Mortal Engines (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
Mortal Engines is a 2018 action thriller directed by Christian Rivers, starring Hera Hilmar as Hester Shaw, Patrick Malahide and Hugo Weaving. It is based on Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve. It runs 2 hours 8 minutes and earned $83.9 million worldwide on a $100 million budget. It earned 1 award nomination, including Legion M Breakout Director at the Saturn Awards 2019. Critics gave it 25% on Rotten Tomatoes and 44 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 8m (128 min)
- Director
- Christian Rivers
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Universal Pictures
- Budget
- $100M
- Based on
- Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Mortal Engines About?
The premise of Mortal Engines without spoilers, adapted from Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
In a post-apocalyptic future where cities roam the land and consume others for resources, London is the most powerful of these mobile behemoths. A young woman named Hester Shaw, scarred and seeking revenge, finds herself targeted by the city’s ruthless ruler. She unexpectedly joins forces with a quick-witted outcast who questions London's dominion. Together, they must confront Hester’s mysterious past and fight to prevent the city's devastating plans and determine the world’s fate.
Mortal Engines Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- post apocalypse
- steampunk
- dystopia
- capitalism
- social commentary
- machine
- floating city
- one against many
- megalomaniac
- world domination
- colonialism
- consumerism
+38 more Show fewer
- flying city
- museum
- pilot
- slave auction
- future
- rebellion
- strong female lead
- altered version of studio logo
- opening action scene
- battle
- combat
- aerial combat
- exploding airplane
- violence
- evil man
- municipal darwinism
- orphan
- archaeologist
- based on young adult novel
- epic
- based on novel
- f rated
- outlaw
- teenager
- directorial debut
- no opening credits
- prologue
- gunfight
- shootout
- battlefield
- chase
- foot chase
- explosion
- fistfight
- fight
- brawl
- martial arts
- mixed martial arts
Mortal Engines Cast & Characters
Hera Hilmar leads the cast as Hester Shaw, with Patrick Malahide as Magnus Crome and Hugo Weaving as Thaddeus Valentine. Directed by Christian Rivers; 17 actors are credited in all.
- Director Christian Rivers
- Hera Hilmar as Hester Shaw
- Patrick Malahide as Magnus Crome
-
Hugo Weaving as Thaddeus Valentine - Leila George as Katherine Valentine
Also Starring in Mortal Engines
· 13 more- Robert Sheehan Tom Natsworthy
- Ronan Raftery Bevis Pod
- Stephen Lang Shrike
- Jihae Anna Fang
- Colin Salmon Chudleigh Pomeroy
- Andrew Lees Herbert Melliphant
- Yoson An
- Caren Pistorius
- Rege-Jean Page
- Mark Mitchinson Vambrace
- Joel Tobeck
- Frankie Adams Yasmina Rashid
- Calum Gittins
More from Christian Rivers
One more film directed by Christian Rivers: Feeder.
Mortal Engines Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Mortal Engines 25% on Rotten Tomatoes and 44 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10. Our Echo Score gives it 51/100, strongest in art & craft (70) and weakest in character & emotion (35).
Mortal Engines Echo Score Breakdown
Overall, Mortal Engines demonstrates striking world-building but struggles with narrative and emotional depth. While critics and viewers acknowledge the immersive cityscapes and high-caliber visual effects, many note that the story's familiar tropes and uneven pacing undermine engagement. Character development is perceived as superficial, limiting the film's emotional resonance despite occasional exciting action sequences. Although the blend of steampunk aesthetics and action yields momentary enjoyment, the uneven plot and thin characterization prevent the movie from sustaining 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 70
In terms of art and craft, Mortal Engines excels in its ambitious production design and detailed set pieces. Observers highlight the intricate construction of the mobile cities and top-tier visual effects, creating a richly textured world. Some critics find the steampunk styling derivative, but most agree that the cinematography and editing maintain a dynamic visual energy overall.
- Character & Emotion 35
When it comes to character and emotion, the film offers limited depth and inconsistent performances. The protagonists remain underdeveloped, and their interactions lack convincing chemistry. While a few viewers appreciate the lead’s earnest portrayal, most feedback points to unmemorable supporting roles and shallow emotional stakes. Overall, the characters fail to generate sustained empathy.
- Story & Flow 45
Regarding story and flow, Mortal Engines delivers an uneven narrative with sporadic pacing and familiar plot beats. Some reviewers find the world-building intriguing, but many criticize the script’s reliance on standard tropes and a lack of coherent suspense. Although several sequences provide thrilling action, the overall progression feels bloated and fails to maintain consistent engagement.
- Sensory Experience 60
When considering sensory experience, the film presents spectacular visual effects and detailed sound design, but the soundtrack draws criticism for echoing previous action scores. Audiences praise the immersive soundscapes during battle scenes, yet some note a lack of distinctive auditory identity. Ultimately, the audio-visual cohesion enhances moment-to-moment impact despite occasional stylistic repetition.
- Rewatch Factor 45
In terms of rewatch factor, Mortal Engines offers limited lasting appeal beyond its initial spectacle. The film’s visual grandeur and action sequences may prompt a return for enthusiasts, but the shallow character arcs and predictable storyline reduce incentive for multiple viewings. Overall, the movie provides an engaging first experience but lacks depth to sustain repeat interest.
-
IMDb 6.1 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 25% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 48%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 44 Metascore
User score 6.0
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 62% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.5 /5
96 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 4.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
Mortal Engines Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Mortal Engines 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
Following the catastrophic event known as the Sixty Minute War, humanity’s remnants have come together to create mobile “predator” cities that ruthlessly hunt and absorb their smaller counterparts in a brutal survival practice referred to as “Municipal Darwinism.” This intense struggle for existence unfolds across the Great Hunting Ground, which encompasses both Great Britain and Continental Europe. In stark contrast, the Anti-Traction League has emerged, championing a way of life built upon static settlements in Asia, protected by the formidable Shield Wall. Meanwhile, treasures of the lost technology era, such as toasters and smartphones, are regarded as “Old-Tech.”
Full summary
The whole story of Mortal Engines, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Mortal Engines Box Office & Budget
Mortal Engines grossed $83.9 million worldwide on a $100 million budget, 84% of what it cost. $16 million came from the US and Canada and $67.9 million (81%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$83.9M
84% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $16M
- International
- $67.9M
- Budget
- $100M
Mortal Engines Awards & Nominations
Mortal Engines earned 1 award nomination, including Legion M Breakout Director at the Saturn Awards 2019.
1 nomination1 ceremony
-
Saturn Awards 2019 1 nomination- Nominated Legion M Breakout Director – Christian Rivers
Mortal Engines Trailers & Videos
5 videos: 2 trailers and 3 clips.
- Trailer MORTAL ENGINES – Official Trailer (Universal Pictures) HD
- Clip Mortal Engines | London Under Fire in 4K HDR
- Clip Mortal Engines | Shrike Brings Down Airhaven in His Pursuit of Hester in 4K HDR
- Clip London is Attacking - Extended Preview
How Well Do You Know Mortal Engines?
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 event drastically transformed civilization in Mortal Engines?
Mortal Engines Also Known As
33 alternative titles, including “Mortal Engines: Krieg der Städte” and “Máquinas Mortais”.
- Also known as
-
- Mortal Engines: Krieg der Städte
- Máquinas Mortais
- Mécanique fatale
- 移动城市:致命引擎
- Смертні машини
- Mortal Engines - Krieg der Städte
- Смъртоносни машини
- Хроники хищных городов
- Ragadozó városok
- Φονικές Μηχανές
- Macchine mortali
- Zabójcze maszyny
+21 more Show fewer
- 移動城市:致命引擎
- 모털 엔진
- Engenhos Mortíferos
- Mirtingos mašinos
- 掠食城市
- Ölümcül Makineler
- ערי טרף
- Smrtelné stroje
- Смртоносне машине
- Smrteľné stroje
- Mașinării infernale
- Máquinas mortales
- المحرّكات القاتلة
- Izsalkusī pilsēta, მტაცებელი ქალაქები
- Mécaniques fatales
- Cỗ Máy Tử Thần
- สมรภูมิล่าเมือง จักรกลมรณะ
- 移動都市/モータル・エンジン
- Smrtonosni strojevi
- Smrtonosni stroji
- موتورهای فانی
Seen Mortal Engines?
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Mortal Engines FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of Mortal Engines, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Mortal Engines?
Mortal Engines runs 2 hours 8 minutes (128 minutes).
When was Mortal Engines released?
Mortal Engines was released on December 14, 2018.
Who directed Mortal Engines?
Mortal Engines was directed by Christian Rivers.
More films by Christian Rivers Who is in the cast of Mortal Engines?
Mortal Engines stars Hera Hilmar as Hester Shaw, Patrick Malahide as Magnus Crome and Hugo Weaving as Thaddeus Valentine, among 17 credited actors.
How much did Mortal Engines make at the box office?
Mortal Engines grossed $83.9 million worldwide ($16 million domestic, $67.9 million international) on a budget of $100 million.
How is Mortal Engines rated?
Mortal Engines has 6.1/10 on IMDb, 25% on Rotten Tomatoes, 44 on Metacritic and 62% on TMDB.
Is Mortal Engines based on a book?
Yes. Mortal Engines is adapted from Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve.
Was Mortal Engines nominated for any awards?
Mortal Engines received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.
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