According to director David Ayer, Sabotage was heavily cut by the studio in favor of delivering more of an action-based film rather than a mystery thriller. The original cut was rumored to be close to 3 hours.
The Beastie Boys, Mike D and Adam Horovitz, turned down a request to use their 1994 song "Sabotage" in promos for the film. In his will, Adam Yauch prohibited the use of his music in advertisements.
In the scene where Breacher is typing in statistics at his desk, the pictures of his family above his computer are actual pictures of Arnold Schwarzenegger's family. Pictures of Patrick Schwarzenegger are visible.
A subplot involving Brentwood trying to nail an abusive father who has killed his young daughter was cut from the final film, but it is briefly mentioned in the scene when Brentwood and Breacher talk on the way to Tripod's house. This storyline was cut to speed up the pace of the film and concentrate on the action.