The Grey is a 2011 survival thriller film co-written, produced and directed by Joe Carnahan and starring Liam Neeson , Frank Grillo and Dermot Mulroney . It is based on the short story "Ghost Walker" by Ian MacKenzie Jeffers, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Carnahan. The story follows a number of oil-men stranded in Alaska after a plane crash , who must wage a war against a pack of grey wolves stalking them amidst mercilessly cold weather. Released in the United States on January 27, 2012, the film received praise for its philosophical themes, cinematography, sound effects and acting, while some of the dialogue and the film's ending were criticized; it grossed $77 million worldwide .