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Action thriller

Alpha (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Alpha (2018) movie poster

Alpha is a 2018 action thriller directed by Albert Hughes, starring Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson as Tau, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Natassia Malthe. It runs 1 hour 36 minutes and earned $97.3 million worldwide on a $51 million budget. Critics gave it 80% on Rotten Tomatoes and 63 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10.

IMDb rating
6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes
80%
worldwide gross
$97.3M
Echo Score
76
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Alpha (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 36m (96 min)
Director
Albert Hughes
Original language
English
Budget
$51M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Alpha About?

The premise of Alpha without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Set in prehistoric Europe 20,000 years ago, a young man's journey into adulthood takes a tragic turn, leading to his abandonment by his tribe. He must then learn to survive in a dangerous wilderness. Forming an unexpected alliance with a lone wolf, he faces perilous challenges and struggles to find his way back home before the onset of winter and its unforgiving conditions.

Alpha Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • wolf
  • paleolithic age
  • prehistoric times
  • dog
  • prehistory
  • ice age
  • falling through ice
  • presumed dead
  • falling off a cliff
  • coughing up blood
  • fictional language
  • pregnant animal
+38 more
  • shaman
  • father son relationship
  • interspecies friendship
  • one word title
  • teenage boy
  • hunter
  • opening action scene
  • bow and arrow
  • spear throwing
  • europe
  • native european
  • title character not the main character
  • buffalo hunt
  • husband wife relationship
  • mother son relationship
  • boar
  • bison
  • flooding
  • wolf attack
  • frozen lake
  • unconsciousness
  • alpha the wolf character
  • boy and his dog
  • tent city
  • frozen to death
  • underwater scene
  • injured wolf
  • domesticated wolf
  • indigenous people
  • crawling on the ground
  • stampede
  • slow motion scene
  • overhead camera shot
  • mother son embrace
  • husband wife embrace
  • waterfall
  • sleeping in a tree
  • killing a boar
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Cast & crew

Alpha Cast & Characters

Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson leads the cast as Tau, with Kodi Smit-McPhee as Keda and Natassia Malthe as Rho. Directed by Albert Hughes; 15 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Alpha

· 11 more
From the director

More from Albert Hughes

More films directed by Albert Hughes, best-rated first: Menace II Society, American Pimp, The Book of Eli and From Hell.

Full filmography
Ratings

Alpha Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Alpha 80% on Rotten Tomatoes and 63 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 76/100, strongest in art & craft (88) and weakest in story & flow (60).

76 /100

Alpha Echo Score Breakdown

Alpha delivers a visually immersive prehistoric journey that highlights its strongest asset in artful craftsmanship. Reviews frequently commend the stunning cinematography, expansive production design, and immersive 3D effects that bring the harsh Ice Age environment to life. The central boy-wolf relationship provides emotional resonance despite occasional narrative clichés and uneven pacing. While character depth outside the main duo and plot originality draw mixed responses, the film’s sensory impact ensures a memorable viewing experience overall.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 88

    In terms of art and craft, Alpha excels in its visual design but occasionally overreaches in ambition. Reviews highlight the film’s expansive landscapes, meticulous production design, and immersive cinematography in IMAX and 3D. Editing supports the grand scale yet sometimes disrupts narrative focus when favouring spectacle over subtlety. Overall, visual craftsmanship remains the film’s most compelling attribute.

  • Character & Emotion 65

    When it comes to character and emotion, Alpha presents a heartfelt bond between the boy and his wolf but struggles with depth in supporting relationships. The central performances convey genuine warmth and gradual trust, yet some critics point to clichés and uneven emotional beats. Chemistry between leads is effective, despite occasional moments of sentimentality that undercut tension. Ultimately, character work is engaging in its core relationship but offers limited complexity.

  • Story & Flow 60

    In terms of story and flow, Alpha offers a straightforward survival narrative that some find engaging and others view as formulaic. The initial pacing is deliberate, establishing context and emotional stakes, but drags in places according to several observations. Plot coherence remains solid, though reliance on familiar coming-of-age clichés diminishes originality. Overall, the story sustains interest through its wilderness adventure but lacks unexpected developments to fully captivate.

  • Sensory Experience 85

    In terms of sensory experience, Alpha excels with its immersive visual style and well-executed sound design. Reviewers emphasize the vivid cinematography in IMAX and 3D, as well as the cohesive use of natural soundscapes that enhance tension and atmosphere. The musical score supports emotional beats without overwhelming scenes. Despite minor critiques of CG backdrops, the combined audiovisual elements deliver a consistently engaging sensory impact.

  • Rewatch Factor 70

    Regarding rewatch factor, Alpha presents a visually rich landscape and a central relationship that encourage repeat viewings. The immersive cinematography and heartwarming bond between leads offer a compelling experience on subsequent viewings, as noted by audience appreciation. However, the familiar narrative structure and limited secondary character development may reduce long-term appeal. Overall, the film retains moderate replay value through its core emotional and visual strengths.

Plot

Alpha Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Alpha from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In Upper Paleolithic Europe, approximately 20,000 years ago, a small tribe of hunter-gatherers gears up for an important expedition to secure food for the upcoming winter. At the helm is Tau (Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson), the tribe’s chief, who has chosen his teenage son, Keda (Kodi Smit-McPhee), along with another boy, to join the hunting party. However, before they can embark, the young aspirants must prove their worth through various tasks, one crucial test being the crafting of a stone spearhead. Keda impresses everyone with the sharpness of his spearhead, marking the beginning of his initiation.

Full summary

The whole story of Alpha, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Alpha Box Office & Budget

Alpha grossed $97.3 million worldwide on a $51 million budget, 1.9 times what it cost. $35.9 million came from the US and Canada and $61.4 million (63%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$97.3M

1.9× its budget

US & Canada
$35.9M
International
$61.4M
Budget
$51M
US & Canada 37% Rest of the world 63%
Videos

Alpha Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Alpha.

ALPHA - Official Trailer (HD)
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Alpha?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What rite of passage must Keda and the other chosen youths complete to join the hunting party?

Details

Alpha Also Known As

20 alternative titles, including “The Solutrean” and “Alfa”.

Also known as
  • The Solutrean
  • Alfa
  • Người Thủ Lĩnh
  • Альфа
  • Alpha - Der den Wolf zähmt
  • אלפא
  • Alpha - Un'amicizia forte come la vita
  • Алфа
  • Alfa Kurt
  • 알파: 위대한 여정
  • Náčelník
  • Barvedis
+8 more
  • 阿尔法:狼伴归途
  • 馴狼紀
  • アルファ 帰還りし者たち
  • ผจญนรกแดนทมิฬ 20000 ปี
  • 極地之王
  • Alpha: Người Thủ Lĩnh
  • Alpha – Der den Wolf zähmt, ალფა: პირველი მონადირე
  • آلفا

Seen Alpha?

FAQ

Alpha FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Alpha, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Alpha?

Alpha runs 1 hour 36 minutes (96 minutes).

When was Alpha released?

Alpha was released on August 17, 2018.

Who directed Alpha?

Alpha was directed by Albert Hughes.

More films by Albert Hughes

Who is in the cast of Alpha?

Alpha stars Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson as Tau, Kodi Smit-McPhee as Keda and Natassia Malthe as Rho, among 15 credited actors.

How much did Alpha make at the box office?

Alpha grossed $97.3 million worldwide ($35.9 million domestic, $61.4 million international) on a budget of $51 million.

How is Alpha rated?

Alpha has 6.6/10 on IMDb, 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, 63 on Metacritic and 65% on TMDB.

Does Alpha have a post-credit scene?

No. Alpha has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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