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Action thriller

Breathless (1983): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Breathless (1983) movie poster

Breathless is a 1983 action thriller directed by Jim McBride, starring Richard Gere, James Hong and John P. Ryan. It runs 1 hour 40 minutes and earned $19.9 million worldwide. Critics gave it 52 on Metacritic.

worldwide gross
$19.9M
Metascore
52
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Breathless (1983) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 40m (100 min)
Director
Jim McBride
Genres
Action , Drama , Thriller , Romance
Original language
Spanish
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Breathless About?

The premise of Breathless without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Hunted by the police, he steals cars repeatedly and finds himself alongside one of the world's most beautiful women. For the young criminal, life is a continuous party without rules. However, life itself unexpectedly intervenes, leading to unforeseen consequences and a confrontation with reality.

Breathless Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • remake of french film
  • neo noir
  • los angeles california
  • male frontal nudity
  • male nudity
  • comic book
  • one word title
  • bare chested male
  • male rear nudity
  • anti hero
  • lust
  • las vegas nevada
+38 more
  • on the run
  • murder of a police officer
  • stolen car
  • male full frontal nudity
  • sex scene
  • recklessness
  • self destructiveness
  • passion
  • criminal
  • machismo
  • obsessive love
  • kissing while having sex
  • buttocks
  • attraction
  • jealousy
  • tragic love
  • brunette
  • pubic hair
  • shower
  • female full frontal nudity
  • breasts
  • female rear nudity
  • female frontal nudity
  • newspaper
  • frenchwoman abroad
  • gun
  • freeze frame
  • sensuality
  • undressing
  • man and woman in shower
  • highway
  • reckless driving
  • reference to jerry lee lewis
  • reference to the silver surfer
  • reference to william faulkner
  • sexual jealousy
  • sex in a movie theater
  • title based on song
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Cast & crew

Breathless Cast

Richard Gere leads the cast, with James Hong and John P. Ryan. Directed by Jim McBride; 10 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Jim McBride

More films directed by Jim McBride, best-rated first: The Big Easy, Great Balls of Fire!, Meat Loaf: To Hell and Back and Pronto.

Full filmography
Ratings

Breathless Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Breathless 52 on Metacritic.

Plot

Breathless Plot Summary

What happens in Breathless from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Richard Gere plays Jesse Lujack, a cocky, hedonistic drifter and small-time car thief in Las Vegas who lives for neon lights, reckless thrills, and a dangerous sense of charm. He’s obsessed with Silver Surfer comic books, the raucous music of Jerry Lee Lewis, and Monica Poiccard, a UCLA architecture student he has only met during a weekend fling while she was visiting Las Vegas.

Full summary

The whole story of Breathless, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Breathless Box Office

Breathless grossed $19.9 million worldwide.

1983 box office

Worldwide gross

$19.9M

US & Canada
$19.9M
Videos

Breathless Trailers & Videos

3 videos: 1 trailer and 2 featurettes.

Official Trailer
  • Featurette Larry Karaszewski on BREATHLESS
  • Featurette Jack Nitzsche Suite from Breathless
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Breathless?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Which actor portrays the character Jesse Lujack?

Cars

Cars in Breathless

70 cars on screen, including the 1970 Buick Electra 225 and the 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz.

All 70 cars
  • 1970 Buick Electra 225 in Breathless 1970 Buick Electra 225 Important role
  • 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz in Breathless 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Important role
  • 1976 Chevrolet LUV in Breathless 1976 Chevrolet LUV Important role
  • 1977 Dodge Monaco in Breathless 1977 Dodge Monaco Important role
Details

Breathless Also Known As

24 alternative titles, including “На последнем дыхании” and “Eláll a lélegzetem”.

Also known as
  • На последнем дыхании
  • Eláll a lélegzetem
  • A bout de souffle made in USA
  • A Força do Amor
  • ブレスレス
  • Atemlos
  • All'ultimo respiro
  • À bout de souffle made in USA
  • Vivir sin aliento
  • Kifulladásig Los Angelesben
  • עד כלות הנשימה
  • A Força de um Amor
+12 more
  • 브레드레스
  • Do Utraty Tchu
  • Åndeløs
  • Sin Aliento
  • Χωρίς ανάσα
  • 断了气
  • Nefes Nefese
  • Polte veressä
  • Sense alè
  • Līdz pēdējam elpas vilcienam
  • ทั้งหัวใจยอมตายเพื่อเธอ
  • Till sista andetaget

Seen Breathless?

FAQ

Breathless FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Breathless, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Breathless?

Breathless runs 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).

When was Breathless released?

Breathless was released on May 13, 1983.

Who directed Breathless?

Breathless was directed by Jim McBride.

More films by Jim McBride

Who is in the cast of Breathless?

Breathless stars Richard Gere, James Hong and John P. Ryan, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Breathless make at the box office?

Breathless grossed $19.9 million worldwide.

How is Breathless rated?

Breathless has 52 on Metacritic and 58% on TMDB.

Does Breathless have a post-credit scene?

No. Breathless has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Breathless in?

The original language of Breathless is Spanish.

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