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100 Degrees Below Zero (2013) movie poster

Timeline

100 Degrees Below Zero (2013) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2013 · 88 mins · English
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Starring
Tamás Lengyel, Declan Hannigan, Iván Kamarás, Peter Linka, Jeff Fahey, Steve Carlson

Cold as Hell After freak climate and weather events destroy the world around them, a group of rogue scientists attempt to reverse the deadly new ice age.

Action Cast, crew & box office
On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Categories
  6. 6 Every angle
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14 events in order · contains spoilers

100 Degrees Below Zero Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of 100 Degrees Below Zero (2013) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Volcanic eruption blocks sun; evacuation begins

    A massive volcanic eruption blankets Europe in ash, blocking sunlight and driving temperatures down. Freezing conditions and dangerous ice cover wide areas, triggering a mass evacuation led by Colonel Ralph Dillard. The crisis sets the stage for the desperate journeys of the Foster family and others.

    Where
    Europe

  2. Steve and Lacey head to Paris to reach their kids

    Steve Foster and his wife Lacey fly toward Paris to reach their children, Taryn and Ryan, who are studying there but grounded by the worsening weather. The trip becomes the first leg of a perilous chain of events amid the disaster. They prepare for a difficult reunion in the stormbound city.

    Where
    In flight to Paris

  3. News relayed to Taryn and Ryan

    During the flight, Steve and Lacey call Taryn and Ryan to relay the dire news and warn them about the travel disruptions. The message heightens the sense of urgency for the siblings awaiting what could be a split-second decision. The family begins to brace for what lies ahead.

    Where
    In flight

  4. Giant hail begins and injures Ryan

    Giant hail starts to pelt the journey, injuring Ryan and complicating the escape plan. The weather's ferocity accelerates the crisis and pushes the characters toward improvisation. The impact foreshadows the harsher obstacles to come.

    Where
    Over Europe

  5. A massive earthquake strikes; communications fail

    An 8.4 magnitude earthquake shakes the region, causing chaos and destruction. Ryan smashes his phone in the tremor, and Taryn loses connection, severing contact at a critical moment. The quake heightens the urgency to reach safety and reunite with loved ones.

    Where
    Europe

  6. Plan to pick up the kids in Paris; car journey begins

    Steve and Lacey decide to pick up the kids in Paris and rent a car to reach them, determined to reunite the family despite the perilous weather. They begin a road journey through a rapidly deteriorating landscape. The plan shifts as the group moves closer to the heart of the crisis.

    Where
    On the road toward Paris

  7. Taryn and Ryan seek warmth in an abandoned hotel

    Taryn and Ryan seek shelter in an abandoned hotel, hoping to weather the storm. Inside, they encounter a man who is collecting documents, suggesting a fragile, uncertain environment. The pair eventually must navigate the dangerous building and its occupants to survive.

    Where
    Abandoned hotel

  8. Aftershock; defibrillator rescue

    An aftershock shakes the hotel, and Ryan is electrocuted when he touches elevator cables. Taryn finds a defibrillator, and the man collecting documents uses it to revive Ryan. The moment marks a critical point in their efforts to stay alive indoors.

    Where
    Hotel

  9. Dillard coordinates air evacuation

    Steve reaches out to his old war friend, Colonel Ralph Dillard, who provides directions to an air force base and arranges an evacuation meetup. The communication tightens the group’s plan and sets up a staged departure from the crisis zone. The leadership connection reinforces how coordination can guide survival.

    Where
    By radio/phone

  10. Escape route via air base to Eiffel Tower

    Steve and Lacey reach the military base and begin their flight toward the Eiffel Tower as part of the evacuation plan. The convoy of survivors moves from ground to air in an effort to outrun the disaster's reach. This marks a turning point toward the final rescue spectacle.

    Where
    Military base

  11. National Guards evacuate Taryn and Ryan; car crash

    Taryn and Ryan are picked up by National Guards evacuating survivors, but their car crashes, killing the guards. Undeterred, the siblings continue toward Paris with Angelique in tow. They press on through the chaos toward the iconic tower.

    Where
    On the road

  12. Thugs steal bikes and coats; the journey slows

    As they approach the Eiffel Tower, a group of thugs steals their bikes and coats, removing one more layer of protection against the elements. The loss forces them to improvise and continue on foot or by other means. The tower looms as the eventual destination.

    Where
    Road to the Eiffel Tower

  13. Reunion at the Eiffel Tower; rescue by zip-line

    Taryn, Ryan and Angelique reach the vicinity of the Eiffel Tower where they reunite with Steve and Lacey. The couple uses an improvised zip-line to bring the group onto a waiting helicopter. The reunion underlines the collection of the family just as the evacuation becomes possible.

    Where
    Eiffel Tower

  14. Final evacuation to base

    The rescued group boards the helicopter, crashes at Dillard's base, and quickly boards an evacuation plane to depart the disaster zone. The plan to escape the crisis completes as they depart toward safety.

    Where
    Dillard's base

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:23

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Timeline questions answered

100 Degrees Below Zero Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of 100 Degrees Below Zero (2013): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does the volcanic eruption cause freezing temperatures?

The massive volcanic eruption blankets Europe in thick ash that blocks out sunlight. Without solar radiation reaching the surface, temperatures plummet rapidly, causing ice to form on surfaces and creating a sudden ice age conditions across the continent.

  • volcanic eruption
  • ash cloud
  • freezing temperatures
  • ice age
  • climate change
Q2

Why does Ryan get electrocuted in the hotel?

During an aftershock, Ryan touches exposed elevator cables that still carry electrical current. The shock stops his heart, but his sister Taryn remains calm, finds a defibrillator, and with help from a man in the building, manages to revive him.

Foreshadowing: Earlier tremors had already damaged the building's electrical systems, leaving cables exposed.

  • Ryan electrocuted
  • elevator cables
  • defibrillator
  • aftershock
  • Taryn rescue
Q3

Why do Steve and Lacey switch from flying to driving to Paris?

Flying conditions become too dangerous as the ash cloud worsens and giant hail damages their aircraft. The unpredictable weather leaves them grounded, so they rent a car and attempt to drive through flooded tunnels and crowded roads to reach their children.

  • Steve Lacey drive
  • flying conditions
  • hail damage
  • Paris journey
  • family reunion
Q4

Why do the National Guards die in the car crash?

The National Guards are evacuateing Taryn and Ryan along with other survivors when their vehicle crashes, killing the guards. The crash occurs during the chaotic evacuation process as roads become treacherous and visibility drops due to the disaster conditions.

  • National Guards death
  • car crash
  • Taryn Ryan evacuation
  • survivors crash
Q5

How does the zip-line rescue at the Eiffel Tower work?

After reaching the Eiffel Tower area and reuniting with Steve and Lacey, the group improvises a zip-line mechanism to travel from the tower structure directly onto a waiting helicopter hovering nearby. This daring extraction allows them to escape the collapsing city when other routes become impossible.

  • Eiffel Tower rescue
  • zip-line
  • helicopter escape
  • family reunion
Q6

Why does communication fail after the earthquake?

The 8.4 magnitude earthquake shatters phone lines and destroys cellular infrastructure across the region. Ryan smashes his phone during the tremor, and Taryn loses connection, severing contact between the separated family members at a critical moment when they need coordination most.

Foreshadowing: The earthquake strikes suddenly and with devastating force, splitting the family when they need each other most.

  • earthquake
  • communication failure
  • phone lines
  • 8.4 magnitude
  • family separated
Q7

Why is the Eiffel Tower used as the rescue rendezvous point?

Colonel Dillard coordinates the evacuation plan from a military air force base, directing all survivors toward the Eiffel Tower area as a recognizable landmark. The towering structure serves as both a beacon and a central meeting point where families can reunite before the final helicopter extraction.

  • Eiffel Tower
  • rendezvous point
  • Dillard coordination
  • evacuation plan
  • landmark
Q8

How does Taryn manage to revive Ryan after being electrocuted?

After Ryan's heart stops from the electrical shock, Taryn quickly locates a defibrillator in the damaged hotel. With assistance from a man who was collecting documents in the building, she properly applies the device to restart Ryan's heart and save his life.

  • Taryn saves Ryan
  • defibrillator
  • hotel rescue
  • first aid
  • survival
Q9

Why do the thieves steal bikes and coats from the survivors?

Desperate survivors resort to stealing to increase their own chances of survival. The thieves take bikes for faster transportation and coats for protection against the freezing temperatures, showing how the disaster brings out both heroic and selfish behavior in people.

  • thieves
  • bikes stolen
  • coats stolen
  • desperation
  • survival tactics
Q10

How does Colonel Dillard coordinate the evacuation effort?

Steve contacts his old war friend Colonel Ralph Dillard, who commands a military air force base. Dillard provides critical coordination by directing all survivors toward a rendezvous point near the Eiffel Tower and arranging helicopter extraction, serving as the central command that keeps the scattered groups connected and moving toward safety.

  • Colonel Dillard
  • military coordination
  • evacuation
  • air force base
  • Steve contact
Q11

Why does the giant hail injure Ryan?

Giant hailstones pelt the aircraft carrying Steve and Lacey as they attempt to reach Paris, striking Ryan who is on a separate flight. The severe weather injures him and forces the family to alter their plans, demonstrating how the disaster affects everyone indiscriminately.

Foreshadowing: The hail foreshadows increasingly brutal weather conditions that will plague the survivors throughout their journey.

  • hail injury
  • Ryan injured
  • flight disruption
  • weather attack

Movie threads

More Movies Like 100 Degrees Below Zero, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes 100 Degrees Below Zero tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Apocalyptic survival thrillers like 100 Degrees Below Zero

Desperate journeys to reunite families amid catastrophic global disasters. If you enjoyed the high-stakes action and desperate family reunion in 100 Degrees Below Zero, you'll find more movies like it here. These films feature catastrophic natural events, relentless pacing, and a heavy emotional weight centered on survival and resilience.

  • adrenaline-fueled
  • tense
  • desperate
  • harrowing
  • hopeful
  • chaotic
  • Tone: tense, desperate, hopeful
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically follow a linear, goal-oriented plot where characters must navigate a series of escalating environmental catastrophes. The central conflict is humanity versus a hostile planet, with the narrative driven by the urgent need to reach safety or reunite with family.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared focus on high-intensity disaster scenarios, fast-paced action, and a tense, anxious mood. They deliver an adrenaline-fueled experience rooted in the universal fear of nature's power and the primal drive to protect one's family.

100 Degrees Below Zero movie poster

100 Degrees Below Zero

2013
Meteor Apocalypse movie poster

Meteor Apocalypse

2010
The Day After Tomorrow movie poster

The Day After Tomorrow

2004
2012 movie poster

2012

2009
Impact movie poster

Impact

1000
Greenland movie poster

Greenland

2020
Twisters movie poster

Twisters

2024
The Burning Sea movie poster

The Burning Sea

2022

High-stakes rescue mission movies similar to 100 Degrees Below Zero

Ordinary heroes undertake perilous journeys to save others from certain doom. For viewers who liked the pilot's heroic survival journey in 100 Degrees Below Zero, this list features similar movies with relentless action and resilience. These stories focus on underdog heroes facing extreme conditions in a race against time to achieve a critical goal.

  • tense
  • adrenaline-fueled
  • heroic
  • desperate
  • hopeful
  • perseverance
  • Tone: tense, harrowing, hopeful
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a clear, urgent objective—often a rescue or escape—that forces the protagonist through a gauntlet of life-threatening challenges. The story is straightforward but emotionally charged, building to a cathartic resolution where skill and determination conquer adversity.

Why they belong together: This thread connects films through their shared structure of a perilous mission, a focus on a skilled protagonist, and a tone that balances intense dread with pockets of hope. The experience is defined by a constant, high-pressure stakes and a satisfying, earned conclusion.

The Rescue movie poster

The Rescue

1988
Rescue Heroes: The Movie movie poster

Rescue Heroes: The Movie

2003
The Rescue movie poster

The Rescue

2021
Horizon Line movie poster

Horizon Line

2021
Mayday movie poster

Mayday

2005
Skyscraper movie poster

Skyscraper

2018
Top of the World movie poster

Top of the World

1955
Cliffhanger movie poster

Cliffhanger

1993

Categories

Movie Lists Featuring 100 Degrees Below Zero

100 Degrees Below Zero appears in these hand-built movie categories. Each one groups movies by a specific mood, theme or story type, with their plot summaries and endings explained.

View all movie categories
Single Storm Thrillers movies

Single Storm Thrillers

Movies set during a storm

Every angle

100 Degrees Below Zero (2013) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about 100 Degrees Below Zero in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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