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The Wave

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2:09

The Wave

R

Released Mar 4, 2016

1h 45m

Mystery & Thriller

Adventure

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

109 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

A Norwegian geologist (Kristoffer Joner) and his family (Ane Dahl Torp, Jonas Hoff Oftebro) fight for survival when a massive landslide causes a 250-foot tidal wave.

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Critics Consensus

Well-acted and blessed with a refreshingly humanistic focus, The Wave is a disaster film that makes uncommonly smart use of disaster film clichés.

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

It's a real world ecological thriller that doesn't forget about the human story running through the heart of the narrative, and as such the film ends up being an avalanche of thrills and chills I cannot wait to watch again.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 15, 2016

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

The intimate focus, juxtaposed with the unsettling beauty of the backdrop and the eerie stillness of the aftermath, brings a novel twist to the well-worn disaster movie format.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 14, 2016

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Kate Muir

Times (UK)

The Wave is a small-town Norwegian disaster movie writ satisfyingly large.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 12, 2016

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

What Roar Uthaug and company have given us is a film that manages to be unashamedly a disaster movie while at the same time distinguishing itself as something unique.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 21, 2022

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Hilary A White

Sunday Independent (Ireland)

Other than its Nordic setting, The Wave has nothing new to offer the genre, lifting its entire structure from any number of volcano or earthquake films we've seen dozens of times already.

Rated: 2/5

Apr 26, 2020

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David Harris

Spectrum Culture

The Wave ultimately stumbles once its titular flood hits, exposing a story predicated on cliché and budgetary restraints.

Rated: 2.25/5

Dec 3, 2019

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Brad S. R

A rare disaster flick that actually sticks its landing.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/27/25

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alan g

Knock off foreign movie of so many American disaster movies. What is this hokeywood infatuation with foreign films? Aren't there enough bad American movies?

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/05/25

Full Review

Audience Member

The movie started off a bit questionable but turned out to be a great watch! Knowing more about the situation than most, I found it hard to understand why the characters hesitated but honestly most people often doubt or deny things like this in real life when bad things happen. We all react differently to certain situations. The scenery was beautiful, and the CGI made the disaster look incredible. Some character deaths were sad, but they felt realistic since not everyone survives. I liked that some characters were smart enough to follow the guy who ran for safety though. I feel like a lot of movies lose a lot of fans when characters just stand and do nothing.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/12/25

Full Review

Dave C

A disaster movie with science and history forming a part of its foundation. This is generally well-written, and is focused on a family going through a transition that is impacting on each of them differently, causing some tension and doubt. With the understanding that something bed is likely to unfold sometime soon, the expectation distills some of the suspense. Unfortunately, the directing and acting don't deliver much in the way of tension or a sense of danger. The setting is well chosen, and the effects aren't awful

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/23/24

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Georgan G

Well done disaster flick with beautiful scenery and horrifying special effects. Predictable, but worth watching.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/24

Full Review

Randi C

This movie feels like it could be real. Unlike most disaster movies, this one focuses more on the actual human side of things. All kinds of emotions going into it and a great cast. The wave is beautiful and eerie and it will actually get your pulse racing because it just feels real. I just wish once the wave started to form that they had slowed it down a bit more to keep the tension going.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/18/24

Full Review

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Roar Uthaug

Director

Kristoffer Joner

Kristian Eikjord

Ane Dahl Torp

Idun Karlsen

Jonas Hoff Oftebro

Sondre

Edith Haagenrud-Sande

Julia

Fridtjov Såheim

Arvid Øvrebø

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The Wave: Trailer 1

2:09

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Synopsis

A Norwegian geologist (Kristoffer Joner) and his family (Ane Dahl Torp, Jonas Hoff Oftebro) fight for survival when a massive landslide causes a 250-foot tidal wave.

Director: Roar Uthaug
Producer: Martin Sundland, Are Heidenstrom
Screenwriter: John Kåre Raake, Harald Rosenløw-Eeg
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: Film i Väst, Fantefilm
Rating: R (Some Language|Disaster Images)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Adventure, Action
Original Language: Norwegian
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 4, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 4, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $176.6K
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Dolby Atmos
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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