Force Majeure
A Swedish family ski holiday becomes a mercilessly funny examination of cowardice, masculinity, and marital trust after an avalanche exposes a father's instinct for self-preservation.
Overview
A family's idyllic vacation turns into a test of courage and commitment when disaster strikes.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- sardonic
- uncomfortable
- witty
- thoughtful movie night
- winter viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as an expertly controlled, visually striking, and gleefully uncomfortable relationship drama with sharp dark humor.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Tomas's response to the avalanche destabilizes his identity as protector and patriarch within the family.
The film repeatedly stretches awkward encounters and unresolved marital tension into darkly comic set pieces.
The spectacular snowy slopes and resort architecture frame the family's increasingly claustrophobic psychological conflict.
The avalanche incident reverberates through later conversations, performances, and attempts to restore family equilibrium.
Films like Force Majeure, and why
The Square
shares an uncomfortable dark-comic examination of marriage, masculinity, and social performance under pressure
The Celebration
shares psychologically incisive family dysfunction, escalating embarrassment, and austere European drama
Scenes from a Marriage
shares a marriage crisis shaped by moral compromise, uncomfortable humor, and emotionally detached observation
The Hunt
shares a tightly controlled social satire in which an apparent emergency exposes hidden cowardice and group behavior
Movie Details
- Director
- Ruben Östlund
- Release Date
- 2014-08-15
- Runtime
- 119 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (1271)
Cast
- Johannes Bah Kuhnke
- Lisa Loven Kongsli
- Clara Wettergren
- Vincent Wettergren
- Kristofer Hivju
- Fanni Metelius
- Karin Myrenberg
- Brady Corbet
- Johannes Moustos
- Jorge Lattof
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Force Majeure about?
- A Swedish family ski holiday becomes a mercilessly funny examination of cowardice, masculinity, and marital trust after an avalanche exposes a father's instinct for self-preservation.
- What is Force Majeure like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Force Majeure as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Force Majeure violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Force Majeure as mild.
- What did critics think of Force Majeure?
- Critics broadly praised the film as an expertly controlled, visually striking, and gleefully uncomfortable relationship drama with sharp dark humor.
- Which films are like Force Majeure?
- Films with a similar feel include The Square, The Celebration, Scenes from a Marriage, and The Hunt.
- How long is Force Majeure?
- Force Majeure runs 119 minutes.
- Where can I watch Force Majeure?
- In United States, Force Majeure streams on Philo, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel.
