"Breakn' a Sweat" received generally positive reviews from music critics, with some praising the collaboration and highlighting it as one of the standout tracks from the EP.
Jon O'Brien of AllMusic gave the song a positive review, saying "There are a few more encouraging signs, such as the Doors-featuring "Breakn' a Sweat," which combines proggy guitar hooks, psychedelic organ chords, and Jim Morrison samples with a snarling, Prodigy-esque vocal and a filthy slab of dub bass to produce one of the year's most unexpectedly successful partnerships".
[2] Kevin Vincenti from The Cavalier Daily also gave it a positive review, saying "The Doors join Skrillex on "Breakn' A Sweat", creating a marriage between the former's rock stylings and the latter's traditional techno.
A fun song with plenty of vocal integration, "Breakn' a Sweat" doesn't blow the door off its hinges, but it will keep you dancing until the music stops."
A writer from Toronto Stars said, "He's bright enough to use his Doors collaboration, "Breakn' a Sweat", as a mouthpiece for some meta-commentary about the nature of creating electronic music here.
[5] Dan LeRoy from Alternative Press gave the song a negative review, saying "If you want to complain, listen to "Breakn' A Sweat", a collaboration with what remains of the Doors that's less dubstep than ghastly misstep.
And whoever authorized the soundbite from a vintage Jim Morrison interview in order to give this track his posthumous imprimatur ought to be worried about his vengeful ghost".
A second music video was released on Skrillex's official YouTube account on November 6, 2012, which was directed by Los Angeles director Radical Friend.
At the end of the video, the screen goes black, and a shattering sound can be heard, followed by a feminine scream, likely meaning that the female alien gave birth to the baby.
In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number 91 on the UK Singles Chart due to strong digital download after the release of Bangarang.