Entertainment
The Sci-Fi Epic Every Marvel Fan Must Watch Before Avengers: Doomsday
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Right now, Marvel fans are hyped for Avengers: Doomsday, eager to see their favorite characters fight the good fight against evil once more. Robert Downey Jr. is inexplicably returning to play Doctor Doom, but the real draw of this film is arguably Chris Evans. He retired from being Captain America back in Avengers: Endgame, but he is suiting up again for Doomsday, and MCU fans around the world are itching to see their favorite star-spangled superhero kicking butt and taking names.
But if you want to see Chris Evans leading a fight against the greatest evil humanity has ever faced, you don’t have to wait for Avengers: Doomsday to hit theaters. Snowpiercer (2013) is a movie where the Captain America actor leads what’s left of humanity in a fight for equality against a tyrant determined to rule the world with an iron fist. The revolution will be televised, and all you have to do is stream this film (from Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-ho) for free on Tubi!
He Can Do This All Day
The premise of Snowpiercer is that Earth has been forced into a new ice age by science gone wrong, forcing what is left of humanity to live in a giant train that never stops moving. Unfortunately, the train segregates everybody by class, allowing the rich elite to live a life of luxury at the front of the train while the poor live in abusive squalor in the back of the train. Eventually, one man decides to kickstart a kind of people’s revolution, leading a growing army of disgruntled supporters towards the front, where they are intent on forcing the man in charge of this railway dystopia to finally face justice.
Snowpiercer is a film where some of Hollywood’s greatest actors are taking the same train: Tilda Swinton (best known for We Need To Talk About Kevin) plays an evil minister intent on cutting this rebellion off at its knees. Meanwhile, Ed Harris (best known for The Truman Show) plays the Big Bad of the movie, a transportation magnate who holds the fate of all humanity in his conniving little hands. Finally, John Hurt (best known for Alien) plays mentor to the main character, encouraging a rebellion that could completely change what’s left of the world.
Captain America Like You’ve Never Seen Him Before
The main character is played by Chris Evans (best known for The Avengers), who gives his best non-MCU performance in this dystopian thriller. He never feels like a generic action hero, and you can feel the tortured humanity inside his character rage with every swing of the axe. The character isn’t as squeaky clean as his famous Marvel hero, but in his relentless fight for justice and equality, Evans’ Snowpiercer character channels the best of what made Captain America great.
Snowpiercer was a solid hit at the box office, earning $86.8 million against a budget of $40 million. Despite this success, the film never got a proper sequel, and director Bong Joon-ho would later go on to helm the Academy Award-winning horror masterpiece Parasite. However, he still found time to executive produce the Snowpiercer television series, which would go on to be nominated for a Primetime Creative Arts Emmy.
A Thriller That Never Phones It In
When Snowpiercer premiered, it hit professional reviewers with all the force of a grain hurtling through the post-apocalypse. On Rotten Tomatoes, it had a rating of 94 percent, with critics lauding the film for its ambitious scope and action-packed execution. They particularly praised the film as an alternative to the effects-driven blockbusters that made Chris Evans a household name, so it’s particularly pleasing to see him get back to basics in a movie that dares to redefine the entire sci-fi/action genre.
Part of what makes Snowpiercer so magical is that it is directed by Bong Joon-ho, who has mastered the art of creating movies with a message that never feels overly preachy. His Best Picture winner Parasite, for example, is a movie you can enjoy for its trenchant social commentary or as a taut thriller whose tension can be cut with a knife. Snowpiercer works the same way: the film clearly has plenty to say about class consciousness and economic oppression, but it’s entirely possible to just enjoy this as a fast-paced action movie where Captain America finally starts fighting dirty.
Given the combination of a talented director and veteran actors, it won’t surprise you that Snowpiercer is full of unforgettable performances. Even better, these famous faces fully disappear into their roles, their celebrity status never disrupting the immersive nature of this subversive film. This is a movie where class warfare comes to life in the most brutal possible way, and these actors help pack an insane amount of worldbuilding into a runtime of just over two hours.
The Best Worldbuilding Since Mad Max: Fury Road
Speaking of worldbuilding, this movie does such a great job of fleshing out this fictional universe that it helped inspire four seasons of a fan-favorite television show. This allows franchise newbies the best of both worlds: if you love the movie enough, you can dive into the TV show and maybe even the graphic novel (Le Transperceneige) the entire franchise is based on. Alternatively, you can enjoy the film as a singular experience, one in which Chris Evans and other big names give some of the most impressive performances of their careers.
Whenever you’re ready to be impressed, you can stream Snowpiercer for free on Tubi. It’s a crowd-pleasing film with both practical effects and beautiful visuals, and it has more commentary on economics and politics than you’ll get out of an entire semester of Political Science. Best of all, it’s perfect for Marvel fans who want to whet their appetite for Avengers: Doomsday with the most intense movie that Chris Evans has ever made!
