The Breadwinner (2026): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
The Breadwinner is a 2026 family comedy directed by Eric Appel, starring Brett Cullen as Walter Wilcox, Mandy Moore and Nate Bargatze. It runs 1 hour 35 minutes and earned $2.8 million worldwide. Critics gave it 33 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 35m (95 min)
- Director
- Eric Appel
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- TriStar Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Breadwinner About?
The premise of The Breadwinner without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A family comedy centered on Nate Wilcox (Nate Bargatze), whose wife Katie (Mandy Moore) lands a once‑in‑a‑life Shark Tank deal that sends her on an extended business trip. Suddenly the long‑time breadwinner becomes a first‑time stay‑at‑home dad, juggling three energetic daughters, school runs, household chaos and his own cluelessness, while discovering that caring for his family is its own wild adventure.
The Breadwinner Cast & Characters
Brett Cullen leads the cast as Walter Wilcox, with Mandy Moore as Katie Wilcox and Nate Bargatze as Nate Wilcox. Directed by Eric Appel; 20 actors are credited in all.
- Director Eric Appel
-
Brett Cullen as Walter Wilcox -
Mandy Moore as Katie Wilcox - Nate Bargatze as Nate Wilcox
- Stella Grace Fitzgerald as Gracie Wilcox
Also Starring in The Breadwinner
· 16 more- Birdie Borria Hadley Wilcox
- Charlotte Ann Tucker Sam Wilcox
- Will Forte Keegan
- Martin Herlihy Peter
- Kate Berlant Angela Ashford
- Colin Jost Conor Ashford
- Maggie Toomey Avery Ashford
- Kumail Nanjiani Peyton
- Zach Cherry Dan
- Daymond John Daymond John
- Robert Herjavec Robert Herjavec
- Lori Greiner Lori Greiner
- Aaron Weber Trash Collector
- Jared Curtis Dealership Customer
- Brian Bates Trash Collector
- Daniel Lubetzky Daniel Lubetzky
More from Eric Appel
More films directed by Eric Appel, best-rated first: Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, Die Hart 2: Die Harter, Die Hart and Swords, Knives, Very Sharp Objects and Cutlery.
The Breadwinner Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Breadwinner 33 on Metacritic. Our Echo Score gives it 43/100, strongest in rewatch factor (55) and weakest in art & craft (30).
The Breadwinner Echo Score Breakdown
The Breadwinner generates a mixed critical landscape, with reviewers denouncing its direction, unoriginal story, and lackluster humor, while a subset of audience members find it pleasant and family‑friendly. Critics consistently label the film as sloppy and dated, whereas several users highlight its clean comedy and enjoyable characters. This divergence yields a modest overall rating that reflects the predominance of negative professional feedback tempered by modest audience approval.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 30
In terms of art and craft, the film is described as phoned‑in and assembled with evident shortcuts. Critics note a lack of professional polish, citing direction and editing that feel haphazard. No reviewer praises cinematography or design, and audience commentary does not address visual or technical qualities. The consensus points to a deficient execution of core cinematic elements, resulting in a low art score.
- Character & Emotion 50
When evaluating character and emotion, critics criticize the lead performance as weak and the roles as underdeveloped. Conversely, several users commend the cast as adorable and chemistry as lively, emphasizing laughter and enjoyment. The split between professional disappointment and audience affection produces a balanced view, placing the character score in the middle range.
- Story & Flow 45
The story and flow receive predominantly negative feedback from critics, who call the plot stale, the humor corny, and the themes outdated. Some audience members, however, describe the narrative as cute and enjoyable, noting its family‑friendly appeal. This contrast results in a modest score that reflects both the perceived lack of originality and the occasional enjoyment reported by viewers.
- Sensory Experience 45
Sensory experience is not a focal point in the reviews; critics make no strong statements about sound design or visual style, and users provide no commentary on these aspects. The absence of notable praise or criticism leads to an average assessment, positioning the sensory score near the midpoint.
- Rewatch Factor 55
Rewatch factor shows a dichotomy: critics argue the film leaves little desire for repeat viewings, labeling it forgettable, while multiple users express eagerness to see it again with family, citing continuous laughter. This mixture of low professional rewatch interest and higher audience enthusiasm yields a slightly above‑average score.
-
Metacritic 33 Metascore
User score 4.9
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 73% User score
See on TMDB
The Breadwinner Plot Summary
What happens in The Breadwinner 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
Nate Wilcox, Nate Bargatze, is thriving as the top performer at a busy car dealership. His wife, Katie Wilcox, Mandy Moore, stays home with their three daughters—Gracie Wilcox, Hadley Wilcox, and Sam Wilcox. Katie’s inventive idea, the Star Minder, earns her a deal on Shark Tank that could transform their family’s finances and future. To get the product off the ground, she must travel to South Korea for two weeks, forcing Nate to take a leave from his job and learn the challenging art of staying home with the kids.
Full summary
The whole story of The Breadwinner, scene by scene
The Breadwinner Box Office
The Breadwinner grossed $2.8 million worldwide. $313,215 came from the US and Canada and $2.5 million (89%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$2.8M
- US & Canada
- $313.2K
- International
- $2.5M
The Breadwinner Trailers & Videos
9 videos: 2 trailers, 1 teaser, 1 clip, 3 featurettes and 2 behind-the-scenes videos.
- Trailer New Trailer
- Teaser Extended Preview
- Clip Exclusive Scene Featuring Taylor Swift's "Opalite"
- Featurette The Roast of Nate Bargatze
How Well Do You Know The Breadwinner?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the product Katie Wilcox invented that earned her a deal on Shark Tank?
Cars in The Breadwinner
5 cars on screen, including the 2021 Toyota Sienna and the 2001 BMW M3 E46.
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2021 Toyota Sienna -
2001 BMW M3 E46 -
1985 Chevrolet Chevy Van -
2023 Toyota Crown
The Breadwinner Also Known As
30 alternative titles, including “더 브래드위너” and “Parvana: Une enfance en Afghanistan”.
- Also known as
-
- 더 브래드위너
- Parvana: Une enfance en Afghanistan
- Sotto il burqa
- 파르바나: 아프가니스탄의 눈물
- El pan de la guerra
- A ganha-pão
- Der Brotverdiener
- Le soutien de famille
- Den osynliga flickan
- Pervane
- Parvana, une enfance en Afghanistan
- Добытчица
+18 more Show fewer
- The Breadwinner (El pan de la guerra)
- 养家之人
- Żywiciel
- Pâinea războiului
- I racconti di Parvana - The Breadwinner
- Στον Αγώνα για το Ψωμί
- המפרנסת
- Хранитељ породице
- 持家小木蘭
- A kenyérkereső
- Годувальниця
- 戰火下的小花
- Parvana : Une enfance en Afghanistan
- Този, който изкарва хляба
- ブレッドウィナー/生きのびるために
- Den Usynlige Pige
- Živitel
- Maitintoja
Seen The Breadwinner?
Articles About The Breadwinner
Our article about The Breadwinner: “The Breadwinner (2026) Review, Critics Opinions & Audience Reception – Performance, Storytelling and Family Comedy Analysis”.
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Opinions
The Breadwinner FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Breadwinner, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Breadwinner?
The Breadwinner runs 1 hour 35 minutes (95 minutes).
When was The Breadwinner released?
The Breadwinner was released on May 29, 2026.
Who directed The Breadwinner?
The Breadwinner was directed by Eric Appel.
More films by Eric Appel Who is in the cast of The Breadwinner?
The Breadwinner stars Brett Cullen as Walter Wilcox, Mandy Moore as Katie Wilcox and Nate Bargatze as Nate Wilcox, among 20 credited actors.
How much did The Breadwinner make at the box office?
The Breadwinner grossed $2.8 million worldwide ($313,215 domestic, $2.5 million international).
How is The Breadwinner rated?
The Breadwinner has 33 on Metacritic and 73% on TMDB.
Does The Breadwinner have a post-credit scene?
No. The Breadwinner has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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