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In the stunning Norwegian landscape of Geiranger, geologist Kristian faces an upcoming departure from the warning center and a troubling prediction. As the mountain of Åkerneset shows signs of instability, his professional instincts tell him a catastrophe is about to unfold. He urgently tries to persuade the local community of the impending danger, battling against disbelief and a rapidly closing window of opportunity. With time running out, Kristian must convince them to evacuate before a devastating tsunami strikes.

In the stunning Norwegian landscape of Geiranger, geologist Kristian faces an upcoming departure from the warning center and a troubling prediction. As the mountain of Åkerneset shows signs of instability, his professional instincts tell him a catastrophe is about to unfold. He urgently tries to persuade the local community of the impending danger, battling against disbelief and a rapidly closing window of opportunity. With time running out, Kristian must convince them to evacuate before a devastating tsunami strikes.

Does The Wave have end credit scenes?

Yes!

The Wave does have end credit scenes. Stay until the very end!

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of The Wave

Explore the complete cast of The Wave, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


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Ratings and Reviews for The Wave

See how The Wave is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where The Wave stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

68

Metascore

6.2

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

68%

TOMATOMETER

review

62%

User Score

IMDb

5.2 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

40

%

User Score

Movie Insider

3.67/5

From 27 fan ratings

Take the Ultimate The Wave Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of The Wave with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


The Wave Quiz: Test your knowledge on the gripping narrative and characters of 'The Wave' from 2016.

What weapon does Cassie Sullivan carry during her journey in the woods?

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for The Wave

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Read the complete plot summary of The Wave, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


In the opening scene, Cassie Sullivan, portrayed by Chloe Grace Moretz, is seen wandering through a desolate forest, clutching a gun. She stumbles upon an abandoned store and scavenges for any available supplies. Suddenly, a voice calls out for help, and Cassie discovers a man hiding at the back. Tension escalates as both point their guns at each other. The man lowers his weapon, but Cassie remains steadfast. Demanding he reveal what he is hiding, she is startled when a light flashes from his hand, leading her to shoot him. The horrifying realization strikes when she sees he was holding a crucifix.

Flashback to several months prior… Cassie was no different from many typical 15-year-olds, navigating high school life in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. She lived with her parents, Oliver (Ron Livingston) and Lisa (Maggie Siff), along with her younger brother, Sam (Zackary Arthur). With a best friend named Lizbeth (Gabriela Lopez) and a crush on football player Ben Parish (Nick Robinson), her life seemed ordinary. But when mysterious alien spacecraft appeared in the sky, everything turned upside down as the visitors, dubbed “The Others,” hovered menacingly above.

The first wave struck—the electromagnetic pulse shut down power globally, causing planes to plummet and resulting in a catastrophic death toll. With no fresh water supply, Cassie and Sam found themselves dredging water from nearby lakes. The second wave unleashed ferocious earthquakes and overwhelming tsunamis, leading to more devastation. The third wave introduced a manipulated strain of avian flu, claiming lives including those of Lizbeth and even their mother, Lisa. In a moment of grief, Cassie, Sam, and Oliver buried Lisa in their front yard and grieved their loss.

As events unfolded, they transitioned to a survivor camp. In due time, a dust cloud heralded the arrival of military personnel led by Colonel Vosch (Liev Schreiber), who claimed to offer assistance. The adults were alarmed as he delivered the news of a fourth wave, threatening human lives as The Others began utilizing humans as hosts. Chaos ensued, resulting in the deaths of nearly every adult, including Oliver. Heartbroken, Cassie resolved to navigate her perilous path alone.

At Camp Haven, the military training facility, Cassie found Ben and Sam among other recruits, where Ben was nicknamed “Zombie” and Sam “Nugget.” Under the watchful eye of Sergeant Reznik (Maria Bello), Ben faced a moral dilemma when given a chance to kill a suspected Other, spurred by his grief.

As Cassie made her way back to the convenience store from the opening scene, she attempted to make sense of her actions. Even as she navigated an abandoned freeway strewn with the remains of the fallen, danger lurked. A sudden gunshot hit her leg, and as chaos spilled over, Cassie crawled towards safety but ultimately succumbed to unconsciousness from blood loss.

Meanwhile, Ben continued his grueling training and formed a bond with fellow recruit Dumbo (Tony Revolori), and they encountered the formidable Ringer (Maika Monroe), an exceptional marksman who taught the boys critical shooting techniques.

Cassie awakened, cared for by Evan Walker (Alex Roe), who tended to her wounds. Though she longed to reunite with Sam, Evan warned her of the dangers outside. With instincts honed, she attempted to escape, only to trigger one of Evan’s traps. As they grappled with their looming danger, a new connection sparked between them.

Within Camp Haven, Colonel Vosch informed Ben that the fifth wave had commenced. Gifted with a special helmet to detect Others, Ben prepared to re-enter this treacherous world. As he and the recruits set out to confront potential threats, they discovered the horrifying truth: the children themselves were the weapons in this war, manipulated by the military.

Cassie learned that Evan was not entirely human after he killed another person in the woods, revealing that his transformation tied to the alien invasion. Despite his declaration of love, she recoiled, ultimately joining forces with the military against the looming danger.

At Camp Haven, tragedy struck as Cassie faced off with Reznik, exposing the military’s true intentions and their status as Others. Amidst the chaos, Ben confronted Vosch, who confirmed the dire reality that they were the adversaries. The facility was ultimately breached, leading to a narrow escape as Cassie triumphed and reconnected with Sam.

As they fled, a bitter farewell was shared between Cassie and Evan, with the facility erupting in flames behind them. Rescued by Ringer, they set up a new camp amidst the destruction, united with their fellow survivors. Cassie concluded her tale with a message of resilience—hope may flicker, but it remains the powerful force driving their survival.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Cars Featured in The Wave

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Explore all cars featured in The Wave, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


AM

General HMMWV M1025

AM

General HMMWV M1043

AM

General HMMWV M1113

AM

General M-923

BMW

2002

3 Coupé E46

BMW

1995

7 E38

Cadillac

1994

DeVille

Chevrolet

1994

C-Series

Chevrolet

2000

Tahoe

Chevrolet

1997

Venture

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


alien attackbased on the novel of the same namedystopian sci fisurvivorchild soldierohiopoker gamecrowavian flu epidemichumveemegaphoneclimbing a treeunresolved endingturncoatgenocidephysical examduct tapefirst and last of intended seriesthree word titlebody lands on a carcharacter repeats someone else's dialoguechild in jeopardyknocked unconsciousalien invasion sci fihumanity in jeopardycassiopeia constellationtitle co written by femalesurvival adventuresci fi thrillerpost apocalyptic sci fisurvival thrillerfemale protagonistadolescent protagonistarmy coloneladolescentm4 carbinesummer campimpostorsurveillance implantfalse flag operationcoming of age dramafacing extinctionhuman body alien hostkeeping a journalindoctrinationimplied car sexarmy sergeantattempted strangulationteenage girl as protagonistfirst person narration

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