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Speed

Play trailer 2:38 Poster for Speed R Released Jun 10, 1994 1h 55m Action Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 79 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Los Angeles police officer Jack (Keanu Reeves) angers retired bomb squad member Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper) by foiling his attempt at taking hostages. In revenge, Payne arms a bus with a bomb that will explode if it drops below 50 miles per hour. With the help of spunky passenger Annie (Sandra Bullock), Jack and his partner Harry (Jeff Daniels) try to save the people on the bus before the bomb goes off, while also trying to figure out how Payne is monitoring them.
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Speed

Speed

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Critics Consensus

A terrific popcorn thriller, Speed is taut, tense, and energetic, with outstanding performances from Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, and Sandra Bullock.

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Critics Reviews

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Ty Burr Entertainment Weekly Speed is both a reminder of the pleasures of well-done mindlessness and graceful evidence that Hollywood's newest generation of talent can play the box office game if and when it wants to. Rated: A- Dec 22, 2021 Full Review David Hunter The Hollywood Reporter There should be traffic jams at the box office as Fox picks up many busloads of riders for its fast and furiously entertaining thriller Speed. Jun 10, 2019 Full Review Steven Rea Philadelphia Inquirer De Bont has assembled it with masterly precision. And Speed looks terrific. There are breathtaking aerial shots, mind-boggling stunts, and camera positioning that you just don't expect. It's a rocketing eyeful. Rated: 3/4 Aug 11, 2014 Full Review Stephen Silver The SS Ben Hecht Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, a runaway bus, and a killer high concept combined to create one of the best action movies of the ‘90s. (30th anniversary) Rated: 4.5/5 Jun 21, 2024 Full Review Zaki Hasan IGN Movies A perfect marriage of concept, cast and execution. The proof of its success is that even though it may feel like it's been left behind by time, action flicks today owe an undisputed debt to what the movie achieved. Jun 12, 2024 Full Review Casey Chong Casey's Movie Mania A well-paced thrill ride of a Die Hard-type action genre. Rated: 5/5 Jun 8, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Kyle C Now we’re talkin’! Sure it’s cheesy, but it’s got a lot of energy and the practical effects are next-level. Keanu Reeves does his best impression of a bad actor, but Sandra Bullock provides a lot of grounding and brings an emotional touch that’s otherwise lacking. Jeff Daniels in a serious role was… a choice. He’s fine. But honestly, it’s the concept itself and its execution that makes this film worth watching. It’s dripping with tension in every scene, and apart from the ridiculous bus jump, it’s grounded enough to feel truly suspenseful. For a high-octane, grin-inducing thrill, Speed is the movie for you. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/30/24 Full Review Keizi C Hilarious dialogue, stereotypical characters, a diabolical antagonist, humongous thrills, relentless pacing, and two gigantic movie stars. This is top tier blockbuster filmmaking at its finest. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/23/24 Full Review Thomas C Speed is a high-octane thriller that masterfully combines intense action with clever pacing. Keanu Reeves delivers a strong performance as Jack Traven, an LAPD officer tasked with saving passengers on a bus rigged to explode if it slows below 50 mph. Sandra Bullock shines as the resourceful civilian driver, adding charm and relatability to the breakneck narrative. Directed by Jan de Bont, the film is a relentless adrenaline rush, skillfully balancing nail-biting suspense with moments of humor and humanity. While the plot occasionally stretches plausibility, its sheer entertainment value earns it a solid four stars—a quintessential '90s action classic that keeps viewers on edge. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/15/24 Full Review mark g The suspension of disbelief, absolutely essential when viewing this film. Corny and unrealistic in every sense. But decent mindless fun. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 11/09/24 Full Review Nick R A classic Keanu Reeves action flick with a fun premise. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/07/24 Full Review Jace E The concept behind Speed is a fantastic one: "A bus must stay above 50MPH or it will blow up." Simple. Interesting. Exciting. You know exactly what you are getting yourself into. With that mindset going in, I found that I enjoyed 90% of this movie. The action is over-the-top, the bus is indestructible, the cast is full of surprises and the plot is pretty straightforward. The acting is pretty bad in moments, mostly from Keanu Reeves Dennis Hopper. The interesting thing is that I didn't mind the poor line-delivery. It almost added to the charm of the movie. My biggest gripe with Speed is everything that goes on outside of the bus. I just didn't care that much about Harry trying to find the bad guy, the romance and especially the subway scene. On top of that, there are too many plot-holes to count. All problems aside, this movie is exactly what you would expect and I loved that. I'm a fan of "bottle episodes" of TV and films that take place in one location. For that reason, I loved the majority of this movie and would gladly watch it again. Best Character: Jack Best Quote: "Pop quiz, hotshot." - Howard Best Scene: Getting on the Bus Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/05/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Speed

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Los Angeles police officer Jack (Keanu Reeves) angers retired bomb squad member Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper) by foiling his attempt at taking hostages. In revenge, Payne arms a bus with a bomb that will explode if it drops below 50 miles per hour. With the help of spunky passenger Annie (Sandra Bullock), Jack and his partner Harry (Jeff Daniels) try to save the people on the bus before the bomb goes off, while also trying to figure out how Payne is monitoring them.
Director
Jan de Bont
Producer
Mark Gordon
Screenwriter
Graham Yost
Distributor
Fox, 20th Century Fox
Production Co
20th Century Fox
Rating
R (Violence|Language)
Genre
Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 10, 1994, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$121.2M
Runtime
1h 55m
Sound Mix
Stereo, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround
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