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The Ice Storm

Play trailer 2:30 Poster for The Ice Storm R Released Sep 27, 1997 1h 53m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
86% Tomatometer 71 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
In the 1970s, an outwardly wholesome family begins cracking at the seams over the course of a tumultuous Thanksgiving break. Frustrated with his job, the father, Ben (Kevin Kline), seeks fulfillment by cheating on his wife, Elena (Joan Allen), with neighborhood seductress Janey (Sigourney Weaver). Their teenage daughter, Wendy (Christina Ricci), dabbles in sexual affairs too -- with Janey's son Mikey (Elijah Wood). The family's strained relations continue to tauten until an ice storm strikes.
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The Ice Storm

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Critics Consensus

Director Ang Lee revisits the ennui-laden decadence of 1970s suburban America with deft humor and gripping pathos.

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Critics Reviews

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Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune Nothing less than one of the year's best pictures, a portrait of wealthy Connecticut suburbanites in the 1970s whose lives have no emotional or spiritual rudder. Rated: 4/4 Mar 28, 2019 Full Review David Ansen Newsweek The Ice Storm captures this place, this season, this garish and confused moment in history, with surgical precision...It's Lee's sympathetic detachment that gives the movie its paradoxical power. Feb 27, 2018 Full Review Jason Bailey Vice Among its many virtues, 'The Ice Storm' keenly captures the sheer, visceral terror of puberty-of grappling with these urges, trying to do what you think you're supposed to, and lashing out when you can't. Oct 7, 2017 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Even while nailing a specific period in time, it’s still able to transcend its setting and speak directly to modern folks who no longer find aesthetic pleasure in impossibly long sideburns. Rated: 3.5/4 May 5, 2024 Full Review Stephen Silver Tilt Magazine In fact, just about everything sexual that happens in the film is dirty, unpleasant, unsatisfying, and led to pain and heartbreak for just about everyone involved (25th anniversary) Rated: 4/5 Sep 30, 2022 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review The Ice Storm contains a deeply human authenticity and willingness to portray, but not resolve, its characters' collective alienation. Rated: 4/4 Feb 14, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Leslie G I read the book before the movie, and was spot on. Perfect snap shot of the time period - both in set design and in tone. Beautifully captured the atmosphere and emotions of a sexually confused, political, post Vietnam time. Heartbreaking yet hopeful. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/31/24 Full Review Josue R The movie has a really good cast but it failed to connect with me. I feel that without spoiling the movie certain characters didn’t behave or have the reactions you’d expect in very difficult life situations. Maybe that was the point but it didn’t feel intentional to me. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 06/27/24 Full Review M B I saw this movie in the theaters when it first came out. I remember being so bored, maybe I fell asleep. I just gave it another watch, as I couldn't remember a thing about it. Yep, still dreadfully boring. Unbelievable to me that people like this movie. It's a big fat snooze. I give them one star for costumes and location. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 06/01/24 Full Review Sarah G Amazing movie. Captures the time beautifully. Excellent performances and beautiful cinematography. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/13/24 Full Review KB B I'd watched this years ago and now after a 2nd viewing thought it was okay. Watch if there's nothing else on. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/25/24 Full Review David F An ensemble drama about a group of people in Connecticut in the 1970s who interact with one another. There's everyone from teens to middle aged couples in floundering marriages. It all comes together in an ice storm just after Thanksgiving. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 12/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis In the 1970s, an outwardly wholesome family begins cracking at the seams over the course of a tumultuous Thanksgiving break. Frustrated with his job, the father, Ben (Kevin Kline), seeks fulfillment by cheating on his wife, Elena (Joan Allen), with neighborhood seductress Janey (Sigourney Weaver). Their teenage daughter, Wendy (Christina Ricci), dabbles in sexual affairs too -- with Janey's son Mikey (Elijah Wood). The family's strained relations continue to tauten until an ice storm strikes.
Director
Ang Lee
Producer
Ted Hope, Ang Lee, James Schamus
Screenwriter
Rick Moody, James Schamus
Distributor
Fox, 20th Century Fox
Production Co
Fox Searchlight, Good Machine
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 27, 1997, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$7.9M
Runtime
1h 53m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital, Surround
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1), 35mm
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