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Breach

Breach

How one man betrayed the security of a nation.

2007110 minPG-13Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
Director
Billy Ray
Starring
Chris Cooper, Ryan Phillippe, Laura Linney, Caroline Dhavernas

Eric O'Neill, 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 clerk for Robert Hanssen, a renowned senior agent with 25 years in the FBI. 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. Determined to draw the suspected double-agent out of deep cover, O'Neill finds himself in a lethal game of spy vs. spy, where nothing is as it seems.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Breach?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Breach to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Breach?

Breach earns 5 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Award Winner.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Breach worth watching?

Breach's Midcredits score is the 81st percentile of all films, from 80K ratings across 6 sources. 73% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

81st percentile

Better received than 81% of films

69th percentile among Biography79th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)77th
Approval (how many liked it)82nd

69 /100

77th percentile of all films

68th percentile among Biography77th percentile among 2000s

Critics 74 · Audience 69

Critics liked it more than audiences did.

Rating distribution

A tight consensus around 7.1 — people broadly agree on this one.

73% liked it

82nd percentile of all films

69th percentile among Biography80th percentile among 2000s
73% rated it 7–1027% rated it 1–6

Critics 83% · Audience 67%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 1 wins / 3 noms overall

95th percentile

80K ratings across platforms

89th percentile among Biography91st percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 29% in 30 days

Box office

Opening weekend$11M
Domestic gross$33M
Worldwide gross$41M

86th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the film is a slow-paced, character-driven spy drama anchored by strong performances, especially Chris Cooper's.

Fans praised

  • Chris Cooper's towering, complex performance as Hanssen
  • Tense, slow-burn character study of two men in unwitting opposition
  • Realistic, gritty spy atmosphere without flashy action

Detractors panned

  • Ryan Phillippe's underwhelming acting in the pivotal role
  • Slow pacing that drags and diminishes suspense
  • Underdeveloped secondary characters and shallow plot depth

What stands out

ActingDivisive78

Cooper's career-best work vs. Phillippe's perceived weakness

CharactersDivisive70

Complex Hanssen but shallow supporting roles

Atmosphere65

Gritty, realistic FBI world but visually unexciting

TensionDivisive60

Moments of near-discovery but overall low-stakes feel

Plot and storyDivisive55

True-story intrigue undermined by lack of twists and depth

Originality55

Familiar spy-drama template with real-life grounding

Emotional impact50

Cold and unemotional for some, conflicted sympathy for others

Pacing40

Deliberately slow, sometimes to a fault

Preferred by

Critics vs users

Preferred by Critics

Critics scored it 13 points higher than users.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 7 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 9 points apart
  • US vs non-US 4 points apart

Watch experience

What is Breach like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Tense and gripping: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you can give it your full attention, and you want something tense that holds you to the end.

It is intense and leaves you thinking. Skip it when you can only half-watch.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Your full attention.

What it feels like

Tense and gripping.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TenseColdContemplative
Heaviest: late
Register
Cold and cerebral · 4% of films: Detached and precise; keeps the viewer at arm's length.Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
TonePlayed straight as a tense procedural character study, with no irony or undercutting.
The rideThe film steadily builds suspense, peaking in the final act with Hanssen's arrest and its moral aftermath.
StructureA conventional chronological narrative from assignment to arrest, with a framing device of the opening arrest scene.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Thinking.

Thought-provokingUnsettling
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves you pondering the paradox of a man who was both devout and treacherous, and the moral cost of deception on the protagonist's life.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).VoyageDescent
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4% (this title): Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1% (this title)
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Voyage and return: Into a strange world and back again, changed. · Descent: A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).

4% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe story follows O'Neill's undercover assignment inside Hanssen's world, a moral and psychological descent into a traitor's orbit before he returns to his own life.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfBetrayalMorality
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16% (this title): Justice 13% · Duty 2% (this title) · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% (this title) · Deception 9% (this title)
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Morality

Betrayal · 5% of filmsDeception · 9% of filmsDuty · 2% of films
Observes its theme: Presents its theme neutrally, declining to judge.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores trust shattered by hidden loyalties, the lies needed to uncover them, and the conflicting obligations of allegiance to a person versus a country.
StanceThe film presents the betrayal and deception neutrally, letting the facts speak without overt moralizing.

The world

Early 21st centuryUrbanInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral classicalAmbientSupportive music · original score · Mychael Danna
SettingFBI headquarters and suburban Virginia in the late 1990s
MusicThe score is subtle and brooding, often in the background to enhance the tense atmosphere.

Content guide

Is Breach okay for kids?

PG-13

Breach is rated PG-13: “Rated PG-13 for violence, sexual content and language” (MPAA). As of September 28, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (39/100), sexual content at moderate (37/100), language at moderate (50/100), drug and alcohol content at minimal (11/100) and frightening material at mild (30/100). Its drug and alcohol content has too few votes to rank. Overall it is heavier than 30% of PG-13-rated films.

Ratings in 6 other countries
  • UK12A
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany12
  • France12
  • Brazil12
  • Greece13
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 22% of all filmsHeavier than 30% of PG-13-rated films
Violence & Gore
Moderate
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 38%
Sex & Nudity
Moderate
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 69%
Profanity
Moderate
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 69%
Alcohol & Drugs
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (9 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 27%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is language, heavier than 69% of PG-13-rated films.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Breach have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Breach?

Cast

1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Chris Cooper
as Robert Hanssen
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Ryan Phillippe
as Eric O'Neill
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Laura Linney
as Kate Burroughs
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Caroline Dhavernas
as Juliana O'Neill
Gary Cole
as Rich Garces
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Dennis Haysbert
as Dean Plesac
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Kathleen Quinlan
as Bonnie Hanssen
Bruce Davison
as John O'Neill
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Jonathan Watton
as Geddes
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Tom Barnett
as Jim Olsen
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Breach?

Movies like Breach include Telefon (1977), A Most Wanted Man (2014) and The Recruit (2003). Of the 12 closest matches, most are stories about spies, and most are political thrillers.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

All 12 share its world: espionage. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Breach?

243 other films share the rarest tag below, up against: spy. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.