<Tr> <Th> Box office </Th> <Td> $86.8 million </Td> </Tr> <P> Snowpiercer (Hangul: 설국 열차; Hanja: 雪 國 列車; RR: Seolgugnyeolcha) is a 2013 English - language South Korean - Czech science fiction action film based on the French graphic novel Le Transperceneige by Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrand and Jean - Marc Rochette . The film is directed by Bong Joon - ho, and written by Bong and Kelly Masterson . The film marks Bong's English - language debut; approximately 80% of the film was shot in English . </P> <P> The film stars Chris Evans, Song Kang - ho, Tilda Swinton, Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer, Go Ah - sung, John Hurt, and Ed Harris . The movie takes place aboard the globe - spanning Snowpiercer train which holds the last remnants of humanity after an attempt at climate engineering in order to stop global warming has unintentionally created a new Snowball Earth . Evans stars as Curtis Everett, a member of the lower - class tail section passengers as they lead a revolution against the elite of the front of the train . Filming was done on train car sets mounted on gimbals at Barrandov Studios in Prague to simulate the motion of the train . </P> <P> Snowpiercer received critical acclaim, and appeared on many film critics' top ten film lists of 2014 following its international release . Praise was primarily directed towards its vision, direction, and performances, particularly Evans's and Swinton's . Initially planned for a limited - screen showing in the United States, the critical response to the film prompted The Weinstein Company to expand the showing to more theaters and through digital streaming services . Produced at a budget of $40 million, it remains as the most expensive Korean production ever . </P>

Movie about a train going around the world