The Snowman

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2:30

The Snowman

R

2017

2h 25m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

7%

Tomatometer

198 Reviews

19%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

For Detective Harry Hole, the death of a young woman during the first snowfall of winter feels like anything but a routine homicide. His investigation leads him to "The Snowman Killer," an elusive sociopath who continuously taunts Hole with cat-and-mouse games. As the vicious murders continue, Harry teams up with a brilliant recruit to try and lure the madman out of the shadows before he can strike again.

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Critics Consensus

A mystery that feels as mashed together and perishable as its title, The Snowman squanders its bestselling source material as well as a top-notch ensemble cast.

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Mark Kermode

Kermode & Mayo's Film Review

Aug 28, 2018

There are many sequences that left me going, "Wait, what?"

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Jonathan Romney

Film Comment Magazine

Mar 8, 2018

This film may well be the last gasp of Scandi-noir for the international market...this phase of Nordic has gone from original to dutiful emulation to dreary self-parody.

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Tim Hayes

Sight & Sound

Oct 27, 2017

What to make of a film that introduces Chlo Sevigny happily beheading chickens with an axe, has her beheaded herself by the killer, then immediately produces a twin sister to deliver a single item of exposition before never being seen again?

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Frank J. Avella

The Contending

Jul 5, 2026

C+

Alfredson does seem to prefer mood and atmosphere over clarity and coherence, but we can also blame the trio of screenwriters, Peter Straughan, Hossein Amini and Søren Sveistrup.

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Guillermo Troncoso

Screen Realm

Mar 13, 2026

1.5/5

Don't bother; you'll have zoned out long before the laughably lame final showdown comes around, which is before the tacked-on sequel opener, mind you. Yes, The Snowman is quite a disappointment.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Mar 17, 2022

1/4

None of it proves engaging, regardless of the fine-looking production and solid cast.

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kenneth z

Apr 19, 2023

Trying to watch it again after I fell asleep watching it in the theater. I can’t give an honest review because I’ve fallen asleep twice trying to watch it at home. Who needs sleeping pills and I’m never going to Oslo.

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J H

@UpstateNYThriller Jul 22, 2026

7-5/10 Series Thriller that takes place in Norway. Thriller that takes place in Norway, guy with tragic backstory, decapitates women, and turns them into snowmen. Handsome lead, Val Kilmer and farmers insurance guy in it Thriller, murder suspense

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Blake- N

@PBSAniDom Apr 27, 2026

The Snowman (2017) is a disappointing and confusing attempt at adapting material that had far more charm and simplicity in earlier versions, especially compared to the 1982 The Snowman. Instead of building atmosphere or meaningful tension, it feels disjointed and rushed, with a story that struggles to hold together from start to finish. What made the earlier version memorable was its emotional weight and effective use of mood, while this adaptation loses that entirely in favor of a cold, uneven crime thriller that never fully lands. Even with a strong cast, the material doesn’t give them much to work with. The pacing feels off, key moments lack impact, and the overall execution comes across as undercooked and forgettable. Overall, The Snowman is a major misfire and a frustrating watch, especially when compared to what came before. A clear 0/10.

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M D P

@RT11302800 Mar 14, 2026

No need to bore you with the why's and wherefore's just be assured the ratings don't lie. It is absolutely pants, rubbish, balderdash, nonsense and a waste of everyone involved and everyone who views it's time.

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Brian B

@RT53690520 Jan 1, 2026

It drags most of the movie. Starts to get good about the last twenty minutes.

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Bev H

@BevHendry17 Dec 30, 2025

Not surprised by the blizzard of bad reviews on here. This was shockingly bad . Literally from the opening sequence the movie failed to follow the plot of the book. The only similarity was the names of the main characters. There was no explanation of why the serial killer built a snowman at the scene of each murder. What a waste of a tremendous cast who at the end must have wondered why they signed on to this total shitshow.

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Tomas Alfredson

Director

Michael Fassbender

Harry Hole

Rebecca Ferguson

Katrine Bratt

Charlotte Gainsbourg

Rakel

Jonas Karlsson

Mathias

J.K. Simmons

Arve Stop

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Synopsis

For Detective Harry Hole, the death of a young woman during the first snowfall of winter feels like anything but a routine homicide. His investigation leads him to "The Snowman Killer," an elusive sociopath who continuously taunts Hole with cat-and-mouse games. As the vicious murders continue, Harry teams up with a brilliant recruit to try and lure the madman out of the shadows before he can strike again.

Director: Tomas Alfredson
Producer: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Peter Gustafsson, Robyn Slovo
Screenwriter: Peter Straughan, Hossein Amini, Søren Sveistrup
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Working Title Films, Another Park Film, Perfect World Pictures
Rating: R (Grisly Images|Brief Nudity|Sexuality|Some Language|Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 20, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 2, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.7M
Runtime: 2h 25m
Sound Mix: Dolby Atmos
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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