Panic Room

Cinephile deep dive

The take

David Fincher directs. Darius Khondji behind the camera. Howard Shore scores. James Haygood cuts. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 1Made its money back 4.1× over at the box office.
• 2Released 24 years ago.
• 3Directed by David Fincher, shot by Darius Khondji. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 4Original score by Howard Shore. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 5Editor James Haygood shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 6Jodie Foster and Kristen Stewart and Forest Whitaker carry the top of the cast.
• 7Marketing tagline: "It was supposed to be the safest room in the house.".
• 8IMDB entry: tt0258000 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
• 9Classified under 21 themes, including "new york city", "hostage", "bravery", "ex husband".

The technical file

Cinematography

Darius Khondji

Original score

Howard Shore

Editing

James Haygood

Production design

Arthur Max

Makeup / hair

Robert McCann

VFX supervisor

Raymond Gieringer

Sound

Eric B. Dachs

Stunt coordinator

Dan Bradley

Runtime

111 min · 1h 51m

Aspect ratio (typical)

1.37:1 (Academy)

Status

Released

Budget

$48,000,000

Box office

$197,100,000

Return

411% of budget

Original language

EN

Certification (US)

R

IMDB

Panic Room (2002) ↗

Also by

David Fincher

• 
  Madonna: The Immaculate Collection

  1990 · ★ 8.6
• 
  Fight Club

  1999 · ★ 8.4
• 
  Se7en

  1995 · ★ 8.4
• 
  Love, Death & Robots

  2019 · ★ 8.2
• 
  Michael Jackson: Dangerous - The Short Films

  1993 · ★ 8.2
• 
  MINDHUNTER

  2017 · ★ 8.1

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  How 'Panic Room' Changed David Fincher’s Directing Style!

  Featurette · Official
• 

  ▶
  Official Trailer

  Trailer · Official

Community reviews

What people are saying

• John Chard2020-03-04
  ★ 8/10

  Fincher's often derided thriller demands repeat viewings. Meg Altman and her daughter Sarah, move into a vast Brownstone home, this place is unique because it has a panic room, a room of safety from where no intruders can gain access. Sure enough on their first night in their new home, they are forced to flee to the room as three intruders break in to the house, but trouble is, is that what the intruders want is in the panic room itself. From the off we know that Panic Room is going to be oozing David Fincher stylishness, the opening credits sprawled across the Manhattan skyscrape like advertising billboards, perfectly set the tone for the movie to follow. I personally think that following on from the harshness and ingenuity of "Fight Club", many were surprised at the simplicity of Panic Room's structure, this is after all a straight forward cat and mousery thriller set in one foreboding building. Yet Fincher gains much claustrophobia from such a large building setting, managing to rack up the tension in every reel. The film, in spite of the oppressive nature of the story, never sits still either. The action kicks in from the off and through a series of devilish stunts, it continues through to the pulse raising finale. The David Koepp screenplay does not seem dark enough on the first viewing, because some of the interplay between the three intruders is actually jocular, but it never loses sight of its thriller heart. Subsequent revisits to the film reveal it to be a tightly constructed character piece, in what is practically a five character story. The real winner in that department is Jodie Foster's Meg Altman, it would have been easy for the character to be ground out as some super heroine, with death defying feats of courage masking her out as wonder woman, but Fincher has her pure and simply as a resourceful human being. She's fiercely maternal and strong and intelligent, but at her core she remains fallible, and with that she becomes believable. The other big plus point in the film is Fincher's use of the house, where his camera glides about like a phantom, a ghostly observer to the unfolding proceedings. In and out of locks and coffee pots, up and down stairs, tilts, as we track the movements of the intruders, Fincher isn't showing off, he's putting us the viewer into the mix as well. Cast are very good, Jodie Foster, Forest Whitaker, Jared Leto and a surprisingly potent Dwight Yoakam all come together very well under Fincher's watchful eye, whilst young Kristen Stewart as Sarah puts much emotive heart into a role that could so easily have been too syrupy approaching the final act. Yes it's fair to say that one has to suspend disbelief, this is after all a home invasion thriller following a true course, but in Fincher's hands it rises above cliché to thrive on atmospherics and character dynamics. Well put together and big on ticking time bomb tension, Panic Room gets better on repeat viewings. 8/10

  Read full review ↓
• Andre Gonzales2023-07-24
  ★ 7/10

  Not a bad movie. She gets this new big house that she is building up. The guys working on the house come up with a plan to rob the panic room. Until the owner and her family lock themselves in the panic room to get away from them.

  Read full review ↓
• tmdb516161672024-09-08
  ★ 8/10

  I recommend this movie for a fun and enjoyable watch, as it has a cute and engaging storyline. While the characters may not be very memorable, the film still offers a good time. There are instances where the movie could benefit from less dialogue and more adventure, perhaps cutting down on certain cartoonish elements. This adjustment could enhance the overall experience and make it more captivating for the audience. It's a great movie for kids to watch and have a good time with, although the characters may not leave a lasting impression. Dark, in particular, stands out as a potentially memorable character, while the lead character may fade from memory over time. Despite its shortcomings, the movie is entertaining and worth watching, especially for a casual viewing session. While it may not be a film you'd revisit often, it can serve as a pleasant distraction or background entertainment during chores or other activities

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• 

  Columbia Pictures

  US

• HO

  Hofflund/Polone

• IN

  Indelible Pictures

Key crew

• EditorJames Haygood
• EditorAngus Wall
• ProducerCeán Chaffin
• ProducerDavid Koepp
• ProducerJudy Hofflund
• ProducerGavin Polone
• CastingLaray Mayfield
• StuntsCharlie Brewer
• StuntsLanier Edwards
• StuntsJohn Hateley
• StuntsRachel Parsons
• StuntsChris Carnel
• StuntsAndy Epper
• StuntsTodd Schneider
• StuntsPete Turner
• StuntsKevin Derr
• StuntsJill Stokesberry
• StuntsThirl Haston
• StuntsCliff McLaughlin
• On Set DresserJohn H. Maxwell
• First Assistant "A" CameraJohn T. Connor
• Second Assistant "A" CameraLisa Guerriero
• LoaderBrandon Cox
• Video Assist OperatorScott Hammer

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• new york city
• hostage
• bravery
• ex husband
• safe
• burglary
• psychological thriller
• single mother
• home invasion
• divorcee
• teenage daughter
• diabetic
• rainstorm
• safecracker
• seizure
• trapped in a house
• bearer bonds
• secret room
• robbery crew
• intense
• brownstone

Release history · US

When it landed

• Premiere2002-03-18R· Century City, California
• Theatrical2002-03-29R

Also known as

International titles

• Safe RoomUS
• The Panic RoomUS
• 颤栗空间CN
• Panik OtağıAZ
• Խուճապի ՍենյակAM