Quick Links
-
Critical and commercial response to breathing
-
How Breathe Gets a Second Chance on Paramount+
It was released on April 26, 2024 to very little marketing and fanfare and even less critical acclaim, breathe A sci-fi thriller is getting a fresh chance to win over streaming audiences on Paramount+. The critically panned film starring Milla Jovovich and Jennifer Hudson failed to resonate with audiences, earning poor reviews and just $239,000 worldwide after its limited release in theaters and video on demand (via Box Office Mojo).
However, despite the negative reception, breathe The film has climbed over 1,000 spots on streaming charts (via Just Watch), indicating its newfound popularity on the streaming platform. One positive aspect of recent movie streaming trends is that even if a film doesn’t achieve the desired success during its initial theatrical run, streaming services can increase viewership and, in some cases, change hearts and minds in terms of public perception. Despite breathe The film may be nominated for several Razzie Awards by the end of the year, but at least it's grossing more than it did during its initial release.
What is breathing?
breathe A dystopian science fiction thriller film directed by Stephon Bristol and written by Doug Simon. The film was released in select theaters and on video on demand on April 26, 2024, and the film came and went without anyone noticing. The story revolves around Maya (Jennifer Hudson), a single mother raising her daughter Zora (Quevenzhane Wallis) in Flatbush, Brooklyn. Believing her husband Darius (Common) has been killed, Maya and Zora travel underground after a catastrophic event causes the Earth's oxygen level to drop to 5%..
Underground, Maya and Zora meet fellow survivors struggling to breathe and adapt to their oppressive environments. Instead of collaborating to find solutions and help each other out of an existential predicament, the core of the drama involves the survivors competing to build a machine that generates oxygen.Once the generator is up and running, the group moves from one safe haven to another. Among the underground survivors are Tess (Jovovich) and her husband Lucas (Sam Worthington), two violent, armed intruders who may or may not be trustworthy.
As a psychological game of cat and mouse develops between Maya and Tess, breathe The film falls into a trap filled with one cliché after another, ending up with a completely uninspired and largely derivative story reminiscent of much better sci-fi films. One glaring scientific error in the film undermines the entire plot, as it claims that in 2039, the oxygen level on Earth has rapidly decreased from 27% to 5%. However, the average oxygen level on Earth is usually 21%, with a six percent increase over a 15-year period (from 2024 to 2039) which is completely implausible.Unlike the best sci-fi thrillers ever made, breatheThe dramatic conflict cannot be taken seriously.
Critical and commercial response to breathing
Among the worst rated films this year, breathe The film has a 17% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a 26% rating on Audience Score, a 3.9 rating on IMDb, and a 3.3 rating on Metacritic User Rating.The numbers suggest that the film has been poorly received by professional critics and moviegoers in general, leaving very few defenders who can defend any merits it may have. Aside from the inaccurate science that mars the film’s cliched premise, most agree that Breathe resolves its central conflict too quickly to have dramatic impact. As IGN’s review notes:
“The film feels like it's been shortened to a fault, its conflicts resolved too quickly and failing to take the form of a coherent story. It's proof that shorter isn't always better, even in the world of independent films.”
Related to
Best Milla Jovovich Movies, Ranked by Rating
With a colorful career spanning over three decades, Milla Jovovich is an acclaimed actress and action star, having appeared in numerous daring films.
Other major complaints include Simon’s predictable script, which spends too much time establishing the family dynamics while failing to hide the surprise ending. Tonal inconsistencies also hamper the dramatic thrust of the plot, leaving only thin air for viewers to grasp. As Collider’s review notes:
“Breathing is just empty talk. It’s like the vacuum a movie should be in, sucking all the air out of the room until there’s nothing left.”
But if streaming platforms have taught audiences anything, it's that The reception of the film is not directly related to its digital viewing.. breathe Finds new life on Paramount+ thanks to Hudson's Oscar-winning performance (Dream girls) and Jovovich, two charismatic actors who know how to elevate subpar material.
How Breathe Gets a Second Chance on Paramount+
According to Just Watch, breathe The film has entered the top 200 most-watched movies online, rising 1,058 places. The Jennifer Hudson film was added to Paramount+ on August 28, 2024, and has seen steady viewership in less than a week. For Hudson, Jovovich, Simon and Bristol, attracting new viewers to the streaming platform after four months of poor box office performance should be very satisfying. After all, the most positive aspect of The Guardian’s 2/5 star review is the performance, which declared breathe It serves as a “cohesive but disappointing post-apocalyptic thriller.”
While the plot is predictable, the tone is inconsistent, and the scientific premise is flawed, breathe Milla Jovovich finds her life on Paramount+ thanks to her performance. In another rare positive review, Film Authority assured Jovovich fans that her work is worth watching, saying, “Breathe, an intense sci-fi thriller, showcases Milla Jovovich’s impressive acting skills well.”
the next breatheHudson is set to voice a character in the animated film. Pierre the hawk pigeon Jovovich is set to star in the fantasy film. In lost lands.
breathe Available to stream on Paramount+.
