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Action thriller

Elevation (2024): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Elevation (2024) movie poster

Elevation is a 2024 action thriller directed by George Nolfi, starring Anthony Mackie as Will, Morena Baccarin and Danny Boyd Jr.. It runs 1 hour 30 minutes and earned $3.7 million worldwide on a $18 million budget. Critics gave it 50 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.7/10.

IMDb rating
5.7/10
worldwide gross
$3.7M
Echo Score
61
Metascore
50
Elevation (2024) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 30m (90 min)
Director
George Nolfi
Genres
Action , Sci-Fi , Thriller
Original language
English
Budget
$18M
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is Elevation About?

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

Humanity now clings to survival in the high mountains, above 8000 feet, as the lower altitudes are overrun by the creatures responsible for the near extinction of the human population less than three years prior. When a father is forced to descend below that altitude to save his young son, he faces a desperate struggle against both the dangerous environment and the hostile beings that inhabit it.

Elevation Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • forest
  • alien
  • mountains
  • horses
  • mountain
  • hospital
  • lack of oxygen
  • hunting
  • radio
  • candle
  • mac and cheese
  • shooting
+38 more
  • filter
  • drinking
  • pirate flag
  • tunnels
  • gun
  • map
  • road
  • hiking
  • ski lift
  • lodge
  • railway
  • cave
  • ladder
  • lamb
  • fireplace
  • religion
  • bullet
  • lab
  • dead wife
  • dead mother
  • scientist
  • merged from the ground
  • sick child
  • ax
  • stairs
  • oxygen tank explosion
  • laboratory
  • buffalo
  • college degree
  • husband wife relationship
  • family relationships
  • father son relationship
  • college
  • batteries
  • chemical testing
  • car crash
  • running
  • flat tire
Cast & crew

Elevation Cast & Characters

Anthony Mackie leads the cast as Will, with Morena Baccarin as Nina and Danny Boyd Jr. as Hunter. Directed by George Nolfi; 5 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Elevation

· 1 more
Ratings

Elevation Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Elevation 50 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 61/100, strongest in art & craft (80) and weakest in rewatch factor (45).

61 /100

Elevation Echo Score Breakdown

Elevation delivers a serviceable post-apocalyptic thriller that competently handles its premise but rarely transcends genre conventions. Critics highlight solid craftsmanship and succinct thrills within its ninety-minute runtime, while noting its reliance on familiar tropes and limited narrative depth. Viewers praise sound and visual design yet express frustration with predictable plotting and underdeveloped characters. Although the film maintains engagement through effective pacing and atmosphere, its uninventive storyline and superficial character work hold it back.

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

  • Art & Craft 80

    In terms of cinematography and production design, Elevation demonstrates consistent technical proficiency. Reviewers commend the evocative lighting, strong location work, and cohesive visual style that establish the high-altitude setting. The direction and editing maintain clarity and momentum through the film’s concise structure. These strengths in Art & Craft lend the film an assured aesthetic, even if it does not break new ground in visual innovation.

  • Character & Emotion 60

    When it comes to Character & Emotion, the performances are serviceable but yield mixed results. Anthony Mackie and Morena Baccarin deliver measured portrayals with occasional emotional resonance, but several supporting figures lack depth. Observers note clear chemistry in key moments contrasted by monotone delivery and underwritten backgrounds. Overall, the acting quality sustains audience interest without fully engaging on a deeper emotional level.

  • Story & Flow 50

    Regarding Story & Flow, Elevation delivers a concise narrative with uneven originality. The pacing remains taut and maintains forward momentum, but the plot relies heavily on familiar genre tropes and predictable twists. Engagement fluctuates as scenes of genuine suspense alternate with underdeveloped world-building and continuity lapses. Consequently, the storyline sustains basic coherence but stops short of offering a novel or deeply engaging unfolding.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    In terms of Sensory Experience, the film earns praise for its sound design and musical cues that amplify tension. The deliberate audio choices, from creature sounds to ambient noise, consistently draw viewers into the high-altitude environment. Visual styling, including color grading and practical effects, reinforces a cohesive atmosphere. Minor misalignments in sound effects do not substantially detract from the overall immersive sensory impact.

  • Rewatch Factor 45

    When it comes to Rewatch Factor, the film’s limited narrative depth and predictable structure reduce its long-term appeal. Although the brisk runtime and occasional suspenseful moments encourage initial engagement, few scenes invite return viewings or deeper analysis. Viewers note that the lack of character development and originality diminishes replay value. As a result, Elevation offers modest short-term enjoyment but limited lasting resonance.

Plot

Elevation Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Elevation 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

Three years prior to the unfolding events, Reapers, enigmatic apex predators, burst forth from subterranean sinkholes, decimating the majority of the human population. The few remaining survivors have since taken refuge in isolated communities, established at altitudes of 8,000 feet or more — heights untouched by these terrifying creatures. One such haven is Lost Gulch Refuge, nestled within the majestic Front Range of Colorado. Here, we find Will, portrayed by Anthony Mackie, a devoted single father grappling with grief over the loss of his wife, Tara, who fell victim to the Reapers during a perilous expedition alongside Nina, a former scientist played by Morena Baccarin. Their mission was to uncover the weaknesses of these nightmarish beings.

Full summary

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

Read the full summary
Box office

Elevation Box Office & Budget

Elevation grossed $3.7 million worldwide on a $18 million budget, 21% of what it cost. $2.3 million came from the US and Canada and $1.4 million (37%) from the rest of the world.

2024 box office

Worldwide gross

$3.7M

21% of its budget back

US & Canada
$2.3M
International
$1.4M
Budget
$18M
US & Canada 63% Rest of the world 37%
Videos

Elevation Trailers & Videos

5 videos: 2 trailers, 1 teaser and 2 clips.

Official Trailer
  • Trailer UK Trailer
  • Teaser Official Teaser
  • Clip First Attack on the Trio
  • Clip Chase
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Elevation?

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 are the apex predators in 'Elevation' called?

Cars

Cars in Elevation

7 cars on screen, including the 2008 Ford F-250 Super Duty and the AM General HMMWV M1044.

All 7 cars
  • 2008 Ford F-250 Super Duty in Elevation 2008 Ford F-250 Super Duty Important role
  • AM General HMMWV M1044 in Elevation AM General HMMWV M1044 Minor role
  • 2019 Chevrolet Malibu in Elevation 2019 Chevrolet Malibu Background role
  • 1999 Chrysler 300 M in Elevation 1999 Chrysler 300 M Background role
Details

Elevation Also Known As

23 alternative titles, including “ارتفاعات” and “高处营救”.

Also known as
  • ارتفاعات
  • 高处营救
  • 高地營救
  • Хищные земли
  • Elevation - Don’t go down without a fight
  • Criaturas: Línea de extinción
  • ELEVAÇÃO
  • Strefa
  • הקו האחרון
  • Hranice přežití
  • อสุรกายขย้ำ 8000 ฟุต
  • Мертві землі
+11 more
  • ارتفاع
  • A Linha da Extinção
  • Hranica prežitia
  • Halálszint felett
  • 엘리베이션, სიმაღლე
  • Възвишение
  • Uzvišenje
  • La limita supraviețuirii
  • Elevation - Linha de Perigo
  • Quái Vật Từ Lòng Đất
  • Območje preživetja

Seen Elevation?

FAQ

Elevation FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Elevation?

Elevation runs 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).

When was Elevation released?

Elevation was released on November 8, 2024.

Who directed Elevation?

Elevation was directed by George Nolfi.

More films by George Nolfi

Who is in the cast of Elevation?

Elevation stars Anthony Mackie as Will, Morena Baccarin as Nina and Danny Boyd Jr. as Hunter, among 5 credited actors.

How much did Elevation make at the box office?

Elevation grossed $3.7 million worldwide ($2.3 million domestic, $1.4 million international) on a budget of $18 million.

How is Elevation rated?

Elevation has 5.7/10 on IMDb, 50 on Metacritic and 64% on TMDB.

Does Elevation have a post-credit scene?

Yes. Elevation has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.

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