The Great Train Robbery

PG

1978

1 hr. 51 min.

History

Drama

List

76%

29 Reviews

Tomatometer

69%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Edward Pierce (Sean Connery) is a master thief of the Victorian Era who's never found a heist he couldn't pull off. For his next criminal operation, he plans something that has never been done before: to rob a moving train. Working with a master safecracker (Donald Sutherland) and a seductive woman (Lesley-Anne Down), Pierce devises an incredibly complex plan to break into the train's safe and steal the thousands of dollars' worth of gold that are contained within.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Apr 16

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Apple TV

Watch The Great Train Robbery with a subscription on Prime Video, rent on Fandango at Home, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Apple TV.

Critics Consensus

Laboriously paced and overly talky, The Great Train Robbery nevertheless pulls off a thrillingly staged finale anchored by winning performances from Donald Sutherland and Sean Connery.

Read Critics Reviews

C

I thought this movie, at times, was excessively violent. A few of the scenes were disturbing. I like the idea of a train robbery movie, but there was no one to root for. Sir Connery was good, but seemed odd portraying master thief Pierce. The train robbery seemed a little too easy, especially, making wax impressions of the four keys. I don't like making train robbers heroes. The cinematography was good. Cheers.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/17/23

Full Review

David W

Michael Crichton's The Great Train Robbery is the film he was most involved in creating and his love and characteristic handywork shows through. Combined with a strong cast, this one is a classic with an easygoing air. I would definitely watch this again.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/21/24

Full Review

Jack O

The First Great Train Robbery or you can call it The Great Train Robbery whatever you wanna call it. This is actually an extraordinary film with extraordinary cast like Sean Connery and Donald Sutherland. It all sets in the year 1855 where these two gentlemen are on a mission at the train to rob a pile of gold along with the help of Lesley-Anne Down but they need to find four shiny keys to open the safe. Now this is a toughest challenge for those two gentlemen. It is actually based on the novel by Michael Crichton and he even directed the film which is really obscure. I really do like the thrills and I really do like the train sequence at the end. The entire movie is even thrilling and funny at the same time that add some scenes for the people to laugh at, like Donald Sutherland has to stay in the coffin pretending to be dead with stinky dead cat while covered in green paint. I really like this film for it's extraordinary production design, the thrills and it does gets some laughs. I actually do love every second of this and I think it's magnificent.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Like a 19th century ‘Ocean’s Eleven’, Crichton’s playful script, accompanied by Goldsmith’s rousing score, is loads of fun with an absolute nail-biter of a third act. Connery, Sutherland, & Down are a wonderful team. #nitrosMovieChallenge

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/28/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Entertaining movie connery is good as usual well made

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is one of my favourite movies of all time. The casting is superb, from Sean Connery and Donald Sunderland down to Wayne Sleep. I always try to watch it whenever it comes on TV, even though I've seen it many times before I still know I'm going to enjoy it. It is just perfect, and I don't say that about many movies.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Michael Crichton

Director

Sean Connery

Pierce

Donald Sutherland

Agar

Lesley-Anne Down

Miriam

Alan Webb

Trent

Malcolm Terris

Fowler

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

The Great Train Robbery: Official Clip - Cholera Coffin

2:11

The Great Train Robbery: Official Clip - Riding the Train

2:09

The Great Train Robbery: Official Clip - Throwing Gold From the Train

1:43

The Great Train Robbery: Official Clip - A Sharp Businessman

1:37

The Great Train Robbery: Official Clip - Transporting Gold

1:39

The Great Train Robbery: Official Clip - The Seduction of Fowler

2:04

The Great Train Robbery: Official Clip - Prison Break

2:01

The Great Train Robbery: Official Clip - 75 Seconds

2:13

The Great Train Robbery: Official Clip - The Great Escape

1:13

The Great Train Robbery: Official Clip - Stop That Boy!

2:13

View more videos

89%

92%

Kagemusha

74%

83%

The Duellists

70%

87%

Sacco and Vanzetti

64%

87%

The Mission

90%

62%

The Molly Maguires

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Ian Nathan

Empire Magazine

Crichton is after a giggly quality as if it's being told as a pub yarn, soaked in exaggeration and acute trickery to defeat impossible hurdles, while never far from redoubtable moral lesson.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 5, 2008

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Crichton's films drag in dialog bouts, but triumph when action takes over.

Jul 30, 2008

Full Review

Time Out

The characters stay largely undeveloped, while -- despite superficially peculiar features -- the robbery is stripped of the ingenious exposition of the novel.

Jan 26, 2006

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

An agreeable lark.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 17, 2023

Full Review

Sarah Boslaugh

TheArtsStl

...it does exactly what you expect it to do, but does it so well, and with such great enthusiasm, that you’re inclined to forgive its obviousness.

Rated: 7/10

Jun 13, 2023

Full Review

Marina Hirsch

Berkeley Barb

The Great Train Robbery is a fluffy piece of entertainment, highlighted by Geoffrey Unsworth's moody cinematography of Victorian interiors, in all their musty splendor.

Jan 11, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Edward Pierce (Sean Connery) is a master thief of the Victorian Era who's never found a heist he couldn't pull off. For his next criminal operation, he plans something that has never been done before: to rob a moving train. Working with a master safecracker (Donald Sutherland) and a seductive woman (Lesley-Anne Down), Pierce devises an incredibly complex plan to break into the train's safe and steal the thousands of dollars' worth of gold that are contained within.

Director: Michael Crichton
Screenwriter: Michael Crichton
Production Co: Starling Films
Rating: PG
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Sound Mix: Surround

Most Popular at Home Now