Cold Pursuit
Performance & Direction: Cold Pursuit Review
Last updated: January 21, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Cold Pursuit (2019) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 5.9/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Crime.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Crime is often anchored by its ensemble, and Cold Pursuit features a noteworthy lineup led by Liam Neeson . Supported by the likes of Tom Bateman and Tom Jackson , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of Cold Pursuit (2019) is mixed. With an audience rating of 5.9/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Story & Plot Summary: Cold Pursuit
Quick Plot Summary: Cold Pursuit is a Crime, Action film that dives into the criminal underworld with a grounded sense of realism and complex morality. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
The film presents its narrative with careful attention to pacing and character development. The quiet family life of Nels Coxman, a snowplow driver, is upended after his son's murder. Nels begins a vengeful hunt for Viking, the drug lord he holds responsible for the killing, eliminating Viking's associates one by one. As Nels draws closer to Viking, his actions bring even more unexpected and violent consequences, as he proves that revenge is all in the execution. The story unfolds naturally, allowing viewers to become invested in the outcome while maintaining engagement throughout.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The film establishes its world and central conflict efficiently in the opening act.
- Character Arc: Character development is present but somewhat formulaic, following familiar patterns without adding fresh perspectives to the genre.
- Climax & Resolution: The climax brings together the narrative threads, providing resolution while staying true to the established tone.
Ending Explained: Cold Pursuit
Ending Breakdown: Cold Pursuit attempts to tie together its various plot elements. The finale presents its approach to crime resolution.
The climactic sequence delivers on the escalating tension, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the crime themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Cold Pursuit reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Cold Pursuit Real vs. Reel: Is it Based on a True Story?
Cold Pursuit incorporates elements from real criminal cases. As a crime, action film, it navigates the space between factual accuracy and narrative engagement.
Historical Context
The film takes creative liberties to enhance dramatic impact. Core events maintain connection to source material while adapting for theatrical presentation.
Creative interpretation shapes the final narrative, focusing on emotional truth over strict chronology.
Accuracy Assessment: Cold Pursuit adapts its source material for dramatic purposes. The film prioritizes thematic resonance over documentary precision.
Who Should Watch Cold Pursuit?
Consider Watching If:
- You're a completist for Crime films
- You're curious despite mixed reviews
- You have low expectations and want casual entertainment
Box Office Collection: Cold Pursuit
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $60.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $76.4M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
Cold Pursuit Budget
The estimated production budget for Cold Pursuit is $60.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Cold Pursuit
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Where to Watch Cold Pursuit Online?
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Amazon VideoCold Pursuit Parents Guide & Age Rating
2019 AdvisoryWondering about Cold Pursuit age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Cold Pursuit is 119 minutes (1h 59m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 5.9/10, and global collection metrics, Cold Pursuit stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 2019 cinematic year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cold Pursuit worth watching?
Cold Pursuit is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Crime movies. It has a verified rating of 5.9/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Cold Pursuit parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Cold Pursuit identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Cold Pursuit?
The total duration of Cold Pursuit is 119 minutes, which is approximately 1h 59m long.
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Critic Reviews for Cold Pursuit
Nels Coxman (Liam Neeson) is a simple man who spends his days clearing the roads in a remote Colorado Ski Town and spends his days with his wife and his son. Nels is so unassuming that when he is awarded Citizen of the Year he states that there are others far more worthy and fusses over getting dressed up to accept the award and make a speech. When his son is found dead of a Heroin overdose; Nels is not willing to accept that his son was a user even though this puts tremendous strain on his marriage and has taken Nels to consider suicide. At his worst moment he learns that his son’ co-worker was involved with some shady dealing and that his son was likely collateral damage from the criminal elements involved. With a new found sense of purpose: Nels embarks on a quest to find the truth and avenge his son’s death no matter the consequences. One would think that “Cold Pursuit” is a standard revenge film but it unexpectedly changes direction shortly after Nels starts exacting his revenge. The film transforms into a Dark Comedy of sorts as characters get a Title Screen when they are killed many of which have a morbid humor to them. The film even takes the bold step of moving away from Neeson for a good third of the film and putting the emphasis on other characters from rival crime organizations to the Sherriff and his eager Detective (Emmy Rossum). As such the film is not what you expect as although there is plenty of action at times; it is a Dark Comedy with dramatic elements. It is more in line of what you might expect at a Film Festival from an Indie studio versus a major studio release. As such fans of Neeson may be disappointed in seeing a departure from the type of films they have come to expect from him in recent years while others may embrace the quirky nature of the film. 3 stars out of 5
Took me a very long time to adjust to the format, but _Cold Pursuit_ is a win in my book. A moderate one, but still, take that W boys. Sure the setting feels underdeveloped, the tone is back and forth like it's hangin' off the end ball on Newton's cradle, and off the top of my head I can think of a minimum of five characters you could cut entirely without affecting the story in any way whatsoever, but I'm still here for it's weird good thing. _Final rating:★★★ - I liked it. Would personally recommend you give it a go._
I am not sure why but I had fairly low expectations for this movie. Perhaps partly because revenge flicks really aren't my sub-genre. But I liked Cold Pursuit, seemingly more than many reviewers. I found it to be quite entertaining, with bits of humor, good dialogue and several small plot twists along the way. Plus I have always liked Liam Neeson. There is a child character who comes off looking more wise and savvy than the adults. His short scenes are pleasant interludes between the scenes of drama and violence. Being an action film, I knew not to look for character growth or subtlety in the subplots. I just buckled up and enjoyed the ride.
_**Revenge in the snowy Rockies with Liam Neeson**_ A grieving snowplow driver in the Rockies of central Colorado (Liam Neeson) seeks vengeance after his son is murdered by members of a ruthless drug cartel. Tom Bateman and Tom Jackson play the warring drug moguls while Laura Dern is on hand as the protagonist’s wife. “Cold Pursuit” (2019) is a quirky crime drama/thriller that’s a remake of the director’s Scandinavian flick “In Order of Disappearance” from five years prior. Instead of being a straight revenge thriller in the snow it opts for a peculiar tone akin to Tarantino, the Coen brothers and Guy Ritchie. Neeson is stalwart, the wintery locations are outstanding and the technical filmmaking is proficient. Unfortunately, the odd tone and supposedly ‘hip,’ morally bankrupt characters struck me the wrong way. Maybe it’s just a Scandinavian thang that didn’t translate well to North America. There are still enough highlights to make this worthwhile if you can roll with thug scum obsessed with killing each other mixed with black humor. For similar movies that are arguably better, check out "Fargo" (1996), “Deadfall” (2012) and “The Big White” (2005). The film runs 1 hour, 58 minutes and was shot in western Alberta (Kananaskis Country), British Columbia (Vancouver, Fernie & Victoria) and Manitoba (Winnipeg & Gimli). GRADE: B-/C+
Well, there is a Boycott and, all I am going to say about that is that, given who it's coming from, they just want Lian Neeson to apologize, so they can refuse to accept it and destroy his career to signal how virtuous and powerful they are by harming others.. The motives are horrible. But, for those among us that are normal, or at least not jumping onto that bandwagon, all I can say is...BEST ENDING EVER!!!! So it's a bit 90s, the actor that did the big bad is not decent, but the twists are all kind of out of left field, and it's fun, for a revenge flick that is written to be sedate, darkly comical, and stylish. And, to think I almost didn't see it because I am sick and tired of Taken. What you get is a fun and entertaining film.
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This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
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