How to Blow Up a Pipeline (2023)
77%RT Audience Score: 60%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Daniel Goldhaber’s “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” is a thrilling and thought-provoking film that manages to balance its political message with a gripping heist plot and a talented ensemble cast. The film’s Soderbergh-ian direction and deep well of movie history make it one of the most original American thrillers in years, while its urgent sense of activism and lack of artifice give it an appealing edge. The characters, each representing a distinct background, unite against a shared enemy: those willing to see the planet burn for profit. While the film may not offer a blueprint for explosive solutions, it certainly sparks ideas and guarantees 100 minutes of quality stress and adrenaline. Overall, “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” is a thrilling action heist drama worth seeking out, even if its didactic dialogue occasionally weighs down its churning pace.
How to Blow Up a Pipeline is the perfect movie for those who want to see a group of activists take matters into their own hands. With a stellar ensemble cast and heart-pumping action, this film will have you on the edge of your seat. While it may not offer a blueprint for explosive solutions, it will definitely spark some ideas. Plus, the fact that it was made on a shoestring budget just proves that you don’t need a big Hollywood studio to make a thrilling movie. So grab some popcorn and get ready for a wild ride!
Production Company(ies)
Topical
Distributor
NEON
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
R
Year of Release
2023
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 39m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 7, 2023 Limited
Genre(s)
Mystery & thriller/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Ariela Barer, Kristine Froseth, Lukas Gage, Forrest Goodluck, Sasha Lane, Jayme Lawson, directed by Daniel Goldhaber, written by Ariela Barer, Jordan Sjol, Daniel Goldhaber, Mystery & thriller, Drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Tomris Laffly, Matt Zoller Seitz, Roxana Hadadi, Lovia Gyarkye, Carlos Aguilar, David Fear, Rosa Parra, Andrew Dignan, Marianna Neal, Dustin Chase, Payton McCarty-Simas, produced by Isa Mazzei, Daniel Goldhaber, Ariela Barer, Adam Wyatt Tate, David Grove Churchill Viste, MPAA rating R, environmental activism, oil pipeline, high-stakes heist, climate crisis, Andreas Malm, Xochitl, Rowan
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $5,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $5,000,000
Production budget ranking: 1,821
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $2,692,500
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Kristine Froseth – Rowan
Lukas Gage –
Forrest Goodluck –
Sasha Lane –
Jayme Lawson –
Director: Daniel Goldhaber
Producer: Isa Mazzei, Daniel Goldhaber, Ariela Barer, Adam Wyatt Tate, David Grove Churchill Viste
Writer: Ariela Barer, Jordan Sjol, Daniel Goldhaber
Director(s)
Daniel Goldhaber
Writer(s)
Ariela Barer, Jordan Sjol, Daniel Goldhaber
Producer(s)
Isa Mazzei, Daniel Goldhaber, Ariela Barer, Adam Wyatt Tate, David Grove Churchill Viste
Film Festivals
Toronto
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (81) | Top Critics (19) | Fresh (77) | Rotten (4)
Daniel Goldhaber’s Soderbergh-ian film ignites an urgent sense of activism through a stellar ensemble cast and sophisticated direction.
April 8, 2023
Tomris Laffly
TheWrap
TOP CRITIC
One of the most original American thrillers in years, and one that draws from a deep well of movie history as it develops its characters and sets up its plot twists.
April 7, 2023 | Rating: 3.5/4
Matt Zoller Seitz
RogerEbert.com
TOP CRITIC
How to Blow Up a Pipeline wants to pick a fight, and it does so with an appealing lack of artifice, its heart on its sleeve and its agenda in its punching fists.
April 7, 2023
Roxana Hadadi
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
How to Blow Up a Pipeline might not offer a blueprint for explosive solutions, but it could spark some ideas.
April 7, 2023
Lovia Gyarkye
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
Each member of this ratpack clan represents a distinct background ensures that what unites them is not allegiance to a singular political or spiritual ideology, but rather the notion of a shared enemy: those willing to see the planet burn for a profit.
April 6, 2023
Carlos Aguilar
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
The way that filmmaker Daniel Goldhaber pulls off what feels like a tightly wound Hollywood potboiler on what we imagine is little more than a studio caterer’s budget is, in itself, a textbook how-to example.
April 6, 2023
David Fear
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
“How to Blow Up a Pipeline” is a thought-provoking look at the extent some activists may resort when they’re pushed against the wall with limited reactionary options. A thrilling action heist drama worth seeking out.
April 9, 2023 | Rating: 4/5
Rosa Parra
In Their Own League
Ostensibly structured like a thriller… how thrilling one finds the film is entirely dependent on their tolerance for a near total absence of dramatic complications.
April 8, 2023
Andrew Dignan
In Review Online
A 100 minutes of quality stress and adrenaline are guaranteed!
April 8, 2023 | Rating: 8/10
Marianna Neal
Impression Blend
Failing as an inspiring call-to-action piece, it succeeds as a grungy ensemble with great moments of tension and suspense.
April 8, 2023 | Rating: B-
Dustin Chase
Galveston Daily News
The film’s pleasures are also at times its limitations: adapting a thriller from a manifesto proves challenging, and the film’s effective tension is often sapped by didactic dialogue, weighing down an otherwise churning pace.
April 8, 2023
Payton McCarty-Simas
Film Inquiry
Overcoming some structural gimmicks, the film focuses more on building suspense than ideological lecturing or passing judgment.
April 8, 2023
Todd Jorgenson
Cinemalogue…
Plot
A crew of young environmental activists execute a daring mission to sabotage an oil pipeline in the taut and timely eco-thriller, How to Blow Up a Pipeline.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Sasha Lane is part of the ensemble cast in How to Blow Up a Pipeline.
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