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Action thriller

Cold Pursuit (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Cold Pursuit (2019) movie poster

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.

IMDb rating
6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes
68%
worldwide gross
$76.4M
award nomination
1
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Cold Pursuit (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 59m (119 min)
Genres
Action , Drama , Thriller , Crime
Original language
English
Budget
$60M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

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
  • 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
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Cast & crew

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.

From the director

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.

Full filmography
Ratings

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).

52 /100

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.

Plot

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

Read the full summary
Box office

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.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$76.4M

1.3× its budget

US & Canada
$32.1M
International
$44.3M
Budget
$60M
US & Canada 42% Rest of the world 58%
Awards

Cold Pursuit Awards & Nominations

Cold Pursuit earned 1 award nomination, including Best Action / Adventure Film Release at the Saturn Awards 2019.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

Cold Pursuit Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Cold Pursuit.

Official Trailer
Quiz

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

  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 is Nels Coxman's occupation before his life is turned upside down?

Cars

Cars in Cold Pursuit

21 cars on screen, including the 2013 Cadillac ATS and the 2013 Ford Police Interceptor Utility.

All 21 cars
  • 2013 Cadillac ATS in Cold Pursuit 2013 Cadillac ATS Important role
  • 2013 Ford Police Interceptor Utility in Cold Pursuit 2013 Ford Police Interceptor Utility Important role
  • 2015 Ford Transit in Cold Pursuit 2015 Ford Transit Important role
  • 2006 Hummer H2 in Cold Pursuit 2006 Hummer H2 Important role
Details

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
  • 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?

FAQ

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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