Chasing Ice
A determined photographer turns years of glacier loss into an unforgettable visual case for confronting climate change.
Overview
A photographer risks everything to reveal the truth about our planet's glaciers and climate change.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- urgent
- awe-inspiring
- haunting
- environmental awareness viewing
- family discussion
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's urgency, awe-inspiring scenery, and James Balog's charismatic environmental investigation.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Extreme Ice Survey cameras create multi-year records whose accelerated images show glaciers receding and collapsing in concentrated visual sequences.
James Balog and his team travel across Arctic and other glacial regions to install and maintain cameras that document measurable environmental change.
Balog moves from skepticism to conviction while risking his career, health, and logistical resources to complete the Extreme Ice Survey.
Hauntingly beautiful images of ancient mountains of ice are paired with their rapid disappearance and the growing consequences of climate change.
Films like Chasing Ice, and why
An Inconvenient Truth
environmental documentary filmmaking that combines urgent climate-change advocacy with striking natural imagery
The Last Mountain
immersive observational documentary about scientific fieldwork, ecological evidence, and the beauty of threatened environments
The Cove
awe-inspiring nature cinematography paired with ecological urgency and a conservationist perspective
Before the Flood
science-focused environmental documentary driven by charismatic investigators and visually compelling evidence
Movie Details
- Director
- Jeff Orlowski
- Release Date
- 2012-10-01
- Runtime
- 74 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (173)
Cast
- James Balog
- Svavar Jonatansson
- Adam LeWinter
- Louie Psihoyos
- Kitty Boone
- Sylvia Earle
- Dennis Dimick
- Jason Box
- Tad Pfeffer
- Suzanne Balog
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Chasing Ice about?
- A determined photographer turns years of glacier loss into an unforgettable visual case for confronting climate change.
- What is Chasing Ice like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Chasing Ice as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Chasing Ice violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Chasing Ice.
- What did critics think of Chasing Ice?
- Critics broadly praised the film's urgency, awe-inspiring scenery, and James Balog's charismatic environmental investigation.
- Which films are like Chasing Ice?
- Films with a similar feel include An Inconvenient Truth, The Last Mountain, The Cove, and Before the Flood.
- How long is Chasing Ice?
- Chasing Ice runs 74 minutes.
- Where can I watch Chasing Ice?
- In United States, Chasing Ice is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube.
