How to Blow Up a Pipeline (2023): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
How to Blow Up a Pipeline is a 2023 drama thriller directed by Daniel Goldhaber, starring Ariela Barer as Xochitl, Sasha Lane and Jayme Lawson. It runs 1 hour 43 minutes and earned $1 million worldwide. It won 1 award from 2 nominations, including Best Editing at the Spirit Awards 2024. Critics gave it 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 43m (103 min)
- Director
- Daniel Goldhaber
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Neon
- After the credits
- Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
What Is How to Blow Up a Pipeline About?
The premise of How to Blow Up a Pipeline without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
A group of dedicated environmental activists plan and carry out a daring operation to sabotage an oil pipeline. Driven by a desire to halt the pipeline's damaging environmental impact, they meticulously prepare for a high-stakes heist that challenges conventional methods of climate activism. The film explores the complexities of radical action and the escalating urgency of the climate crisis.
How to Blow Up a Pipeline Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- bomb explosion
- homemade bomb
- criminal conspiracy
- eco terrorism
- radical environmentalism
- climate activist
- bomb making
- felony
- environmental issue
- environmental activism
- environmental activist
- pipeline
+38 more Show fewer
- vigilante
- oil industry
- texas
- corporate greed
- environmentalism
- sabotage
- saboteur
- pipeline explosion
- climate action
- global warming
- environmentalist
- female environmentalist
- organized sabotage
- eco sabotage
- terrorism
- environmental preservation
- oil pipeline
- oil
- direct-action
- vigilante justice
- vigilantism
- united states of america
- activism
- cancer
- lesbian couple
- drone
- west texas
- explosion
- teamwork
- pipeline protest
- environmental protest
- climate emergency
- environmental advocacy
- environmental crisis
- climate crisis
- environmental justice
- environmental movement
- fossil fuel
How to Blow Up a Pipeline Cast & Characters
Ariela Barer leads the cast as Xochitl, with Sasha Lane as Theo and Jayme Lawson as Alisha. Directed by Daniel Goldhaber; 11 actors are credited in all.
- Director Daniel Goldhaber
- Ariela Barer as Xochitl
-
Sasha Lane as Theo -
Jayme Lawson as Alisha -
Marcus Scribner as Shawn
Also Starring in How to Blow Up a Pipeline
· 7 more- Jake Weary Dwayne
- Forrest Goodluck Michael
- Kristine Froseth Rowan
- Lukas Gage Logan
- Irene Bedard Joanna
- Jasper Keen Orin
- Olive Jane Lorraine Katie
More from Daniel Goldhaber
More films directed by Daniel Goldhaber, best-rated first: Cam, Faces of Death and Bad Kid.
How to Blow Up a Pipeline Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave How to Blow Up a Pipeline 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 85/100, strongest in art & craft (88) and weakest in rewatch factor (75).
How to Blow Up a Pipeline Echo Score Breakdown
How to Blow Up a Pipeline delivers a compelling blend of high‑octane direction and urgent thematic focus, making it a notable entry in eco‑thriller cinema. Critics highlight the film’s electric visual style, tight editing, and a score that amplifies tension, while audiences repeatedly note the effective heist structure and brisk pacing. Acting is solid, with several stand‑out performances, though some viewers find the characters under‑developed. The cumulative effect is a tense, politically resonant work that rewards multiple viewings despite occasional narrative fizzles.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 88
The film’s direction and visual execution are widely praised for their kinetic energy and precise editing. Critics describe the cinematography as electric and the production design as charged, while users note the effective use of foreboding music to heighten tension. Even the dissenting Daily Beast review concedes the film’s technical competence. Overall, the artful craftsmanship underpins the movie’s intense atmosphere and contributes significantly to its impact.
- Character & Emotion 78
Acting receives generally positive remarks, with several reviewers singling out Jake Weary and Forrest Goodluck for nuanced, stoic performances. The ensemble is deemed solid, and the cast is praised for delivering the film’s urgency. However, some viewers comment on a lack of deep emotional connection and limited backstory for the protagonists. This mix of competent performances and sparse character development results in a moderate but respectable character score.
- Story & Flow 80
Narratively, the movie is lauded for its tight, heist‑style plotting and clear, purposeful pacing. Critics and users alike highlight the plot’s simplicity as a strength that keeps tension high, while noting occasional moments where the story feels overly literal or American‑centric. The originality of framing climate activism within a thriller genre is praised, even as some find the conclusion less explosive than expected. In sum, the story balances originality with effective execution.
- Sensory Experience 85
The sensory experience stands out, with reviewers emphasizing a standout score, crisp sound design, and an electric visual palette. The soundtrack’s foreboding tones are repeatedly cited as amplifying suspense, and the film’s visual style!—from color choices to kinetic camera work—reinforces its activist thrust. Users echo this sentiment, noting the music’s role in sustaining tension throughout. The cohesive sensory elements substantially elevate the overall viewing experience.
- Rewatch Factor 75
Rewatch value is considered solid, driven by the film’s tense pacing and the novelty of its eco‑thriller premise. Critics describe it as a riveting, engaging experience that invites multiple viewings, while some audience members point to limited character depth as a potential deterrent for repeat watches. Nonetheless, the blend of suspense, political relevance, and effective execution creates an appeal that many viewers find worth revisiting.
-
IMDb 6.9 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 95% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 80%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 76 Metascore
User score 6.4
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 64% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.8 /5
95931 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 5.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
How to Blow Up a Pipeline Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in How to Blow Up a Pipeline 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
A young woman named Xochitl takes a bold step by slashing the tires of an SUV, leaving behind a striking yellow manifesto on its windshield. Set against the backdrop of Long Beach, California, Xochitl and her friend Theo experience firsthand the dire consequences of climate change, especially after Xochitl loses her mother during a brutal heat wave exacerbated by rampant pollution from nearby oil refineries. Their frustration mounts as they realize the sluggish pace of their university’s divestment initiative. Fueled by anger and urgency, especially as Theo receives a terminal cancer diagnosis linked to the pollution, they yearn for more radical, immediate action to combat the environmental crisis.
Full summary
The whole story of How to Blow Up a Pipeline, scene by scene, with the ending explained
How to Blow Up a Pipeline Box Office
How to Blow Up a Pipeline grossed $1 million worldwide. $750,010 came from the US and Canada and $296,801 (28%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$1M
- US & Canada
- $750K
- International
- $296.8K
How to Blow Up a Pipeline Awards & Nominations
How to Blow Up a Pipeline won 1 award from 2 nominations, including Best Editing at the Spirit Awards 2024. Its biggest night was the Spirit Awards 2024, with 1 win from 1 nomination.
1 win2 nominations2 ceremonies
-
Spirit Awards 2024 1 win · 1 nomination- Won Best Editing
-
Gaudí Awards 2024 1 nomination- Nominated Best Short Film
How to Blow Up a Pipeline Trailers & Videos
8 videos: 1 trailer, 2 teasers, 4 featurettes and 1 behind-the-scenes video.
- Teaser UK Teaser Trailer
- Teaser UK Blast Trailer
- Featurette TIFF 2022 Q&A with Daniel Goldhaber
- Featurette Dir. Daniel Goldhaber, actor/writer Ariela Barar & author Andreas Malm
How Well Do You Know How to Blow Up a Pipeline?
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 motivates Xochitl to take drastic action against environmental issues?
How to Blow Up a Pipeline Also Known As
18 alternative titles, including “Sabotaje” and “하우 투 블로우 업 어 파이프라인”.
- Also known as
-
- Sabotaje
- 하우 투 블로우 업 어 파이프라인
- 파이프라인 폭파작전
- Sabotage
- 如何炸毁一条管道
- Как взорвать трубопровод
- Hogyan robbants csővezetéket
- Як підірвати трубопровід
- איך לפוצץ צינור נפט
- Jak odpálit ropovod
- Kako razstreliti naftovod
- Come far saltare un oleodotto
+6 more Show fewer
- 輸油管道破壞計畫
- Cum să arunci în aer o conductă de petrol
- Jak wysadzić rurociąg
- Bir Boru Hattı Nasıl Patlatılır
- Sabotatge
- แผนระเบิดท่อส่งน้ำมัน
Seen How to Blow Up a Pipeline?
Movies Like How to Blow Up a Pipeline
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Pipeline, Sabotage and Blow Out.
How to Blow Up a Pipeline FAQ: Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of How to Blow Up a Pipeline, each answered in a sentence.
How long is How to Blow Up a Pipeline?
How to Blow Up a Pipeline runs 1 hour 43 minutes (103 minutes).
When was How to Blow Up a Pipeline released?
How to Blow Up a Pipeline was released on April 7, 2023.
Who directed How to Blow Up a Pipeline?
How to Blow Up a Pipeline was directed by Daniel Goldhaber.
More films by Daniel Goldhaber Who is in the cast of How to Blow Up a Pipeline?
How to Blow Up a Pipeline stars Ariela Barer as Xochitl, Sasha Lane as Theo and Jayme Lawson as Alisha, among 11 credited actors.
How much did How to Blow Up a Pipeline make at the box office?
How to Blow Up a Pipeline grossed $1 million worldwide ($750,010 domestic, $296,801 international).
How is How to Blow Up a Pipeline rated?
How to Blow Up a Pipeline has 6.9/10 on IMDb, 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, 76 on Metacritic and 64% on TMDB.
What awards did How to Blow Up a Pipeline win?
How to Blow Up a Pipeline won 1 award from 2 nominations, including Best Editing at the Spirit Awards 2024.
Does How to Blow Up a Pipeline have a post-credit scene?
Yes. How to Blow Up a Pipeline has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.
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