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The Taking of Pelham 123

Play trailer 2:26 Poster for The Taking of Pelham 123 R Released Jun 12, 2009 1h 46m Action Mystery & Thriller Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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51% Tomatometer 225 Reviews 52% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Chaos reigns in the New York City subway system when heavily armed criminals, led by a mastermind named Ryder (John Travolta), hijack a subway train and threaten to kill everyone on board unless a large ransom is paid. Dispatcher Walter Garber (Denzel Washington) uses his extensive knowledge of the transit system in a bid to outwit the hijackers and save the hostages, but one question remains: even if the hijackers get their money, how can they possibly escape?
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The Taking of Pelham 123

The Taking of Pelham 123

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Critics Consensus

Despite a strong cast, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 suffers under the excesses of Tony Scott's frantic direction, and fails to measure up to the 1974 original.

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Critics Reviews

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Deborah Ross The Spectator This is pointless, redundant, irrelevant film remaking, in which nothing of weight is ever at stake, and no relationships are ever formed. Aug 30, 2018 Full Review Ed Koch The Atlantic The original film was far superior and will be remembered in years to come while the current remake will soon be forgotten. Jan 17, 2018 Full Review Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online Overall a good movie, good performances, got your adrenaline going. Rated: B+ Sep 12, 2017 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Gone are the days when a thriller about hijackers and the negotiator-hero who stops them feels fresh or necessary. At least, that’s how I felt after The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3. Rated: 1.5/4 Sep 4, 2023 Full Review Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies The sub-par material is too much to overcome. I especially hate to see such a strong Denzel performance go to waste, but in reality there just isn’t enough here to make this anything more than an average movie. Rated: 2.5/5 Aug 25, 2022 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Not quite as slick as the original, this latest take on the subway heist story still accomplishes entertainment at breakneck speed. Rated: 6/10 Nov 29, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Philip C. Surprisingly still holds up, under it’s own terms for a Remake. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/04/25 Full Review Kelly N I rewatched this with The Misses since she hadn't seen it before. Good story, great action. John Travolta was too over the top but still enjoyable Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/15/25 Full Review Ed . Credible remake to consider watching AFTER viewing the original masterpiece. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/22/25 Full Review Frans B Loved it and Tony Scott's "erratic" directing 😜 Great storyline, stellar cast all excels in character. Lots of action, suspense and drama. Very good cinematography and visual effects. Makes for exciting viewing Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/21/25 Full Review David D A perfectly 2 dimensional thriller. If you have nothing else to do..... Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 08/20/25 Full Review Ralph R Tony Scott’s The Taking of Pelham 123 is a solid ride if you’re into fast-paced action and big personalities clashing. It’s got that classic Tony Scott look, lots of quick cuts, gritty city shots, and everything moves with purpose. The production feels slick and polished, even if the story itself doesn’t break any new ground. Travolta basically chews through every scene he’s in, but honestly, it kind of works for the chaos of his character. Sure, he goes a bit over the top, but it’s fun to watch. Denzel Washington is exactly what you expect, steady, believable, and holding the whole thing together. The back-and-forth between them is the highlight of the movie. The script keeps things moving, even if it sometimes leans on clichés or obvious dialogue, but it never gets boring. Scott’s directing style amps up the tension, and the sound design and score do a lot to keep the energy up throughout. Overall, it’s not a masterpiece, but it nails what it’s going for. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/03/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Taking of Pelham 123

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Cast & Crew

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Tony Scott

Director

Denzel Washington

Walter Garber

John Travolta

Ryder

John Turturro

Camonetti

Luis Guzmán

Phil Ramos

James Gandolfini

Mayor

Movie Clips

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The Taking of Pelham 123

The Taking of Pelham 123: Official Clip - Accidental Police Assault The Taking of Pelham 123: Official Clip - Accidental Police Assault 2:41 The Taking of Pelham 123: Official Clip - Commandeering the Train The Taking of Pelham 123: Official Clip - Commandeering the Train 2:39 The Taking of Pelham 123: Official Clip - Ten Million Dollars and One Cent The Taking of Pelham 123: Official Clip - Ten Million Dollars and One Cent 3:42 The Taking of Pelham 123: Official Clip - Shoot Me! The Taking of Pelham 123: Official Clip - Shoot Me! 3:05 The Taking of Pelham 123: Official Clip - Police Shootout The Taking of Pelham 123: Official Clip - Police Shootout 1:37 The Taking of Pelham 123: Official Clip - The Money Car Crash The Taking of Pelham 123: Official Clip - The Money Car Crash 3:04 The Taking of Pelham 123: Official Clip - Dog Poop Story The Taking of Pelham 123: Official Clip - Dog Poop Story 3:11 The Taking of Pelham 123: Official Clip - Put Garber on The Taking of Pelham 123: Official Clip - Put Garber on 1:40 The Taking of Pelham 123: Official Clip - Did You Take the Bribe? The Taking of Pelham 123: Official Clip - Did You Take the Bribe? 2:50 The Taking of Pelham 123: Official Clip - Runaway Train The Taking of Pelham 123: Official Clip - Runaway Train 1:39 View more videos

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The Taking of Pelham 123

The Taking of Pelham 123: Trailer 1 The Taking of Pelham 123: Trailer 1 2:26 View more videos
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The Taking of Pelham 123

(Center) John Travolta as Ryder in "The Taking of Pelham 123." (Left) John Travolta as Ryder in "The Taking of Pelham 123." (Right) John Turturro as Camonetti in "The Taking of Pelham 123." Denzel Washington as Walter Garber in "The Taking of Pelham 123." A scene from the film "The Taking of Pelham 123." John Travolta as Ryder in "The Taking of Pelham 123." Director Tony Scott on the set of "The Taking of Pelham 123." Director Tony Scott on the set of "The Taking of Pelham 123." (L-R) Denzel Washington as Walter Garber and James Gandolfini as the Mayor in "The Taking of Pelham 123." John Travolta as Ryder in "The Taking of Pelham 123." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Chaos reigns in the New York City subway system when heavily armed criminals, led by a mastermind named Ryder (John Travolta), hijack a subway train and threaten to kill everyone on board unless a large ransom is paid. Dispatcher Walter Garber (Denzel Washington) uses his extensive knowledge of the transit system in a bid to outwit the hijackers and save the hostages, but one question remains: even if the hijackers get their money, how can they possibly escape?
Director
Tony Scott
Producer
Todd Black, Tony Scott, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch
Screenwriter
Brian Helgeland
Distributor
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co
Escape Artists, Scott Free Productions
Rating
R (Violence|Pervasive Language)
Genre
Action, Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 12, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$65.5M
Runtime
1h 46m
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