Transsiberian (2008)
80%RT Audience Score: 65%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 11 nominations
Traditional in form yet effective in execution, this taut thriller updates the “danger on a train” scenario with atmospheric sense
Transsiberian takes you on a wild ride through the Russian countryside, with stunning cinematography and a cast of talented actors that keep you on the edge of your seat. While the ending may be a bit too neat for some, the journey to get there is well worth it. It’s the perfect movie for anyone who loves a good mystery and doesn’t mind a little bit of action-flick silliness thrown in for good measure. So grab some popcorn, settle in, and get ready for a first-class white-knuckle trip.
Production Company(ies)
ARTE Ariel Films, Arsam International,
Distributor
First Look
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Vilnius, Vilnius County, Lithuania
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some violence, including torture and language
Year of Release
2008
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:DTS
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 51m
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Language(s):English, Russian, Spanish, Mandarin, French
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 18, 2008 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 4, 2008
Genre(s)
Drama/Crime
Keyword(s)
starring Woody Harrelson, Emily Mortimer, Ben Kingsley, Kate Mara, Eduardo Noriega, Thomas Kretschmann, Julio Fernández, directed by Brad Anderson, written by Will Conroy, drama, crime, mystery, thriller, R-rated, box office gross $2.2M, reviewed by Mark Rahner, Gervase de Wilde, Rob Mackie, Seongyong Cho, Ed Gonzalez, Evan Williams, Gary Wolcott, Christopher Monfette, Joey S, Melvin W, Sam E, traditional form, effective execution, taut thriller, danger on a train, atmospheric sense, married Christian missionaries, train from Beijing to Moscow, befriended by Carlos and Abby, town is unsafe, attempts to “befriend” Jessie, dynamic of the trip, suspenseful, tension-filled, fleshed-out characters, depth and background, twists and turns, conventional, half-assed and abrupt ending
Worldwide gross: $5,926,410
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $8,163,403
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,033
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 890,229
US/Canada gross: $2,206,405
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,039,239
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,935
US/Canada opening weekend: $34,615
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $47,681
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,226
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $15,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $20,661,927
Production budget ranking: 1,349
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $11,126,448
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$23,624,971
ROI to date (est.): -74%
ROI ranking: 1,839
Emily Mortimer – Jesse
Ben Kingsley – Grinko
Kate Mara – Abby
Eduardo Noriega – Carlos
Thomas Kretschmann – Kolzak
Director – Brad Anderson
Producer – Julio Fernández
Writer – Will Conroy
Director(s)
Brad Anderson
Writer(s)
Will Conroy
Producer(s)
Julio Fernández
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 11 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (101) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (92) | Rotten (9)
A first-class white-knuckle trip.
May 5, 2020
Mark Rahner
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
The eventual resolution is too neat, but striking cinematography and brilliant performances sustain Transsiberian and leave you wondering why it never made it to UK cinemas.
May 5, 2020
Gervase de Wilde
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Strangely denied a cinema release here in the UK, Transsiberian is an enjoyably devious thriller.
May 1, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Rob Mackie
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Anderson has made an engrossing thriller well supported by its impressive atmosphere and his deft handling of suspense.
May 1, 2020
Seongyong Cho
RogerEbert.com
TOP CRITIC
Though not one for literal smoke and mirrors, master of horror Brad Anderson, with his panache for arousing fear from harried reality and rotted atmosphere, is still a shaman.
May 1, 2020
Ed Gonzalez
Village Voice
TOP CRITIC
A terrific combination of action, mystery and adventure
June 27, 2014 | Rating: 3.5/5
Evan Williams
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
I find the execution of ‘Transsiberian’ somewhat conventional, despite the fact that the premise has a promising start. [Full review in Spanish]
August 8, 2020 | Rating: 6/10
Yasser Medina
Cinemaficionados
What could have been a… 1970s Europudding byproducts turns into an entertaining thriller.
May 5, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Sergi Sánchez
Fotogramas
Unfortunately, it all builds to a last reel that is truly off the rails – a strenuous bit of action-flick silliness seriously at odds with the more low-key, psychological thriller that precedes it.
May 5, 2020
Al Hoff
Pittsburgh City Paper
My vote is that this is a film that is certainly worth a look but most probably on your DVD player unless you are the type of person who can’t figure out basic mysteries.
May 5, 2020
Moriarty
Ain’t It Cool Movie Reviews
Dark and absorbing.
May 5, 2020 | Rating: 4.5/5
Gary Wolcott
Tri-City Herald
What, if any, place this film will hold in the annals of cinema history is hard to say at this point, but Transsiberian is certainly a capable and engaging thriller.
May 5, 2020 | Rating: 6/10
Christopher Monfette
IGN Movies…
Plot
Americans abroad. Roy and Jessie finished a volunteer stint in China. He loves trains, so they go home via the Trans-Siberia Express. There are strains in the relationship, including her past. They meet Carlos, a Spaniard, traveling with Abby, a young American. Carlos keeps close to Jessie, and when Roy is left behind and waits a day for the next train so he can catch up, Jessie and Carlos take a trip into the dead of winter to photograph a ruined church. Carlos may be running drugs, so, later, when Roy catches up and introduces Jessie to his new pal, an English speaking Russian narcotics detective, he’s the last person Jessie wants to see. Will the Siberian desolation be their undoing?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film on Fresh Kernels.
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