The Breaking Ice
Performance & Direction: The Breaking Ice Review
Last updated: January 23, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is The Breaking Ice (2023) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 6.4/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Drama.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Breaking Ice features a noteworthy lineup led by Zhou Dongyu . Supported by the likes of Liu Haoran and Qu Chuxiao , 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 The Breaking Ice (2023) is mixed. With an audience rating of 6.4/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Story & Plot Summary: The Breaking Ice
Quick Plot Summary: The Breaking Ice is a Drama film that explores complex human emotions and relationships through detailed character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Ending Explained: The Breaking Ice
Ending Breakdown: The Breaking Ice concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to drama resolution.
The emotional climax centers on character transformation, 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 drama themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of The Breaking Ice reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch The Breaking Ice?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Drama films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want a character-driven story with emotional moments
Box Office Collection: The Breaking Ice
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Worldwide Gross | $2.9M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
Top Cast: The Breaking Ice
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Where to Watch The Breaking Ice Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
Criterion Channel
Strand Releasing Amazon Channel🎟️ Rent on
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home🏷️ Buy on
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At HomeThe Breaking Ice Parents Guide & Age Rating
2023 AdvisoryWondering about The Breaking Ice age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of The Breaking Ice is 100 minutes (1h 40m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.4/10, and global performance metrics, The Breaking Ice is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 2023 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Breaking Ice worth watching?
The Breaking Ice is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies. It has a verified rating of 6.4/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find The Breaking Ice parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for The Breaking Ice identifies it as Not Rated. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of The Breaking Ice?
The total duration of The Breaking Ice is 100 minutes, which is approximately 1h 40m long.
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How The Breaking Ice Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for The Breaking Ice
No matter how hard a film tries to convey a profound message through imagery and symbolism, if it doesn’t have a cohesive narrative underlying that undertaking, it’s not likely to succeed. Such is the case with this latest offering from writer-director Anthony Chen, who tells the story of three diverse but disconnected twenty-somethings (Dongyu Zhou, Haoran Liu, Chuxiao Qu) seeking to find their way in life in the northern Chinese city of Yanji, not far from the North Korean border. Set in the dead of winter, this unlikely trio comes together through impromptu (and, in all honesty, seemingly improbable) circumstances, quickly and inexplicably becoming bound by a suspect sense of chemistry. After coming together, they subsequently embark on a carefree weekend of dining, drinking, dancing and wrestling with sexual tension, intermixed with bouts of largely unexplained tear-laden ennui. The film consequently relies on implication and nuance to carry it forward, but the subtlety here is so subdued much of the time that it’s challenging to figure out exactly what the director is striving for. By contrast, in other cases, the picture’s patently obvious imagery is more than a little heavy-handed, as seen, for example, in its pervasive footage of the frozen winter landscape, a reflection of its “coldness of the world” theme. But what does it all add up to? That’s hard to say. The result is a release that relies more on mood than substance, with much of it implausible, inconsequential, somewhat unfathomable and not especially engaging. To its credit, “The Breaking Ice” is gorgeously filmed, providing viewers with a look at an unfamiliar locale, backed by an atmospheric original score and carried forward by a trinity of capable performances. However, I came away from this feature largely unmoved and notably disinterested, the whole affair having left me cold (pun intended). To me, films that continually reach but never grasp just aren’t worth the time – or the praise that they’re undeservedly lavished with – and this is clearly one of them.
movieMx Verified
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.









