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Action drama

Braven (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Braven (2018) movie poster

Braven is a 2018 action drama directed by Lin Oeding, starring Stephen Lang as Linden Braven, Jill Wagner and Sasha Rossof. It runs 1 hour 34 minutes and earned $854,319 worldwide on a $5 million budget. Critics gave it 80% on Rotten Tomatoes and 61 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.9/10.

IMDb rating
5.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes
80%
worldwide gross
$854.3K
Echo Score
59
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Braven (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 34m (94 min)
Director
Lin Oeding
Genres
Action , Drama
Original language
English
Budget
$5M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Braven About?

The premise of Braven without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A skilled logger and his estranged father find themselves fighting for survival when they stumble upon a gang of dangerous drug traffickers in the remote wilderness. Seeking refuge in their secluded cabin, they are drawn into a desperate and escalating fight. The two men must overcome their personal differences and confront their inner struggles as they battle to stay alive against a ruthless enemy.

Braven Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • archery
  • drug runner
  • logger
  • wilderness
  • family man
  • bare chested male
  • father
  • hospitalization
  • mountain cabin
  • truck
  • cocaine
  • car crash
+38 more
  • police patrol
  • hidden cocaine
  • shed
  • shot in the head
  • cell phone
  • no cell phone signal
  • stab
  • shot with an arrow
  • hand to hand fighting
  • rifle
  • fall off cliff to death
  • knife fight
  • sheriff shot
  • axe in the back
  • bear trap
  • officer down
  • reunited with family
  • drug trafficker
  • deputy sheriff
  • father son relationship
  • stabbed to death
  • daughter
  • shot in the neck
  • beard
  • death of father
  • father daughter relationship
  • small town
  • diner
  • 2010s
  • suspense
  • survival
  • action hero
  • tough guy
  • grandfather granddaughter relationship
  • husband wife relationship
  • man with a ponytail
  • axe
  • bow and arrow
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Cast & crew

Braven Cast & Characters

Stephen Lang leads the cast as Linden Braven, with Jill Wagner as Stephanie Braven and Sasha Rossof as Charlotte Braven. Directed by Lin Oeding; 11 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Braven

· 7 more
From the director

More from Lin Oeding

More films directed by Lin Oeding: Office Uprising, Lifted, Wake and Interpretation.

Full filmography
Ratings

Braven Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Braven 80% on Rotten Tomatoes and 61 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 59/100, strongest in art & craft (65) and weakest in story & flow (50).

59 /100

Braven Echo Score Breakdown

In overall terms, Braven delivers competent action and a strong central performance but is hampered by a predictable narrative. Critics and viewers alike praise the film’s unpretentious thrills and Jason Momoa’s engaging portrayal, while noting the familiar home-invasion structure and intermittent pacing issues. The technical execution is professional, with well-staged fight sequences and immersive snowbound visuals, but the lack of originality and shallow supporting characters limit its impact. Net of these factors, Braven is a serviceable action thriller that rarely transcends its genre conventions.

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

  • Art & Craft 65

    In terms of art and craft, the film delivers capable action choreography but shows uneven visual polish. Reviewers commend the effectively shot combat sequences and crisp editing that maintain momentum, particularly in snowbound settings, while others criticize a bland cinematographic style and inconsistent directorial choices. The production design supports the rugged environment but rarely surprises. Overall, the technical craftsmanship is solidly functional yet lacks distinctive flair.

  • Character & Emotion 65

    When it comes to character and emotion, Jason Momoa’s performance is a strong anchor but supporting roles often feel underdeveloped. Reviews highlight Momoa’s warmth, gravitas, and believable vulnerability, noting his ability to ground the action, whereas other characters suffer from thin writing and preordained actions. Despite solid lead acting, the ensemble lacks depth and chemistry, limiting emotional resonance. In sum, the central portrayal elevates the cast but character depth remains uneven.

  • Story & Flow 50

    In terms of story and flow, the narrative suffers from predictability and uneven pacing. Critics and audiences note the familiar home-invasion premise and cliché plot beats that reduce suspense, while moments of logical cause-and-effect in action scenes provide brief engagement. The script’s rapid turn to violence feels perfunctory at times, diminishing narrative coherence. Ultimately, the film offers straightforward thrills but lacks the originality or momentum to sustain strong narrative interest.

  • Sensory Experience 60

    When it comes to sensory experience, the film offers striking natural visuals but an unremarkable soundtrack. Observers praise the snowbound cinematography and crisp sound design in combat sequences, yet the original music score is largely unobtrusive and fails to amplify tension. The visual cohesion enhances the rugged atmosphere, but audio elements seldom distinguish themselves. Overall, the sensory presentation is competent and occasionally immersive, though it rarely achieves full stylistic impact.

  • Rewatch Factor 55

    Regarding rewatch factor, the film provides enough action thrills for a casual revisit but limited depth to sustain multiple viewings. Audiences may appreciate the visceral fight choreography and Jason Momoa’s charismatic presence again, yet the predictable plot structure and sparse character development become more apparent on subsequent viewings. The straightforward narrative reveals few new discoveries upon rewatching. In conclusion, Braven offers mild replay value but lacks the layered complexity to encourage frequent revisits.

Plot

Braven Plot Summary

What happens in Braven 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

Logging company owner and devoted family man Joe Braven (played by Jason Momoa) shares his life with his loving wife, Stephanie (portrayed by Jill Wagner), and their young daughter Charlotte (acted by Sasha Rossof). As a storm approaches their home, Joe urges his driver, Weston (played by Brendan Fletcher), to take refuge overnight to wait out the harsh weather, but Weston insists on completing a delivery of logs for the following day.

Full summary

The whole story of Braven, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Braven Box Office & Budget

Braven grossed $854,319 worldwide on a $5 million budget, 17% of what it cost.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$854.3K

17% of its budget back

International
$854.3K
Budget
$5M
Videos

Braven Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Braven.

Official Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Braven?

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

Who plays the role of Joe Braven?

Cars

Cars in Braven

10 cars on screen, including the 1998 Chevrolet K-1500 and the 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe.

All 10 cars
  • 1998 Chevrolet K-1500 in Braven 1998 Chevrolet K-1500 Important role
  • 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe in Braven 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe Important role
  • 2016 Ford Explorer in Braven 2016 Ford Explorer Important role
  • Freightliner Classic XL in Braven Freightliner Classic XL Important role
Details

Braven Also Known As

25 alternative titles, including “Дикий” and “브레이븐”.

Also known as
  • Дикий
  • 브레이븐
  • Perigo na Montanha
  • ברייבן
  • Braven, la traque sauvage
  • Braven - Il coraggioso
  • 雪光之灾
  • El leñador
  • Брейвен
  • Брейвън
  • Sněžná past
  • 布拉文
+13 more
  • Braven (El Leñador)
  • Περιοχή Υψηλού Κινδύνου
  • קוד האומץ
  • Uväznení v horách
  • Džo Breivenas
  • Acharné
  • Đối Đầu
  • Drosmīgais Breivens
  • Lupta curajoasă
  • 極限救援
  • คนกล้า สู้ล้างเดน
  • برافن
  • ワイルド・ブレイブ, მამაცი

Seen Braven?

FAQ

Braven FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Braven?

Braven runs 1 hour 34 minutes (94 minutes).

When was Braven released?

Braven was released on February 2, 2018.

Who directed Braven?

Braven was directed by Lin Oeding.

More films by Lin Oeding

Who is in the cast of Braven?

Braven stars Stephen Lang as Linden Braven, Jill Wagner as Stephanie Braven and Sasha Rossof as Charlotte Braven, among 11 credited actors.

How much did Braven make at the box office?

Braven grossed $854,319 worldwide on a budget of $5 million.

How is Braven rated?

Braven has 5.9/10 on IMDb, 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, 61 on Metacritic and 62% on TMDB.

Does Braven have a post-credit scene?

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

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