Cold Pursuit (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
Cold Pursuit is a 2019 action thriller directed by Hans Petter Moland, starring Liam Neeson as Nels Coxman, Laura Dern and Micheál Richardson. It runs 1 hour 59 minutes and earned $76.4 million worldwide on a $60 million budget. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Action / Adventure Film Release at the Saturn Awards 2019. Critics gave it 68% on Rotten Tomatoes and 57 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.2/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 59m (119 min)
- Director
- Hans Petter Moland
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Lionsgate
- Budget
- $60M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Cold Pursuit About?
The premise of Cold Pursuit without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
A peaceful life is shattered when tragedy strikes, prompting Nels Coxman to seek answers and descend into a dangerous quest for vengeance. He believes the ruthless drug lord known as Viking is responsible for his son's death, and embarks on a dark crusade against him. As his search for justice intensifies, Nels transforms, shedding his ordinary existence and becoming an unstoppable force driven by fury, leaving a devastating trail of destruction.
Cold Pursuit Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- kehoe colorado
- revenge
- gay kiss
- remake of norwegian film
- vigilante justice
- remake
- winter
- snow
- snowy mountain
- remake by original director
- reference to top gun
- assassin
+38 more Show fewer
- funeral
- violence
- morgue
- gun in mouth
- tossing corpse into a river
- sawed off shotgun
- denver colorado
- kidnapping
- reference to bambi
- colorado
- small town
- ski resort
- paragliding
- anti hero
- one man army
- neo noir
- final showdown
- snowstorm
- native american
- ex husband ex wife relationship
- murder
- escape
- betrayal
- double cross
- hotel
- police
- disposing of a dead body
- gay gangster
- boy
- closeted gay
- gay couple
- drug cartel
- drug lord
- gun battle
- vigilante
- shot with handgun
- shot with a rifle
- injection into the buttocks
Cold Pursuit Cast & Characters
Liam Neeson leads the cast as Nels Coxman, with Laura Dern as Grace Coxman and Micheál Richardson. Directed by Hans Petter Moland; 22 actors are credited in all.
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Director Hans Petter Moland
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Liam Neeson as Nels Coxman -
Laura Dern as Grace Coxman - Micheál Richardson
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Michael Eklund as Speedo
Also Starring in Cold Pursuit
· 18 more- Bradley Stryker Limbo
- Wesley MacInnes Dante
- Tom Bateman Trevor 'Viking' Calcote
- Nicholas Holmes Ryan
- Julia Jones Aya
- William Forsythe
- Emmy Rossum Kim Dash
- John Doman John 'Gip' Gipsky
- Aleks Paunovic Detective Osgard
- Domenick Lombardozzi Mustang
- Elysia Rotaru
- Raoul Trujillo
- David O'Hara
- Jim Shield Jaded Coroner
- Victor Zinck Jr.
- Tom Jackson
Show all 22 cast members Show fewer cast members
More from Hans Petter Moland
More films directed by Hans Petter Moland, best-rated first: Aberdeen, A Somewhat Gentle Man, In Order of Disappearance and The Beautiful Country.
Cold Pursuit Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Cold Pursuit 68% on Rotten Tomatoes and 57 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 52/100, strongest in sensory experience (60) and weakest in character & emotion (45).
Cold Pursuit Echo Score Breakdown
The film’s reception is broadly mixed, with moments of dark humor and stylistic flair offset by uneven pacing and character engagement. Reviews praise the stark visual presentation and occasional bursts of gallows humor, though criticisms target the inconsistent narrative flow and lack of depth in supporting roles. While performances by the lead and the vivid setting earn commendation, many note forgettable storytelling and mechanical character arcs. In sum, the movie leaves a moderate impression with limited lasting appeal.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 55
In terms of visual craft, the film presents a stark yet occasionally dated mise-en-scène. Support comes from its cold, atmospheric cinematography and moments of vivid snowfall imagery, though critics noted sub-Tarantino echoes and a tendency toward bloated staging. Production design seldom rises above functional service. Overall, the art direction provides a clear mood but lacks distinctive innovation.
- Character & Emotion 45
When it comes to character depth, the film offers a strong central turn but uneven support from its ensemble. Liam Neeson’s taciturn performance anchors the narrative, yet many characters feel underdeveloped or lack credible motivation according to multiple reviews. Emotional resonance wavers due to erratic screen time distribution. Consequently, character engagement remains inconsistent throughout.
- Story & Flow 50
In terms of story and flow, the narrative oscillates between engaging dark humor and sluggish pacing. The revenge-driven plot begins with momentum but slows as side threads dilute the central conflict, generating a so-so middle act. Critics noted predictability and dated tonal choices that undermine originality. As a result, overall coherence and engagement fluctuate, producing a mixed storytelling experience.
- Sensory Experience 60
In terms of sensory experience, the film delivers stark auditory and visual textures that evoke a wintry landscape. The soundtrack adds moments of gallows humor while sound design underscores sudden bursts of violence. However, some find the visual style derivative and the tonal shifts jarring. Thus, sensory elements provide atmosphere but lack consistent cohesion.
- Rewatch Factor 50
When considering rewatch value, opinions diverge between enjoyable humor and forgettable impact. Some viewers appreciate the darkly comic tone on subsequent viewings, while others report limited lasting appeal due to predictable revenge beats. The central performance offers moments that invite a return, yet inconsistent pacing and underdeveloped subplots reduce enthusiasm for repeat viewing. Overall, rewatch potential remains moderate.
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IMDb 6.2 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 68% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 45%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 57 Metascore
User score 6.0
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 58% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.8 /5
18 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 2.5 /5
See on Movie Insider
Cold Pursuit Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Cold Pursuit 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 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Nels Coxman, portrayed by Liam Neeson, leads a tranquil existence as a snowplow operator in the upscale Colorado ski resort of Kehoe, where his hard work recently earned him the title of “Citizen of the Year.” However, his peaceful life is brutally shattered when his son, Kyle, played by Micheál Richardson, falls victim to a forced heroin overdose that stems from a gang-related kidnapping orchestrated by criminals Speedo, enacted by Michael Eklund, and Limbo, interpreted by Bradley Stryker. In the chaos, Kyle is injected with heroin while Dante, performed by Wesley MacInnes, makes a harrowing escape from the scene.
Full summary
The whole story of Cold Pursuit, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Cold Pursuit Box Office & Budget
Cold Pursuit grossed $76.4 million worldwide on a $60 million budget, 1.3 times what it cost. $32.1 million came from the US and Canada and $44.3 million (58%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$76.4M
1.3× its budget
- US & Canada
- $32.1M
- International
- $44.3M
- Budget
- $60M
Cold Pursuit Awards & Nominations
Cold Pursuit earned 1 award nomination, including Best Action / Adventure Film Release at the Saturn Awards 2019.
1 nomination1 ceremony
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Saturn Awards 2019 1 nomination- Nominated Best Action / Adventure Film Release
Cold Pursuit Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Cold Pursuit.
How Well Do You Know Cold Pursuit?
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 Nels Coxman's occupation before his life is turned upside down?
Cars in Cold Pursuit
21 cars on screen, including the 2013 Cadillac ATS and the 2013 Ford Police Interceptor Utility.
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2013 Cadillac ATS Important role -
2013 Ford Police Interceptor Utility Important role -
2015 Ford Transit Important role -
2006 Hummer H2 Important role
Cold Pursuit Also Known As
38 alternative titles, including “硬粉” and “In Order of Disappearance”.
- Also known as
-
- 硬粉
- In Order of Disappearance
- Hard Powder
- Venganza
- Venganza bajo cero
- Vingança a Sangue Frio
- スノー・ロワイヤル:2019
- Hard Powder - Rache auf Eis
- 冰天動地
- 冷血追击
- Снегоуборщик
- Sang Froid
+26 more Show fewer
- Студено отмъщение
- Mrazivá pomsta
- Ψυχρή Καταδίωξη
- Dermesztő hajsza
- 콜드 체이싱
- Холодна помста
- Un uomo tranquillo
- מרדף קר
- Przykładny obywatel
- Ледена потера
- Venganza Bajo Cero, ცივ კვალზე
- Hladna osveta
- Poursuite de sang-froid
- Soğuk İntikam
- 酷寒殺手
- Vingança Perfeita
- Báo Thù
- Ucide-i cu sânge rece
- Šaltas kraujas
- Kylmä kosto
- スノー・ロワイヤル
- Visi gali sniegā
- تعقیب سرد
- แค้นลั่นนรก
- Ledeno maščevanje
- Venjança sota zero
Seen Cold Pursuit?
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Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Cold Blood, In Order of Disappearance and Cold Heat.
Cold Pursuit FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Cold Pursuit, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Cold Pursuit?
Cold Pursuit runs 1 hour 59 minutes (119 minutes).
When was Cold Pursuit released?
Cold Pursuit was released on February 8, 2019.
Who directed Cold Pursuit?
Cold Pursuit was directed by Hans Petter Moland.
More films by Hans Petter Moland Who is in the cast of Cold Pursuit?
Cold Pursuit stars Liam Neeson as Nels Coxman, Laura Dern as Grace Coxman and Micheál Richardson, among 22 credited actors.
How much did Cold Pursuit make at the box office?
Cold Pursuit grossed $76.4 million worldwide ($32.1 million domestic, $44.3 million international) on a budget of $60 million.
How is Cold Pursuit rated?
Cold Pursuit has 6.2/10 on IMDb, 68% on Rotten Tomatoes, 57 on Metacritic and 58% on TMDB.
Was Cold Pursuit nominated for any awards?
Cold Pursuit received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.
Does Cold Pursuit have a post-credit scene?
No. Cold Pursuit has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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