The Ice Harvest | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

47% Tomatometer 135 Reviews 43% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings

As the attorney for a mobster (Randy Quaid), Charlie Arglist (John Cusack) has access to some not-so-clean money, which he readily embezzles with the help of an associate, Vic (Billy Bob Thornton). On Christmas Eve, the two partners decide to hightail it with the money, but an ice storm sweeping through the area delays their departure. Stuck in town, Charlie visits strip club owner Renata (Connie Nielsen) and lets on about the money. But the longer he stays, the more trouble builds.

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The Ice Harvest

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Critics Consensus

The Ice Harvest offers a couple of laughs, but considering the people involved, it should be a lot funnier.

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Critics Reviews

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The Ice Harvest | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Empire Magazine Rated: 2/5 Apr 1, 2006 Full Review The Ice Harvest | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Stanley Kauffmann The New Republic Robert Benton and Harold Ramis, put on dunce caps and go stand in the corner. Jan 3, 2006 Full Review The Ice Harvest | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com But these moments are few and far between, the majority of the picture nothing more than a nice idea tied to bits and pieces I've seen far too many times before in far better movies. Rated: 2/4 Dec 21, 2005 Full Review The Ice Harvest | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal Harold Ramis has gone from high-concept to no-concept. He confuses bared breasts, broken fingers and blown-out brains for edgy existential comedy in a conventional film-noir story that snappy quips from Oliver Platt and Billy Bob Thornton can’t save. Rated: 1.5/4 Nov 9, 2023 Full Review The Ice Harvest | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Chris McCoy Memphis Flyer Ramis' existential take on the material is strangely infectious. Life sucks, and all is corruption, he seems to say. We might as well have a laugh about it. Jan 8, 2020 Full Review The Ice Harvest | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Debbie Lynn Elias Behind The Lens [Harold] Ramis caters to the story and the actors with a style of old-fashioned directing that makes you feel comfortable watching the movie, even as the sarcasm devilishly spins and spirals into places one wouldn't normally dare to go. Nov 9, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Blu B All the problems this has are in the first half. Mainly it is almost completely incoherent at times because it's so jumpy and the weird tone. This is a combination of a dark comedy and a Noir and can never figure out how to make the two work together cohesively. I will say the humor isn't terrible but almost all of it falls completely flat. The acting isn't bad though and is defintely the best part. Cusack is solid and the best thing in this and acouple others aren't bad or are just forgettable. The cinematography is ok. Shots are framed very well but sometimes it's lifeless and other times especially the first half it doesn't make any sense. Everything else is subpar. It jumps around terribly but it does suprisingly get better in the second half as it gets more focused. It's just a shame despite it being so short that it's a slog to get there. If only the first half was as focused this would have much more potential. Character motivations aren't clear, and again the editing is just terrible at times. Skip This. Rated 2.5/5 Stars • Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 08/24/24 Full Review Geke g Perfection and groundbreaking Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/11/24 Full Review Munkhchimeg T Very good movie. Has many plots and very interesting. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/11/24 Full Review Bahad j It's a lot of work from the recording and music team. The film can be seen. Because it has a great sound. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/11/24 Full Review A.L.Jude P It is a story with icy calm humor, somewhat tragic end. But the movies is sadly indurated. It deserves 8 Stars. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/07/23 Full Review Jithin K It's enjoyable in parts, and the cast is great to watch, but it feels like an episode from a show that has better to offer. It feels like there are a lot of things missing here. Connie Nielsen's character could have been even more intriguing but they must have thought the mystery better. There are a lot of places that could have been helped with a bit more brevity than it had. It feels like the film could have worked if it was a more laugh-out-loud comedy with crime elements than the simpler, almost dead-pan kind they were going for. Rated 2.5/5 Stars • Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 07/24/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Harold Ramis Director John Cusack Charlie Arglist Billy Bob Thornton Vic Connie Nielsen Renata Oliver Platt Pete Randy Quaid Bill Guerrard
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Synopsis As the attorney for a mobster (Randy Quaid), Charlie Arglist (John Cusack) has access to some not-so-clean money, which he readily embezzles with the help of an associate, Vic (Billy Bob Thornton). On Christmas Eve, the two partners decide to hightail it with the money, but an ice storm sweeping through the area delays their departure. Stuck in town, Charlie visits strip club owner Renata (Connie Nielsen) and lets on about the money. But the longer he stays, the more trouble builds.

Director
Harold Ramis

Producer
Albert Berger, Ron Yerxa

Screenwriter
Scott Phillips, Robert Benton, Richard Russo

Distributor
Focus Features

Production Co
Focus Features, Bona Fide Productions

Rating
R (Nudity|Language|Sexuality|Violence)

Genre
Comedy, Drama

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 23, 2005, Wide

Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 19, 2016

Box Office (Gross USA)
$8.8M

Runtime
1h 28m

Sound Mix
Dolby SR, DTS

Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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