Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- tense
- claustrophobic
- adventurous
- classic movie night
- submarine thriller marathon
What critics said
Critics found the film an intermittently exciting large-scale submarine adventure with convincing polar effects, but considered its mystery increasingly muddled and overlong.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The USS Tigerfish mission gradually reveals sabotage, spies, and conflicting motives surrounding Ice Station Zebra.
The nuclear submarine and ice station trap the crew in deep water, frozen passages, and an isolated polar environment.
The production foregrounds Cinerama-scale submarine photography, bow spray, intricate machinery, and towering ice formations.
American, British, and Russian personnel confront satellite espionage and the danger of a polar confrontation.
Films like Ice Station Zebra, and why
The Hunt for Red October
shared cold war espionage, submarine suspense, military mission, and arctic survival atmosphere
The Bedford Incident
shared submarine thriller structure, naval command tension, international intrigue, and claustrophobic machinery
The Last Voyage
shared polar expedition peril, large-scale adventure filmmaking, and survival suspense
Where Eagles Dare
shared remote military outpost mystery, cold war paranoia, and ensemble action-thriller dynamics
Movie Details
- Director
- John Sturges
- Release Date
- 1968-04-04
- Runtime
- 149 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (200)
Cast
- Rock Hudson
- Ernest Borgnine
- Patrick McGoohan
- Jim Brown
- Tony Bill
- Alf Kjellin
- Gerald S. O'Loughlin
- Ted Hartley
- Murray Rose
- Michael T. Mikler
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Ice Station Zebra about?
- A nuclear submarine races beneath the Arctic ice to rescue a silent weather station while espionage and sabotage threaten an international confrontation.
- What is Ice Station Zebra like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Ice Station Zebra as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Ice Station Zebra violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Ice Station Zebra as mild.
- What did critics think of Ice Station Zebra?
- Critics found the film an intermittently exciting large-scale submarine adventure with convincing polar effects, but considered its mystery increasingly muddled and overlong.
- Which films are like Ice Station Zebra?
- Films with a similar feel include The Hunt for Red October, The Bedford Incident, The Last Voyage, and Where Eagles Dare.
- How long is Ice Station Zebra?
- Ice Station Zebra runs 149 minutes.
- Where can I watch Ice Station Zebra?
- In United States, Ice Station Zebra is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
