Polar (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
Polar is a 2019 action thriller directed by Jonas Åkerlund, starring Mads Mikkelsen as Duncan Vizla, Johnny Knoxville and Ruby O. Fee. It is based on Polar: Came from the Cold by Victor Santos. It runs 1 hour 58 minutes and earned $615,847 worldwide. Critics gave it 20% on Rotten Tomatoes and 19 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 58m (118 min)
- Director
- Jonas Åkerlund
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Netflix
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Polar About?
The premise of Polar without spoilers, adapted from Polar: Came from the Cold by Victor Santos. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
Duncan Vizla, known as The Black Kaiser, retired from his life as the world's most feared assassin. However, his former employer considers him a liability and sets a deadly plot in motion. Forced to return to his violent past, Duncan finds himself targeted by a new generation of ruthless killers determined to eliminate him. He must fight to survive against overwhelming odds and uncover the conspiracy against him.
Polar Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- female nudity
- based on comic book
- hitman
- based on graphic novel
- dark horse comics
- male nudity
- male star appears nude
- castration
- male rear nudity
- nipple piercing
- assassin
- crime organization
+38 more Show fewer
- medical doctor
- one word title
- semi automatic pistol
- bladed weapon
- physician
- gun
- knife
- male doctor
- helicopter
- suv
- weapon
- hotel
- male medical doctor
- rotorcraft
- jeep wrangler
- firearm
- handheld weapon
- male physician
- handgun
- dog
- medical examination
- mustached man
- doctor
- semi automatic weapon
- goldfish
- sex scene
- pistol
- five member team
- short man
- photograph
- female assassin
- night
- view through rifle scope
- owl
- assassination team
- nighttime
- assault rifle
- mobile phone
Polar Cast & Characters
Mads Mikkelsen leads the cast as Duncan Vizla, with Johnny Knoxville as Michael Green and Ruby O. Fee as Sindy. Directed by Jonas Åkerlund; 17 actors are credited in all.
- Director Jonas Åkerlund
-
Mads Mikkelsen as Duncan Vizla -
Johnny Knoxville as Michael Green -
Ruby O. Fee as Sindy -
Anthony Grant as Facundo
Also Starring in Polar
· 13 more- Fei Ren Hilde
- Robert Maillet Karl
- Josh Cruddas Alexei
- Matt Lucas Blut
- Vanessa Hudgens Camille
- Lovina Yavari Junkie Jane
- Julian Richings Lomas
- Katheryn Winnick Vivian
- Inga Cadranel Regina
- Nia Roam Ginny
- Anastasia Marinina Evalina
- Sima Fisher
- David Jack
More from Jonas Åkerlund
More films directed by Jonas Åkerlund, best-rated first: Spun, Lords of Chaos, Billy Idol Should Be Dead and Madonna: The Celebration Tour in Rio.
Polar Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Polar 20% on Rotten Tomatoes and 19 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 45/100, strongest in character & emotion (70) and weakest in rewatch factor (30).
Polar Echo Score Breakdown
The film’s striking visual style and committed lead performance contrast with its uneven narrative coherence and limited emotional depth. Most reviews highlight the high-gloss cinematography and Mads Mikkelsen’s intensity, while criticizing the protracted action sequences, shallow subplot development, and abrupt tonal shifts. User opinions remain polarized, with some praising its bold aesthetics and others dismissing its storytelling flaws. On balance, the film delivers moments of vivid spectacle but falls short of lasting engagement.
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 boasts vibrant cinematography and a bold color palette but is hindered by uneven editing and disjointed staging. Reviews note its high-gloss production design and meticulous wardrobe details, yet critique the protracted and inefficiently constructed action sequences. Ultimately, the striking imagery is undermined by technical inconsistencies that compromise overall cohesion.
- Character & Emotion 70
In terms of character depth, the film features a compelling lead portrayal but offers limited ensemble development. Mads Mikkelsen’s nuanced performance and intermittent chemistry with co-stars generate emotional resonance, while secondary characters lack distinctive motivations. The dialogue often feels perfunctory, curbing opportunities for deeper engagement. Overall, the strength of the lead acting is offset by underwritten supporting roles that diminish the film’s emotional impact.
- Story & Flow 35
When it comes to storytelling, the film relies heavily on familiar revenge tropes and prolonged violence at the expense of coherent plot progression. The revenge arc includes an unexpected twist, yet the underdeveloped backstory and uneven pacing in extended action scenes disrupt engagement. Character relationships remain superficial, and narrative momentum falters amid repetitive sequences. As a result, the story feels derivative and struggles to sustain viewer interest.
- Sensory Experience 55
In terms of sensory experience, the film’s bold color contrasts and pulsating soundtrack underscore its violent tone, while immersive sound effects heighten each impact. However, the excessive gore and over-saturated imagery can feel overwhelming, and the frenetic editing undermines atmospheric cohesion. Although the audiovisual design delivers memorable moments, the relentless sensory assault diminishes overall immersion and encourages viewer fatigue.
- Rewatch Factor 30
In terms of rewatch value, the film’s emphasis on stylized violence and aesthetics offers limited incentive for repeat viewing. The lead performance and core action sequences may attract a secondary look, yet the absence of deeper thematic layers or character growth reduces lasting appeal. Combined with uneven pacing and superficial emotional beats, the overall replay value remains low beyond the initial visual spectacle.
-
IMDb 6.3 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 20% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 70%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 19 Metascore
User score 6.4
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 63% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.6 /5
247 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
Polar Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Polar from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Somewhere in Chile, the recently retired assassin Michael Green, portrayed by Johnny Knoxville, meets a tragic end at the hands of his former colleagues—Sindy (Ruby O. Fee), Facundo (Anthony Grant), Hilde (Fei Ren), Karl (Robert Maillet), and Alexei (Josh Cruddas)—all working under orders from their financially troubled employer, Mr. Blut (Matt Lucas).
In a deceptive move, Sindy acts as a honey trap, seducing Michael while the others prepare to execute their deadly plan. Mr. Blut, struggling with debts exceeding $29 million, concocts a scheme to eliminate his aging assassins before they hit mandatory retirement at fifty, thereby reclaiming their pension funds under a stipulation in their contract that names Damocles as a beneficiary.
Full summary
The whole story of Polar, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Polar Box Office
Polar grossed $615,847 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$615.8K
- International
- $615.8K
Polar Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Polar.
How Well Do You Know Polar?
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
Who plays the retired assassin Michael Green in 'Polar'?
Cars in Polar
13 cars on screen, including the 2015 Chevrolet Suburban and the 1987 Ford Bronco.
-
2015 Chevrolet Suburban Important role -
1987 Ford Bronco Important role -
2014 Dodge Durango Minor role -
2007 Jeep Wrangler Minor role
Polar Also Known As
16 alternative titles, including “ポーラー 狙われた暗殺者” and “Polaire”.
- Also known as
-
- ポーラー 狙われた暗殺者
- Polaire
- 極地
- פולאר
- Полярный
- 폴라
- Полар
- Szélsőség
- Полярний
- 极线杀手
- ล่าเลือดเย็น
- המתנקש
+4 more Show fewer
- Polar: Viforul morții
- Sát Thủ Tái Xuất, პოლარული
- قطبی
- قطبي
Seen Polar?
Movies Like Polar
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Killer, Naked Weapon and Cold Blood.
Polar FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of Polar, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Polar?
Polar runs 1 hour 58 minutes (118 minutes).
When was Polar released?
Polar was released on January 25, 2019.
Who directed Polar?
Polar was directed by Jonas Åkerlund.
More films by Jonas Åkerlund Who is in the cast of Polar?
Polar stars Mads Mikkelsen as Duncan Vizla, Johnny Knoxville as Michael Green and Ruby O. Fee as Sindy, among 17 credited actors.
How much did Polar make at the box office?
Polar grossed $615,847 worldwide.
How is Polar rated?
Polar has 6.3/10 on IMDb, 20% on Rotten Tomatoes, 19 on Metacritic and 63% on TMDB.
Is Polar based on a book?
Yes. Polar is adapted from Polar: Came from the Cold by Victor Santos.
Does Polar have a post-credit scene?
No. Polar has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
