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Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, Sandra Bullock, Joe Morton, Jeff Daniels ... see more see more... , Alan Ruck , Glenn Plummer , Richard Lineback , Beth Grant , Hawthorne James , Carlos Carrasco , David Kriegel , Natsuko Ohama , Daniel Villarreal , Thomas Rosales Jr. , Billy Hopkins , Risa Bramon Garcia , Beau Starr

If you don't think Speed is the fastest-moving adventure film ever made, we challenge you to find a faster one. Keanu Reeves stars as an LA Bomb Squad specialist whose principal antagonist is elusive ... read more read more...bomber-extortionist Dennis Hopper. Seeking vengeance after his latest ransom scheme is thwarted, Hopper presents a personal challenge to Reeves: A wired-for-destruction city bus, which will detonate if the speedometer drops below 50 MPH. Playing the reluctant civilian who is pressed into service as the bus' "substitute driver," leading lady Sandra Bullock became a major star in her own right. Once Speed gets to the meat of its story, the excitement never lets up--not even after the boobytrapped bus is out of the picture. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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72% liked it

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90% liked it

42 critics

R, 1 hr. 55 min.

Directed by: Jan de Bont, Alan Ruck, Beau Starr, Beth Grant, Carlos Carrasco, Dennis Hopper, Glenn Plummer, Hawthorne James, Jeff Daniels, Joe Morton, Keanu Reeves, Richard Lineback, Sandra Bullock, Thomas Rosales Jr.

Release Date: June 10, 1994

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DVD Release Date: November 3, 1998

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Stats: 23,748 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (23,748)

  • aquateen2
    September 13, 2012
    aquateen2
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]

    Speed is one of those action movies that has a familiar premise that were sure we've seen somewhere else before. But we can't quite put our fingers on where. Even if originality is not it's strongest poi... read morent it's fast paced, relentless, action packed and emotionally involving. But on the down side it's a bit tiring and heavily reliant on the cliches. Without doubt it doesn't in any way re-invent the bomb/hostage style thrillers but even though it isn't in a fine work of art it's continuously filled with nail biting suspense and easily one of the better action B movies of it's time. Despite the fact it's longer than it needs to be and dumb without charm, it's definitely worth seeing once and most remarkably believable considering the various flaws in the plot. It features great hero and bad guy chemistry from Keanu Reeves and Dennis Hopper, and a sassy, lovable one from "pre oscar" Sandra Bullock. Also the special effects sequences are well choreographed, the camerawork is perfect, and the pain the characters feel isn't weightless. So technically it's pretty well structured, and even though it's entirely empty and very thinly plotted it gets the job done. So if you want to see an above average blockbuster with Keanu Reevers (something that strangely doesn't come around often), you will finish it satisfied. Personally I was constantly at the edge of my seat the whole way through, and overall I think it deserves it's title as one of the most respected action films released in the 90's. Most impressively the brilliantly nostalgic and welcoming tone of it to it really reminded me of the time when mainstream action audiences weren't being served criminally bad explosion fests like Transformers: Dark Of The Moon every weekend. And because of that, Speed remains an extremely fast and over the top slice of ridiculously fun escapism that deliriously grips you, and really doesn't let go until it ultimately comes to a stop.
  • spielberg00
    July 11, 2012
    spielberg00
    Blemishes aside, SPEED is a very thrilling film. It starts off slowly, with a creative, symbolic credit sequences that wipes down a credit for each floor of an elevator, before finally reaching ground floor. It's not until Payne's opening elevator bombing scheme is over that the ... read moreactioner skyrockets into a pulsepounding event filled with nonstop, hectic action. Empowered by great performances from Bullock and Reeves, as well as De Bont's marvelous directing, it's lots of implausible fun, the kind that makes your heart rate crank one notch faster from each minute of screen time.

    Read it all at themoviefreakblog.com
  • emilkakko
    January 7, 2012
    emilkakko
    Okay so someone got an idea of a story where madman puts bomb in the bus and if the bus goes under 50mph it explodes. Then some producer smelled dollars and they turned it into a film! What else can i say.? It would work as a tv-episode in some crappy McGyver, but as film? Please... read more! Jan De Bont knows how to shoot films, but not how to make one. It also has Keanu as a action-hero! Just awful.
  • fb729949618
    October 24, 2011
    fb729949618
    From what I remember, this movie is full of action and awesomeness.
  • garyX
    September 8, 2011
    garyX
    An extortionist plants a bomb on a Los Angeles bus which will explode if its speed drops to less than 50 miles per hour. This thin synopsis perfectly represents the paper thin plot of Speed, which is a film a young Michael Bay must have been taking notes from back in 1994. All of... read more his trademarks can be found here; the over saturated colour filters, dumb one liners, pointless slo-mo explosions and the way the camera endlessly circles our heroes as if the audience are mere satellites gazing up at the Olympian Gods of Hollywood. It's a simple premise, designed purely to manufacture edge of the seat, base thrills and as such it works extremely well. Keanu makes a decent low brow action hero and is good as long as you don't expect him to express emotion or act or anything. The biggest problem is that the opening scenes set around a highjacked elevator are much more interesting than the bus (an idea that is stretched beyond breaking point), mainly because of the presence of Jeff Daniels whose partnership with Reeves works really well. Shame he disappears half way through, then. Hopper's merciless hamminess is also fun as the bad guy and there are plenty of shots of Sandra Bullock's legs so it gets the job done in the cheap thrills stakes. Just don't expect anything more.
  • TheMachinist
    August 6, 2011
    TheMachinist
    "Pop quiz, hotshot. There's a bomb on a bus. Once the bus goes 50 miles an hour, the bomb is armed. If it drops below 50, it blows up. What do you do? What do you do!?"

    The action movie of the 80's is without a doubt 'Die Hard'. The movie that defines action in the first decade ... read moreof the millenium change is in my opinion 'The Matrix' (I know it's made in '99 but you do understand I have to get 'Speed' here in my introduction and besides I first saw 'The Matrix' in 2000...). So what comes to mind when thinking of action films that defines and changes the genre for better in the 90's? 'Speed'. Fuck it, I just came to think about 'T2 - Judgment Day'...

    So anyhow, 'Speed' didn't define action for the 90's. 'The Matrix' and 'T2' did a better job. But if 'Speed' would've been done wrong, the end result would've been terrible ('Speed 2, anyone?). Done well, action films can be a lot of fun (and thus forgiving some serious goofs and illogical happenings).

    Jan de Bont directed 'Speed' as his first feature film. He had worked on several action films prior to 'Speed' as a cinematographer (Die Hard', 'Hunt for the Red October'...). What I've read from various film magazines and interweb sites, 'Speed' had some issues when going to production. First of all, I have to mention Joss Whedon's ('Firefly' and 'Serenity') name as he contributed on the script making it work better. He was left uncredited, though. But what worried me the most was that Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock weren't among the first choices for starring roles. Stephen Baldwin, William Baldwin, Arnold Schwarzenegger... "Get to da choppa!" just sounds better than "Stop da buzz!".

    Glenn Close, Meryl Streep, Anjelica Huston, Emma Thompson, Diane Lane? Great actresses without a doubt but was their first intention to make the film about a group of middle aged tourists on a 20 mph bus touring Beverly Hills? Ok, that sounded very stupid and I appologize for my lame effort to be "funny".

    Films like 'Speed' are inteded to charm the younger audience. I can't think of a better on-screen couple than Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. Both good looking and terrible actors (yeah, like she deserved the Oscar!). The acting is so terrible at times that you have to be set for the right mood for it to work. You can't see 'Speed' and wait for some groundbreaking method acting. This is supposed to be cheesy and fun. It's not like Jeff Daniels or Dennis Hopper would be doing a better job but I just can't think of any other for their roles. Hopper is perfect for his role as the villain (just like in 'Super Mario Bros') and in my opinion he is the scene stealer.

    So what's the film really about then? Small pensions and cheap gold watches make retired cops go berserk and make bombs on elevators and busses while forgetting everything about police tactics and getting their faces turn purple of paint. That is pretty much the whole idea. So what do you do? What do you do!?

    Just go see it for the fun and the hidden charm.
  • blkbomb
    July 13, 2011
    blkbomb
    Jack: You're crazy! You're fuckin' crazy!
    Howard Payne: NO! Poor people are crazy, Jack. I'm eccentric.

    Speed is a pulse-pounding thriller and one hell of a fun ride. The greatest thing about it is that it doesn't attempt to be anything more than what it is. It doesn't mess ar... read moreound; it gets right to the point and doesn't deviate into stupid sub-plots. It's just a non-stop action movie and nothing more.

    The cast for Speed is great. I really liked Dennis Hopper as the lunatic terrorist and Jeff Daniels as Harry. Both Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock both did really well with their roles as well. This is easily Jan de Bont's best movie. That's not saying that much if you look at the rest of his movies, but this is a truly solid thriller.

    If your looking for a movie that explores humanity or love, I wouldn't watch this. But if all you want is two hours of action; I can't think of a better movie for you to watch.
  • ythelastman89
    July 3, 2011
    ythelastman89
    I'm sure i've said bad things about Speed in the past, but it really is such a beautiful display of pulse-pounding adrenaline. Speed taps into the aspect of action movies that never gets old. The suspense oriented plot, endless use of big stunts and explosions is ridiculously wel... read morel done. You can't go wrong with a deranged terrorist as your villain; especially when it's played by Dennis Hopper. However, it's Keanu Reeves that conquers all by bringing his intensity, thrill seeking nature and cocky attitude to the table. This is the movie that truly defined him as the action star he is today and completely shed him of his Bill & Ted reputation. Sandra Bullock also gives her all with this and I think this is actually one of her finest performances. Complain all you want about it being illogical, but Speed is flawless in the visuals department. For every outlandish plot device that pops up, there is an extremely cool stunt that follows. It's done in a way that you are able to just accept what is going on rather than argue with it. Speed also still manages to be just as effective and fun, even now. Every few years it's nice to be able pop this in and just watch two hours of awesome, adrenaline fueled action. While this might not fit everyone's taste, it certainly stands as a classic in my book and I still love it just as much as I did the first time.
  • ajv2688
    May 28, 2011
    ajv2688
    Oh, the suspense! A bus that has to go over a certain speed or it'll explode! Loved this movie, it's the best action adventure movie of the year.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    May 12, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Directorial debut of cinematographer Jan De Bont is a nonstop roller coaster ride of thrills. The film never slows down and makes you hold your breath until the final intense climax. A former cop has got the city under siege as he targets a bus full of passengers. He has placed a... read more bomb under a city bus and demands the city pay a ransom.What follows is a terrific cat and mouse game with the bomber named Howard Payne brilliantly played by Dennis Hopper as the cops try to safely stop the bus and outwit Howard Payne. Keanu Reeves is surprisingly good as cop Jack Travers and Sandra Bullock gives one of her best performances as Annie Porter (considering that I'm not a big fan of her work), Speed is an exception along with The Blind Side. Speed has quite a simple story but it proves that a simple story can be a platform for an effective and entertaining film. Of all the films that Jan De Bont has made, Speed is his best film. He quickly went down hill from here, Twister, and Speed 2 sucked and lacked anything to make thiem great films. At least Speed is a fine action film that is brilliantly shot and paced. The film is never boring and the audience won't get bored. What makes Speed such a great action film is it's refusal to slow down on the action. The tension just keeps mounting and doesn't let up. You don't want to tear yourself away from the screen as you want to know what happens next. Dennis Hopper is awesome and he makes this film a memorable addition to the genre. No other words can sum Speed, except it's an adrenaline pulse pounding ride.

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Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel
June 14, 2009
Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine

Talk about simple. But the film's sheer cut-to-the-chase straightfowardness is part of its appeal. Full Review

Todd McCarthy
June 14, 2009
Todd McCarthy, Variety

Athough it hits any number of gaping credibility potholes on its careening journey around Los Angeles, Speed delivers the goods as a non-stop actioner that scarcely pauses to take a breath. Full Review

Derek Adams
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams, Time Out

Eventually, inevitably, [it] goes too far, too fast, and ends up off the rails. Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Cleverer action films (Die Hard II and The Fugitive, for instance) deliver more sardonic intelligence, but this one still gets the job done. Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

The smart and sassy Bullock is a knockout. She makes us believe the impossible things Annie is doing and, better, makes us care.

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

The most breath-stoppingly thrilling motion picture to open since the original Die Hard. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

The plot becomes so overextended, as Reeves and Hopper wage their endless public transportation battle, even the hardest Die-Harders will consider leaping off way before the final stop. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

We've seen this done before, but seldom so well, or at such a high pitch of energy. Full Review

Hal Hinson
January 1, 2000
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

Undeniably, the picture now and again supplies that edge-of-the-seat sensation; yet, by action-adventure standards, Speed is leaden and strangely poky. It never seems to shift into overdrive and let fly. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
May 4, 2012
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

fast-moving, totally undemanding and relentlessly entertaining, this actioner should do more for the career of Sandra Bullock than for that of its nominal star, Keanu Reeves. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Harry: You shoot me and they give you a medal, you little prick.
    • Jack Traven: Harry, you told me to.
    • Annie Porter: Just so you know, I got my license suspended.
    • Jack Traven: What for?
    • Annie Porter: Speeding.
    • Harry: [observing explosives mounted on the elevator] What do you think?
    • Jack Traven: I dunno. YOU'RE the expert, I just work here.
    • Howard Payne: Pop quiz, hotshot. There's a bomb on a bus. Once the bus goes 50 miles an hour, the bomb is armed. If it drops below 50, it blows up. What do you do? What do you do?
  • Get Ready for Rush Hour.
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  • In the movie "Speed" what two Characters were the onscreen duo??  Answer »
  • In which movie did Keanu Reaves and Sandra Bulock have to escape from a bomb on a bus  Answer »
  • Name the actress who starred in these movies: The Lakehouse Speed Two Weeks Notice Murder by Numbers  Answer »
  • What is the name of the two movies that Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves starred in?  Answer »
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