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Snowpiercer

  • 2013
  • R
  • 2h 6m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
407K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,064
41
Ed Harris, John Hurt, Jamie Bell, Chris Evans, Song Kang-ho, Octavia Spencer, and Tilda Swinton in Snowpiercer (2013)
In a future where a failed global-warming experiment kills off all life on the planet except for a lucky few that boarded the Snowpiercer, a train that travels around the globe, where a class system evolves.
Play trailer2:10
15 Videos
99+ Photos
Conspiracy ThrillerDystopian Sci-FiActionSci-FiThriller

In a future where a failed climate change experiment has killed all life except for the survivors who boarded the Snowpiercer (a train that travels around the globe), a new class system emer... Read allIn a future where a failed climate change experiment has killed all life except for the survivors who boarded the Snowpiercer (a train that travels around the globe), a new class system emerges.In a future where a failed climate change experiment has killed all life except for the survivors who boarded the Snowpiercer (a train that travels around the globe), a new class system emerges.

  • Director
    • Bong Joon Ho
  • Writers
    • Jacques Lob
    • Benjamin Legrand
    • Jean-Marc Rochette
  • Stars
    • Chris Evans
    • Jamie Bell
    • Tilda Swinton
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    407K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,064
    41
    • Director
      • Bong Joon Ho
    • Writers
      • Jacques Lob
      • Benjamin Legrand
      • Jean-Marc Rochette
    • Stars
      • Chris Evans
      • Jamie Bell
      • Tilda Swinton
    • 1.1KUser reviews
    • 488Critic reviews
    • 84Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 35 wins & 108 nominations total

    Videos15

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:10
    Official Trailer
    Red Band Teaser
    Trailer 1:54
    Red Band Teaser
    Red Band Teaser
    Trailer 1:54
    Red Band Teaser
    International Trailer
    Trailer 1:02
    International Trailer
    What to Watch If You Love "Snowpiercer"
    Clip 3:07
    What to Watch If You Love "Snowpiercer"
    Bong Joon Ho Makes Oscars History
    Clip 3:24
    Bong Joon Ho Makes Oscars History
    Bong Joon-Ho – Making the Film You Want
    Clip 1:44
    Bong Joon-Ho – Making the Film You Want

    Photos935

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    + 929
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    Top cast47

    Edit
    Chris Evans
    Chris Evans
    • Curtis
    Jamie Bell
    Jamie Bell
    • Edgar
    Tilda Swinton
    Tilda Swinton
    • Mason
    Ed Harris
    Ed Harris
    • Wilford
    Song Kang-ho
    Song Kang-ho
    • Namgoong Minsoo
    John Hurt
    John Hurt
    • Gilliam
    Octavia Spencer
    Octavia Spencer
    • Tanya
    Ewen Bremner
    Ewen Bremner
    • Andrew
    Ko Ah-sung
    Ko Ah-sung
    • Yona
    Alison Pill
    Alison Pill
    • Teacher
    Luca Pasqualino
    Luca Pasqualino
    • Grey
    • (as Luke Pasqualino)
    Vlad Ivanov
    Vlad Ivanov
    • Franco the Elder
    Adnan Haskovic
    Adnan Haskovic
    • Franco the Younger
    Emma Levie
    • Claude
    Steve Park
    Steve Park
    • Fuyu
    • (as Stephen Park)
    Clark Middleton
    Clark Middleton
    • Painter
    Marcanthonee Reis
    Marcanthonee Reis
    • Tim
    • (as Marcanthonee Jon Reis)
    Paul Lazar
    Paul Lazar
    • Paul
    • Director
      • Bong Joon Ho
    • Writers
      • Jacques Lob
      • Benjamin Legrand
      • Jean-Marc Rochette
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews1.1K

    7.1406.8K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'Snowpiercer' is a visually stunning, thought-provoking film tackling class struggle and social inequality in a post-apocalyptic setting. Praised for its unique premise, intense action, and strong performances by Chris Evans and Tilda Swinton, it captivates audiences. However, some critics note plot inconsistencies and surreal elements requiring suspension of disbelief. Others find the social commentary heavy-handed or the pacing and ending problematic. Despite these issues, 'Snowpiercer' is celebrated for its ambitious concept and compelling narrative.
    AI-generated from the text of user reviews

    Featured reviews

    harry_tk_yung

    Fusion of art house and mainstream

    After graping the global movie universe's attention with "The host" (2006), Korean director Bong Joon-ho serves up his first offer in the English language with "Snowpiercer", a futuristic, sci-fi fable as well as a hybrid of art house and mainstream thriller.

    The micro depiction of the macro human race is through the titular vehicle (literally meant) – a train that circles the post-apocalyptic world, a frozen hell resulted from the backfire of an over-executed maneuver in battling global warming. Secluded from the outer world, the survivors are stratified by social class, the highest at the front (a perpetual-motion engine) and the lowest at the back. The linear (in more ways than one) story is quite simple, the underprivileged bunch at the back fighting its way, car after car, all the way to the front to gain control of their own destiny. Through the allegory progression, the audience witnesses a rich pageantry of environments – rough workplace, lush greenhouse, giant aquarium, plush lounge, and more.

    The impressive cast is well assembled. Chris Evans sheds his "All American" heartthrob image to play this perhaps his first heavy-weight role as an earthy leader of the revolution. John Hurt is the semi-disabled wise old man, a rich reservoir of knowledge. Other key members of the group include Jamie Bell as the young follower, Octavia Spencer as a mother searching for a missing child "drafted" by the ruling class for some obscure purpose, and Song Kang-ho as a Korean security expert. The show-stealing personas, however, are on the opposite side. Most delicious is Tilda Swinton, barely recognizable with ingenious makeup (essentially of a dental nature) playing the spokesperson for the dictator. Allison Pill (so impressive as Zelda Fitzgerald in "Midnight in Paris") is another manifestation of eccentricity, a pregnant kindergarten teacher, all sweetness until she produces a gun and starts shooting. The dictator is competently played by Ed Harris.

    The movie is quite long (a little over 2 hours) and does not hurry itself as most blockbuster thrillers would do. Instead, it takes its time with careful, well-crafted character development. But it does hold the audience's attention with excellent acting and artsy photography.
    Gordon-11

    A big confusing mess

    This film tells the story of a self sustaining train which has been running for 18 years, on board with all the survivors after an apocalyptic event.

    A few minutes into the film, it already becomes clear that "Snowpiercer" is a film that reflects the societal inequality, oppression and cruelty. As the group moves up the train, the carriages becomes more luxurious. The metaphors are very obvious - the film screams to the audience to wake up from the unjust society. However, towards the middle, the plot gets out of hand, and it becomes confusing and even ridiculous. There are too many unexplained moments, such as a kid climbing into the structure jutting out from the front of the train. No follow up was given after this scene is shown. There are also too many ridiculous subplots, such as the party goers suddenly turning violent. The ending is one big confusing mess, and I did not enjoy "Snowpiercer".
    7shiguangmimi

    the unsustainability of system

    The opening scene was psychedelic and the ending was insane. It was a great black humorous movie. The resonance of the kindergarten song burst into flames, satirizing the instant sensation. The rule of the old class needs the maintenance of cockroach protein. The change of the new class begins with the awakening of cannibals. If it were you, how would you choose?
    8ThomDerd

    Yes, it's a metaphor, but it's a tense one.

    I just came across it again after-hours on TV and rewatched the whole thing, although i have seen it twice back in 2013. For the ones who'd want to check it out and dont mind a dark violent social commentary this is a treat. Good cast, good acting (Chris Evans and Tilda Swinton are a highlight), good action and relentless pace. Probably most are familiar with the story of snowpiercer, the train that holds the last of humans and keeps going around the world, while its people are split in sections in the train. That story itself constitutes a great -but not new- metaphor about society. I would keep the metaphor in the background as the backbone of the story and focus on the other exciting elements of the film, which are very rewarding. Good film, 8/10
    8Vartiainen

    Dark social science fiction

    Snowpiercer was a surprise to me. I thought it would be just another "social commentary" dystopian film trying to ride the coattails of The Hunger Games craze. Instead what I ended up getting was one of the best post-apocalyptic films I've ever seen. A smooth roller coaster of action and quiet, dark dialogue.

    And don't get me wrong, it is another "social commentary" dystopian film, and yes, perhaps it's riding The Hunger Games craze just a little bit. But, when that riding ends up producing a film of this quality, is it a bad thing? And it's not like The Hunger Games invented the idea of alternative future where the poor are trying to usurp the rich people that are controlling them from their towers of ivory. These are both just variations of Orwell's 1984, which draws heavily from the age old tale of the underdog, David versus Goliath.

    It's the execution of an idea that makes or breaks a film and here that execution is nigh flawless. Everything from the design of the train to the A-list cast of actors to the storyline that keeps up the relentless pace, but still has time to reflect on the motives, histories and moods of the characters.

    Snowpiercer is simplistic art. It doesn't try to win you over with limitless of details, high explosives or flashiness. Rather it takes a central idea and fills it with as much quality as possible. Highly recommended for all fans of science fiction out there.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Bong Joon Ho often clashed with producer Harvey Weinstein, who frequently interfered in order to demand "his" version of the film. Among the many requests, the producer insisted on having the fish scene removed in favor of more action. Bong, who considered it his favorite shot in the film, was adamant to keep it in. He told the producer that he wanted to keep the shot for a personal reason, as a tribute to his late father, who was a fisherman. Upon hearing this, Weinstein said that family is very important to him, so he granted Bong to keep the shot. In an interview, the director said "It was a fucking lie. My father was not a fisherman."
    • Goofs
      Wilford congratulates Curtis for being the first human being to walk the whole length of the train; however, Claude, Wilford's assistant, is seen at the tail of the train, as well as the front. Though Claude does not travel very far into the tail section and while she has been in every car, Curtis has been to the very back of the train, making him the only person to traverse its entire length. The children taken by Claude, however, were the first people to travel along the entire length of the train.
    • Quotes

      Mason: Order is the barrier that holds back the flood of death. We must all of us on this train of life remain in our allotted station. We must each of us occupy our preordained particular position. Would you wear a shoe on your head? Of course you wouldn't wear a shoe on your head. A shoe doesn't belong on your head. A shoe belongs on your foot. A hat belongs on your head. I am a hat. You are a shoe. I belong on the head. You belong on the foot. Yes? So it is. In the beginning, order was proscribed by your ticket: First Class, Economy, and freeloaders like you. Eternal order is prescribed by the sacred engine: all things flow from the sacred engine, all things in their place, all passengers in their section, all water flowing. all heat rising, pays homage to the sacred engine, in its own particular preordained position. So it is. Now, as in the beginning, I belong to the front. You belong to the tail. When the foot seeks the place of the head, the sacred line is crossed. Know your place. Keep your place. Be a shoe.

    • Crazy credits
      Snow is seen falling during the end credits.
    • Connections
      Featured in Snowpiercer: Transperceneige, From the Blank Page to the Black Screen: A Documentary by Jésus Castro- (2014)
    • Soundtracks
      Strange Brew
      Written by Eric Clapton (as Eric Patrick Clapton), Gail Collins, and Felix Pappalardi (as Felix A. Pappalardi)

      Performed by Cream

      Courtesy of Polydor Ltd.

      Under License from Universal Music Enterprises

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    FAQ18

    • How long is Snowpiercer?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 11, 2014 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • South Korea
      • Czech Republic
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • Korean
      • French
      • Japanese
      • Czech
      • German
    • Also known as
      • El expreso del miedo
    • Filming locations
      • Hintertux, Tirol, Austria(mountain)
    • Production companies
      • SnowPiercer
      • Moho Film
      • Opus Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $39,200,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,563,650
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $171,187
      • Jun 29, 2014
    • Gross worldwide
      • $86,758,912
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 6 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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