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Panic

Panic

A story of family, lust, murder... and other midlife crises.

200088 minRMidcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
Director
Henry Bromell
Starring
William H. Macy, Neve Campbell, Tracey Ullman, John Ritter

Alex is going through a midlife crisis and it has become a very difficult time for him. His marriage is struggling, he's worried about his son, and his job of killing people for his family has become the most stressful part of his life. He seeks the help of a therapist and meets a woman in the waiting room that he connects with.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Panic?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove does not list Panic on any major US streaming service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Panic?

Panic earns 7 badges, led by Standout acting and Crowd Pleaser.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Panic worth watching?

Panic's Midcredits score is the 68th percentile of all films, from 13K ratings across 6 sources. 61% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

68th percentile

Better received than 68% of films

76th percentile among Comedy65th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)66th
Approval (how many liked it)67th

66 /100

66th percentile of all films

76th percentile among Comedy66th percentile among 2000s

Critics 77 · Audience 65

Critics liked it more than audiences did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.7 — solid but not unanimous.

61% liked it

67th percentile of all films

74th percentile among Comedy65th percentile among 2000s
61% rated it 7–1039% rated it 1–6

Critics 91% · Audience 62%

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

Awards

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

82nd percentile

13K ratings across platforms

80th percentile among Comedy75th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 47% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$1M
Opening weekend$18K
Domestic gross$779K
Worldwide gross$779K

Returned 0.8× its budget — 40th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A well-acted, quiet, character-driven hitman drama that is more about family and midlife crisis than violence.

Fans praised

  • William H. Macy's subtle, empathetic lead performance
  • the natural, touching father-son scenes
  • the strong ensemble cast, including Sutherland, Ullman, Ritter, and newcomer Dorfman

Detractors panned

  • the implausible premise of a family of hitmen living a normal suburban life
  • the unlikely May-December romance between Macy and Campbell's characters
  • the predictable plot and clichéd dialogue

What stands out

Acting82

Macy's vulnerable lead; Sutherland's menacing father; Dorfman's natural child performance; Ullman's dramatic turn

Atmosphere75

consistent, melancholic, uneasy suburban noir tone

Emotional impactDivisive68

moving, poignant father-son moments; others find it emotionally flat or draining

CharactersDivisive62

well-drawn conflicts, but the romance and hitman family premise are called 'unbelievable' and 'clichéd'

DialogueDivisive60

smart, natural conversations praised; contrived, 'precocious' child lines panned

OriginalityDivisive55

a fresh take on the crime drama to some; a derivative Sopranos/American Beauty clone to others

Plot and storyDivisive50

interesting midlife crisis study but predictable and far-fetched to many

PacingDivisive45

'hypnotic' and 'deliberate' vs. 'slow', 'lethargic', and 'boring'

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 23 points higher than women.

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

  • Critics vs users 3 points apart
  • US vs non-US 1 point apart

Watch experience

What is Panic like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Food for thought: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something to think about afterwards.

It has a few laughs and leaves you thinking.

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

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Food for thought.

Moods
MelancholicTense
Heaviest: late
Dark humor
Register
Wry · 7% of films: Amused and slightly dry about it.Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.
Told as
Frame story · 5% of films: A story told inside another — someone is recounting it.Nonlinear · 6% of films: Events shown out of chronological order.
ToneThe film treats its absurd premise—a hit man in therapy—with a wry, melancholy seriousness, finding humour in the mundane despair of its characters.
The rideThe film maintains a melancholic tension throughout, with the deepest emotional weight in the late confrontation.
StructureThe story is framed within therapy sessions, with flashbacks to Alex's past, creating a non-linear structure.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Thinking.

The answer rests on this: Thought-provokingBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayThe film lingers as a meditation on the impossibility of escaping family, with a bittersweet sense of liberation and loss.
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).Rebirth
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%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • 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% (this title): Redemption 3% (this title) · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Rebirth: A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed. · Redemption: Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).

13% of films fit this archetype

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

Why this archetypeAlex, a hit man trapped in the family business, undergoes a moral crisis and seeks a way out, fitting a redemption arc.

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 filmsSelfIdentitySelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22% (this title): Identity 14% (this title) · 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%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% (this title) · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • 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%

Self

Identity · 14% of filmsRedemption · 6% of films: Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Family bonds
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeAlex struggles to break free from the identity his father imposed on him as a hit man, seeking a new sense of purpose and moral cleansing.
StanceThe film questions whether Alex can escape the life he was born into, without offering easy answers.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanDomesticInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score · Brian Tyler
SettingA suburban hit man's crisis of conscience in an unnamed American city.
MusicBrian Tyler's score underscores the film's melancholic and brooding tone.

Content guide

Is Panic okay for kids?

R

Panic is rated R: “Rated R for language and elements of violence” (MPAA). As of October 2, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (67/100), sexual content at moderate (38/100), language at severe (80/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (44/100) and frightening material at intense (67/100). Its violence, language, drug and alcohol content and frightening material have too few votes to rank.

Overall
Intense · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Intense
too few votes to rank (6 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 33%
Profanity
Severe
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
too few votes to rank (5 votes)

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

Too few votes to rank this title overall (35 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

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 Panic have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Panic?

Cast

William H. Macy
as Alex
Neve Campbell
as Sarah Cassidy
Tracey Ullman
as Martha
John Ritter
as Dr. Josh Parks
Barbara Bain
as Deidre
Miguel Sandoval
as Detective Larson
Donald Sutherland
as Michael
Tina Lifford
as Dr. Leavitt
Nicholle Tom
as Tracy
David Dorfman
as Sammy

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Panic?

Movies like Panic include Falling (2020), Family Business (1989) and Absolution (2024). Of the 12 closest matches, most are stories about estranged parents and children, and most are redemption stories.

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

9 of these 12 share its praise for acting. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

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

445 other films share the rarest tag below, follows: hitman. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.