Room” is a straight genre movie but with enough Fincher flourishes to give it an extra kick.

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James Croot The Post NZ Aug 8, 2022 4.5/5

Mainstream Hollywood thrillers have never quite reached the compelling, creepy and claustrophobia-inducing heights of Panic Room again...

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Chris Ludovici The Spool Dec 22, 2020

Panic Room is among Fincher's most straightforward genre exercises, it's not really interested in subverting or challenging or upsetting anything...but that doesn't mean it doesn't have anything on its mind.

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Marianna Neal Impression Blend Dec 17, 2020 7/10

Panic Room is one of those thrillers you'll enjoy and get really into on your first viewing, but probably won't be dying to watch again.

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Leigh Paatsch Herald Sun (Australia) Oct 19, 2020 4/5

Yet more top-shelf terror from director David Fincher, the man behind such popular pulse-pounders as Seven, The Game and Fight Club.

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Namrata Joshi Outlook Jan 3, 2019 2/4

Leaving you utterly dissatisfied...

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Tim Brayton Antagony & Ecstasy Nov 30, 2014 6/10

How did Fincher - a director who is very good at supplying thrills to thrillers, whatever his other strengths or limitations might be - end up shepherding such a leaden film?

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media Dec 27, 2010 4/5

Extreme suspense, graphic violence; not for kids.

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Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal Sep 17, 2010 3.5/4

Valuing logic over brutality, David Fincher's claustrophobic ride also touted the real-world practicality of keeping quiet over the cinematic kicks of a loud thriller. It's like "Wait Until Dark" with helplessness that's emotional, not just physical.

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Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com May 3, 2009 B+

Apart from one plot twist too many, "Panic Room" is a seamless suspense-thriller with a top-notch cast.

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Felix Vasquez Jr. Cinema Crazed Apr 29, 2009 2/4

There are so little things you can do with this story and a lot of it is pretty contrived.

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Todd McCarthy Variety Mar 27, 2009

A thinking-man's women-in-jeopardy picture, Panic Room does about as much as humanly possible with its deliberately restricted one-setting premise.

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Todd Gilchrist IGN Jul 2, 2008

David Fincher directs a nail-biter starring Jodie Foster about a mother and daughter who defend their house against a brutal home invasion.

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Joe Lozito Big Picture Big Sound Jul 14, 2007 3/4

[Allows] Fincher to shine as the skilled, stylish director that he is.

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