The Grey

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The Grey

R

2012

1h 57m

Adventure

Drama

Action

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Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

208 Reviews

61%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Following a grueling five-week shift at an Alaskan oil refinery, workers led by sharpshooter John Ottway (Liam Neeson) are flying home for a much-needed vacation. A brutal storm causes their plane to crash in the frozen wilderness, and only eight men (Frank Grillo, Dermot Mulroney), including Ottway, survive. As they trek southward toward civilization and safety, Ottway and his companions must battle mortal injuries, the icy elements, and a pack of hungry wolves.

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Critics Consensus

The Grey is an exciting tale of survival, populated with fleshed-out characters and a surprising philosophical agenda.

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Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

Joe Carnahan has crafted a bone-chilling and relentless journey into the void.

Feb 6, 2024

Full Review

Wael Khairy

RogerEbert.com

"The Grey" explores man's most frightening questions...if there's an afterlife or if "dead is dead"...our fear of heights, flights, drowning or dying alone.

Nov 6, 2023

Full Review

Laura Kern

Film Comment Magazine

In the case of The Grey, less would have decidedly been more.

Jun 20, 2013

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Liam Neeson, in his 50s, convincingly, and even poetically, takes himself to another place when playing these survival and revenge roles at his age.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 14, 2024

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

An unforgivingly brutal, brilliantly acted, beautifully shot motion picture.

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 23, 2023

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James Croot

The Post NZ

All this talk could have been dull, but Carnahan keeps it interesting via extensive use of intimate, close-up, almost claustrophobic shots.

Rated: 3.5/5

Mar 29, 2021

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Benjamin H

While the filming of some of its action could have been improved and there are some pieces of dialogue (during the 1st act) that was unneeded, The Grey is a haunting, athmospheric and reflective survival thriller that successfully manages to create a palpable sense of dread and isolation throughout with a powerful performance from Liam Neeson at the forefront.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/09/25

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Pam M

WHY was this movie made? Yes, based on a story, but it reads like a hate crime against wolves. What a sad story for man and beast.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

09/12/25

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mark g

Far from happy and uplifting (in my opinion), this dark and and brooding film seems penned from Sartre on a bad day. Neeson is a perfect choice. The film is open to interpretation as many viewed something completely different from me in meaning. Escapist and raw.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/02/25

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M B

No character development and almost no variety in the challenges faced led to an irritatingly sub-par movie. Yes, the scenery is beautiful. But you don’t care about the characters, and the decisions they make are nonsensical. Rarely have I been more mystified by positive reviews. Complete waste of time.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/18/25

Full Review

Talaraine n

Watch a man tasked with protecting people from wolves make every possible wrong choice and then make him the martyr. At least you get to watch him suffer the consequences. Not many movies will show that much.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/16/25

Full Review

jacob c

An intense, harrowing, surprisingly profound survival film.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/29/25

Full Review

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Joe Carnahan

Director

Liam Neeson

Ottway

Frank Grillo

Diaz

Dermot Mulroney

Talget

Dallas Roberts

Henrick

Joe Anderson

Flannery

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Synopsis

Following a grueling five-week shift at an Alaskan oil refinery, workers led by sharpshooter John Ottway (Liam Neeson) are flying home for a much-needed vacation. A brutal storm causes their plane to crash in the frozen wilderness, and only eight men (Frank Grillo, Dermot Mulroney), including Ottway, survive. As they trek southward toward civilization and safety, Ottway and his companions must battle mortal injuries, the icy elements, and a pack of hungry wolves.

Director: Joe Carnahan
Producer: Jules Daly, Joe Carnahan, Ridley Scott, Mickey Liddell
Screenwriter: Joe Carnahan, Ian Mackenzie Jeffers
Distributor: Entertainment Film Distributors Ltd.
Production Co: Scott Free Productions, LD Entertainment, Chambara Pictures
Rating: R (Pervasive Language|Bloody Images|Violence/Disturbing Images)
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 27, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 4, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $51.5M
Runtime: 1h 57m

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