Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- sweeping
- melancholic
- serious
- historical film night
- adventure movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film handsomely made but weakened by its sprawling detail, shallow characterization, and emotionally cold presentation.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Bess and Leon discuss the man behind Amundsen's fame while the expedition history exposes his harshness as a brother and leader.
The 1926 conversation between Bess and Leon frames flashbacks covering Amundsen's childhood and polar expeditions.
The film depicts South Pole travel, the Maud's Arctic voyage, frozen terrain, and extreme cold in expansive period imagery.
Amundsen's race against Robert Falcon Scott turns polar discovery into a contest between Norway and the British Empire.
Films like Amundsen, and why
The Lost City of Z
historical biographical drama centered on an ambitious explorer and large-scale expeditions
The Last Place on Earth
period adventure drama about polar exploration, survival, and rivalry under extreme conditions
Kon-Tiki
biographical exploration drama combining personal obsession, expedition logistics, and harsh wilderness
Movie Details
- Director
- Espen Sandberg
- Release Date
- 2019-02-15
- Runtime
- 125 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (196)
Cast
- Pål Sverre Hagen
- Katherine Waterston
- Christian Rubeck
- Trond Espen Seim
- Mads Sjøgård Pettersen
- Ole Christoffer Ertvaag
- Ida Ursin-Holm
- Fridtjov Såheim
- Jonas Strand Gravli
- Ruby Dagnall
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- 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 Amundsen about?
- A sweeping Norwegian biographical drama examines Roald Amundsen's polar triumphs alongside the ruthless ambition and damaged relationships beneath his heroic image.
- What is Amundsen like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Amundsen as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Amundsen violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Amundsen as mild.
- What did critics think of Amundsen?
- Critics broadly found the film handsomely made but weakened by its sprawling detail, shallow characterization, and emotionally cold presentation.
- Which films are like Amundsen?
- Films with a similar feel include The Lost City of Z, The Last Place on Earth, and Kon-Tiki.
- How long is Amundsen?
- Amundsen runs 125 minutes.
- Where can I watch Amundsen?
- In United States, Amundsen streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
