Arctic (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch
Arctic is a 2019 adventure drama directed by Joe Penna, starring Mads Mikkelsen as Overgård, Tintrinai Thikhasuk and Maria Thelma Smáradóttir. It runs 1 hour 38 minutes and earned $4.2 million worldwide on a $2 million budget. Critics gave it 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and 71 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10. Stream it on Cinemax and Hoopla, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 38m (98 min)
- Director
- Joe Penna
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Bleecker Street
- Budget
- $2M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Arctic About?
The premise of Arctic without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Stranded in the Arctic after a disastrous plane crash, a man must decide whether to remain in the relative safety of his base camp or embark on a perilous trek across the icy landscape. Battling the harsh elements and facing immense challenges, he struggles to survive in the desolate, frozen wilderness, hoping to escape and find rescue.
Arctic Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- survival
- minimal cast
- arctic
- man versus nature
- very little dialogue
- helicopter crash
- alone in wilderness
- trying to save someone
- male protagonist
- polar bear
- leg injury
- fish
+38 more Show fewer
- struggle for survival
- directorial debut
- lost in the arctic
- stranded
- airplane crash
- killing a fish
- filleting a fish
- eating
- snowing
- cave
- walking through deep snow
- ice
- helicopter
- surprise ending
- one word title
- injury
- fire
- flare
- freezing cold
- snow
- rescue helicopter
- running out of time
- polar bear attack
- surgical staple
- infected wound
- violence
- helicopter pilot
- making a sos sign
- wounded woman
- shovel
- wristwatch
- wind
- ice fishing
- fish as food
- eating raw fish
- food
- radio transmitter
- sleeping bag
Where to Watch Arctic
Stream it on Cinemax and Hoopla, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Arctic Cast & Characters
Mads Mikkelsen leads the cast as Overgård, with Tintrinai Thikhasuk as Helicopter Pilot and Maria Thelma Smáradóttir as Young Woman. Directed by Joe Penna.
-
Director Joe Penna
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Mads Mikkelsen as Overgård - Tintrinai Thikhasuk as Helicopter Pilot
-
Maria Thelma Smáradóttir as Young Woman
Arctic Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Arctic 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and 71 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 76/100, strongest in character & emotion (90) and weakest in rewatch factor (55).
Arctic Echo Score Breakdown
Overall, Arctic delivers a visually striking survival drama anchored by a commanding lead performance. Its unflinching depiction of man versus nature and immersive atmosphere are consistently praised, though the narrative’s adherence to genre conventions and measured pacing leaves limited room for surprise. The film’s strengths in cinematography, performance, and sensory design elevate the simple plot, but its predictability and minimal dialogue temper its overall impact. Net impression: a polished yet straightforward survival tale.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 85
In terms of Art & Craft, the film excels through its controlled visual style and deliberate editing choices. Critics highlight the striking location cinematography that frames the protagonist against vast frozen vistas, while users note each shot is purposeful with no wasted frame. The production design reinforces the inhospitable setting. Overall, the visual execution remains a central strength.
- Character & Emotion 90
When it comes to Character & Emotion, the film is driven by a commanding lead performance. Observers praise the magnetic expressiveness that conveys suffering, empathy, and subtle humor with minimal dialogue. The actor’s nuanced physicality and emotional restraint create a believable survival journey. Ultimately, the central portrayal provides a powerful emotional anchor for the narrative.
- Story & Flow 60
In terms of Story & Flow, the narrative adheres closely to familiar survival conventions without significant innovation. Reviews note the smart yet skeletal script and measured pacing, though some viewers find the progression predictable and occasionally tedious. The coherence remains intact despite minimal subplots, but the lack of dramatic surprises limits sustained suspense. Net effect: a competently structured but unadventurous tale.
- Sensory Experience 80
When it comes to Sensory Experience, the film immerses through its atmospheric soundscape and stark visual composition. The quiet score and restrained sound design amplify the tension of the arctic environment, complemented by crisp, cold imagery that conveys isolation. The cohesive blending of visual and aural elements fosters an engrossing mood. Overall, the sensory design effectively reinforces the film’s tone.
- Rewatch Factor 55
In terms of Rewatch Factor, the film’s minimalist structure and deliberate pace may not encourage frequent revisits. While the compelling central performance and striking visuals could attract viewers back, the predictability of the plot and lack of narrative complexity may limit repeated engagement. Overall, the movie offers modest lasting appeal on subsequent viewings.
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IMDb 6.8 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 91% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 79%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 71 Metascore
User score 6.9
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 65% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.5 /5
41 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.3 /5
See on Movie Insider
Arctic Plot Summary
What happens in Arctic from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Overgård, portrayed by Mads Mikkelsen, finds himself isolated in the unforgiving Arctic Circle, trapped within the wreckage of his plane while he eagerly awaits rescue. His existence has dwindled to a monotonous routine: tending to fishing lines, meticulously mapping his barren surroundings, and operating a hand-crank dynamo to send out a distress beacon at the same time each day from a nearby peak. To signal for help, he has painstakingly carved a large “SOS” sign in the snow near his downed aircraft. Having already suffered frostbite and lost a couple of toes to the extreme cold, his situation grows increasingly dire.
Full summary
The whole story of Arctic, scene by scene
Arctic Box Office & Budget
Arctic grossed $4.2 million worldwide on a $2 million budget, 2.1 times what it cost. $2.4 million came from the US and Canada and $1.8 million (42%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$4.2M
2.1× its budget
- US & Canada
- $2.4M
- International
- $1.8M
- Budget
- $2M
Arctic Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Arctic.
How Well Do You Know Arctic?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the main character's name in the movie 'Arctic'?
Arctic Also Known As
26 alternative titles, including “Arctique” and “極北”.
- Also known as
-
- Arctique
- 極北
- 極線生機
- 北极
- 残された者 北の極地:2018
- Arctic - Fremde Welten
- قطب شمال
- Ártico
- 아틱
- Арктика
- Затерянные во льдах
- Arktyka
+14 more Show fewer
- Arctic: Ledové peklo
- Sarkvidék
- Arctic: Ľadové peklo
- Arktik
- Árctico
- Arktis: Įkalinti ledynuose
- קוטב
- Arktika
- Pazuduši ledājos
- Sinh Tồn Ở Bắc Cực, არქტიკა
- อย่าตาย
- Àrtic
- 残された者 北の極地
- القطب الشمالي
Seen Arctic?
Movies Like Arctic
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Arctic Flight, Arctic Blue and Arctic Void.
Arctic FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Arctic, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Arctic?
Arctic runs 1 hour 38 minutes (98 minutes).
When was Arctic released?
Arctic was released on February 1, 2019.
Who directed Arctic?
Arctic was directed by Joe Penna.
More films by Joe Penna Who is in the cast of Arctic?
Arctic stars Mads Mikkelsen as Overgård, Tintrinai Thikhasuk as Helicopter Pilot and Maria Thelma Smáradóttir as Young Woman.
Where can I watch Arctic?
In the US, Arctic is streaming on Cinemax, Hoopla and Kanopy and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
How much did Arctic make at the box office?
Arctic grossed $4.2 million worldwide ($2.4 million domestic, $1.8 million international) on a budget of $2 million.
How is Arctic rated?
Arctic has 6.8/10 on IMDb, 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, 71 on Metacritic and 65% on TMDB.
Does Arctic have a post-credit scene?
No. Arctic has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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