Frozen RiverSynopsis and Overview

Poster art for "Frozen River."

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Showtimes + Tickets
  • Frozen River
  • Opened August 1, 2008 | Runtime:1 hr. 37 min.
  • R
    some language
  • Information for parents: Common Sense Media says Iffy for 15+. Read More
  • Two days before Christmas in rural upstate New York, Ray Eddy’s husband has left her in an impossible situation—not only is he gone, but he has gambled away all of the family’s meager savings. Ray’s single wage at the Yankee One Dollar Store can’t Read More
  • Cast: Melissa Leo, Misty Upham, Charlie McDermott, Michael O'Keefe, Mark Boone, Jr.
  • Director: Courtney Hunt
  • Genres: Drama, Family Drama, Slice of Life

Frozen River Recent Fan Reviews

  • Must Go!

    FROZEN RIVER ~ Regail in the Beauty of Melissa Leo's Fine Performance!!

    Well, for once the Academy got something decidedly right when nominating Melissa Leo's performance for best actress!! What a stark, unbelievably enthralling story is told in the bleakest of settings! Melissa Leo's performance in this tale of a mother who would do anything to raise the expectations of her two young boys is nothing short of amazing! True story-telling and riveting drama as Leo's character gets involved with illegal smuggling of immigrants across the Canadian border into upstate New York. Very intense and realistic drama with totally non-Hollywood agenda which may mean to plaintive for some viewers but for those who like and demand something more from their cinema, this film is by far one of the best of the year! DON'T MISS IT!! Undiscovered gem of the year!!

  • Go

    Frozen River

    Well-deserved Oscar nomination for Melissa Leo. Too bad most people haven't seen the film.

  • Must Go!

    Frozen River

    One of the best, most nuanced movies I've seen in a long time. Powerful, moving and provocative. Definitely worth seeing.

Frozen River Critic Reviews

Must Go! Avg. Critic Score out of 100 Metascore ® based on all critic ratings.

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 100
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    Sometimes two performances come along that are so perfectly matched that no...

  • 100
    Los Angeles Times | Kenneth Turan

    As the summer heats up, let Frozen River wash over you; let its bracing drama...

  • 91
    Entertainment Weekly | Owen Gleiberman

    A tale of ordinary Americans scraping bottom, yet there's a redemption in that....

  • 90
    Wall Street Journal | Joe Morgenstern

    This is a debut feature, though you'd never know it from the filmmaker's...

Frozen River Movie Ratings + Reviews

Fans say

So-so 862 fan reviews

Critics say

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