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Parents' Guide to

Snowpiercer

By Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Brutal post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller has big themes.

Movie R 2014 126 minutes
Snowpiercer Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 8 parent reviews

Jclem97
Jclem97 Adult
January 18, 2022
age 18+

Horribly violent and full of F-bombs

Some of the most graphic violence and abhorrent behavior that can be thought up…..” I know what humans taste like… and that babies taste best”…. Horribly dark premise to the movie and an immense amount of foul language through out.
Rewiever
Rewiever Adult
January 25, 2022
age 12+

Snowpiercer

I think its not that bad
See all 8 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In 2031, after an attempt to quell global warming, Earth has become a frozen wasteland, and the only survivors are on board a spectacular, self-sustaining train that speeds continuously around the globe. The denizens of the rear cars are tired of being treated poorly, and talk of a revolution starts stirring. Curtis (Chris Evans) is the natural choice to lead, but they'll need the help of Namgoong (Song Kang-ho) to break through the locked doors, and they'll need extra courage, strength, and cleverness to deal with the hazards and pitfalls that await, and increase, at each level. Curtis could be the first to ever make it to the engine, with the fate of all humanity hanging in the balance.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (8 ):
Kids say (33 ):

This is an exceptional sci-fi thriller, worth far more than just its visual effects. One of the world's most talented filmmakers, Korean director Bong Joon-ho (The Host, Mother, etc.) has proved that he can handle varied material that has strong themes with confident pacing and impressive visuals. SNOWPIERCER is a big film with a large cast, but Bong brilliantly juggles fights, characters, and ideas -- including a savvy use of food -- and fits it all succinctly within his amazing visual design and scope.

The movie's dystopian future could have been heavy-handed, but instead it's balanced with equal amounts of intelligence and hope. And, of course, filming in a long, thin corridor could have been repetitive, but the images are constantly striking and surprising. Bong doesn't neglect his cast, either. Song Kang-ho and Ko Ah-sung return from The Host (again playing father and daughter), Evans gives one of his finest performances, and Ed Harris is especially memorable.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Snowpiercer's violence. How much of it was necessary to the story? Did it seem excessively gory or brutal?

  • What's the ultimate reason that the people in the back cars were kept in poverty? Was this a logical decision? Was it best for the largest amount of people, or should they have been helped?

  • What's the appeal of the post-apocalyptic genre?

Movie Details

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