Breakdown: 1975

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Breakdown: 1975

2025

1h 30m

Documentary

History

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

77%

Tomatometer

22 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

In 1975, as America faced social and political upheaval, filmmakers turned chaos into art. This documentary explores how a turbulent era gave rise to iconic movies like "Taxi Driver," "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Network," featuring insights from Martin Scorsese, Ellen Burstyn, Seth Rogen, and more.

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Peter Rainer

FilmWeek (LAist)

Dec 31

It's a little too ambitious for its own good... But the clips are wonderful.

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Amber Dowling

Globe and Mail

Dec 20

It’s an interesting premise on its own, but with stars such as Albert Brooks, Ellen Burstyn, Jodie Foster and Martin Scorsese weighing it, it’s a must-watch for cinephiles and pop-culture lovers alike.

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Odie Henderson

Boston Globe

Dec 20

2/4

By the end credits, I still wasn’t sure what to glean from the hodgepodge of ideas thrown at me. I concede that my expectations may have been set improperly by the title of this documentary. Your mileage may vary.

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Stephen Silver

The SS Ben Hecht

Jan 9

It’s very fun, making strong choices about talking heads, narration, and clips. But it doesn’t really go anywhere new

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Brian Lowry

Status News

Jan 8

The better -- or at least more entertaining -- bet, “Breakdown: 1975,” examines the risk-taking filmmaking that swept over Hollywood in the mid-1970s.

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Romey Norton

InSession Film

Jan 7

B

For cinephiles and casual viewers alike, Breakdown: 1975 offers a lucid, engaging reminder that the movies are often at their most alive when the world around them is falling apart.

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John F.

@Fisher5306 3d

Ridiculously one-sided interpretation on events before and during 1975. Laughably bad and unwatchable from someone who lived through that era.

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Jason C

@Chabden Mar 13

I thought this would be fun to watch considering it was about the year I was born. Unfortunately it was entirely a one-sided view of what the filmmaker and host thought. All left leaning with no merit or basis to lean on. Very disappointing.

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David F

@dfulmer Mar 7

A nice documentary about American culture and cinema.

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John U.

@wbbcmt Feb 26

A lot of good clips a lot of good stuff but then it turns Ken Burns and gives you a fake history of what was going on. Ex: saying Ronald Reagan knew nothing of politics when he was already the ex governor of California.

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Eye C

@ECinc Jan 31

Great documentary, joining the true events along with the movies of the era. So interesting.

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Dan B

@Diaperdan Jan 30

Below mid. Senes from some great movies. Rest was horrible. But then Seth Roggen talks like he was an influential actor and that says it all.

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Morgan Neville

Director

Jodie Foster

Self

Martin Scorsese

Self

Ellen Burstyn

Self

Seth Rogen

Self

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Synopsis

In 1975, as America faced social and political upheaval, filmmakers turned chaos into art. This documentary explores how a turbulent era gave rise to iconic movies like "Taxi Driver," "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Network," featuring insights from Martin Scorsese, Ellen Burstyn, Seth Rogen, and more.

Director: Morgan Neville
Distributor: Netflix
Genre: Documentary, History
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 19, 2025
Runtime: 1h 30m

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