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Snowpiercer

2013
R
2h 6m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

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

Conspiracy Thriller Dystopian Sci-Fi Action Sci-Fi Thriller

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
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Director
- Bong Joon Ho
Writers
Stars

1.1KUser reviews
489Critic reviews
84Metascore

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 36 wins & 109 nominations total

Videos15

Official Trailer

Official Trailer

Red Band Teaser

Red Band Teaser

Red Band Teaser

Red Band Teaser

International Trailer

International Trailer

What to Watch If You Love "Snowpiercer"

What to Watch If You Love "Snowpiercer"

Bong Joon Ho Makes Oscars History

Bong Joon Ho Makes Oscars History

Bong Joon-Ho – Making the Film You Want

Bong Joon-Ho – Making the Film You Want

Photos935

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Top cast47

Curtis

Edgar

Mason

Wilford

Namgoong Minsoo

Gilliam

Octavia Spencer

Tanya

Andrew

Yona

Teacher

Luca Pasqualino

Grey
(as Luke Pasqualino)

Franco the Elder

Franco the Younger

Claude

Fuyu
(as Stephen Park)

Clark Middleton

Painter

Marcanthonee Reis

Tim
(as Marcanthonee Jon Reis)

Paul

Director
- Bong Joon Ho
Writers
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

User reviews1.1K

7.1411.5K

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

Refreshing

I agree with some reviewers that there are some (unnecessary) plot holes and illogical stuff going on (food supply just one of the main issues, as there are hundreds of people on board, and if you dare to count there are more people like guards, crazies and rich people than on our poor rebels side) but that left aside, Snowpiercer got a refreshing perspective on the postapocalyptic genre/tales and provides some unique ideas and combines them with some solid acting and a pro production.

Verdict: not brilliant and no masterpiece but a good and entertaining flick - if you like the genre and want some action on your screen.

9iamtheslickguy

I Didn't Think I'd Like it

I don't like movies as art. I like movies that have rules and internal logic, and the premise of this movie is idiotic from both a scientific and common sense angle. It really works though. Like it really works. If you can just suspend disbelief and accept that a train can run forever and sustain some sort of biodome indefinitely then this movie is a masterpiece.

I see reviews where people basically complain about how the premise impossible, or that the themes are cliche, and I'm totally with you guys there. Both of those things are true, so if you need realism then you probably won't like this movie. But if you can just accept the premise as it is then this movie is something really special. One of the better movies I've watched in a really long time

Cold and derailing

This film reminded me of many lost occasions in cinema where script themes were extremely compelling but poorly executed (think about In Time). The smart idea behind the movie (which comes from the graphic novel La Transperceniege) representing capitalism as a self fuelling train riding across a desert world where no alternative could survive is mostly shadowed by bold action sequences and cliches. This trend reaches the climax in the last 30/40 minutes, as the ending shows us the trite scene of the "final encounter with the villain" along with very predictable events. The characters are hollow, rigid and stereotypical as their dialogues are. Differently from his masterpiece Parasite, neither personal nor societal introspection is here elaborated. Unfortunately, Mr Joon-Ho had a visionary novel that he decided to transpose in an average Hollywood style action movie.

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".

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?

Best Emmys Moments

Best Emmys Moments

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Related interests

Gene Hackman in The Conversation (1974)

Conspiracy Thriller

Clive Owen and Clare-Hope Ashitey in Children of Men (2006)

Dystopian Sci-Fi

Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)

James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)

Storyline

Did you know

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

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Details

Release date
- July 11, 2014 (United States)
Countries of origin
- South Korea
- Czech Republic
Official site
- Official site
Languages
Also known as
- El expreso del miedo
Filming locations
- Hintertux, Tirol, Austria(mountain)
Production companies
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Box office

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

Runtime
- 2h 6m(126 min)
Color
- Color
- Black and White
Sound mix
- Dolby Digital
Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1

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