Bullet Train Explosion – Review | Netflix (2/5)

BULLET TRAIN EXPLOSION on Netflix is a new Action Thriller from Japan. It’s a wild ride, but also feels quite paint-by-numbers. Also, yes, it feels like Speed on a train, but it’s actually the other way around. Read our full Bullet Train Explosion movie review here!

BULLET TRAIN EXPLOSION is a new Japanese Netflix movie. This action thriller has some very intense scenes, but also feels oddly familiar. Yes, even if you haven’t watched the original 1975 movie The Bullet Train.

While this is certainly entertaining to watch, it doesn’t offer many surprises. I know I repeat this quite often, but had this been a South Korean production, I feel some surprises would have happened. People or events that felt “safe” would suddenly shock you. This doesn’t happen here.

Also, the runtime is 2 hours and 17 minutes, which really isn’t strictly necessary for the story.

Continue reading our Bullet Train Explosion movie review below. Find it on Netflix from April 23, 2025.

A wild ride on a superfast train

In Bullet Train Explosion, everything is business as usual with the bullet trains used for efficient public transportation in Japan. Right until someone calls in to say that a bomb has been planted on the Hayabusa No. 60.

The explosive device has been set to detonate if the train’s speed drops below 100 km/h. To prove that this terrorist means business, another bomb has been placed on a freight train that isn’t allowed to go below 5 km/h.

With virtually no warning, the freight train isn’t informed before the bomb goes off, which means everyone now knows this isn’t a crank call.

From this point on, we’re off to the races. It’s a constant battle of moving trains out of the way and taking corners or changing tracks at speeds that far exceed what they would normally do. It’s a race against time to save the passengers.

Especially because the caller demands 100 billion yen in ransom money to help disarm the bomb. The ransom even comes with specific notes on how the money should be collected. It appears to be an impossible task.

The Bullet Train inspired Speed

While many (myself included) might be quick to think, “Isn’t Bullet Train Explosion just Speed set in a train instead of on a bus?”, it’s actually the other way around. This 2025 Netflix movie is a reboot (or reimagining, when you want to avoid the “reboot” label) of a movie from 1975.

The original movie, The Bullet Train, was released 50 years ago and inspired the Hollywood blockbuster Speed.

So, no, Bullet Train Explosion isn’t Speed on a train instead of a bus. Speed was The Bullet Train set on a bus instead of a train.

I love discovering these things and being able to set the record straight. The idea of having a bomb placed on public transportation, which will go off if it slows down, didn’t happen with Speed first. It was just the movie that became the most famous internationally.

Also, Speed is a really good movie. Moving it to the sea in the sequel, however? Yikes!

Real bullet trains used in Bullet Train Explosion

For the making of Bullet Train Explosion, it’s also worth noting that the filmmakers were lucky to get special cooperation from the East Japan Railway Company.

This enabled the production to use real bullet trains and railway facilities.

Obviously, this makes a difference as the visuals are extremely realistic. Combined with (and enhanced by) visual effects in post-production, but it still makes for an optimal starting point.

Watch Bullet Train Explosion on Netflix now

As already mentioned, this 2025 Netflix movie is based on the 1975 movie The Bullet Train, which was directed by Junya Sato. This reimagining of the same story comes from director Shinji Higuchi.

He is a director recognized for merging extreme visuals with human drama. I’d say his strength lies more in the former, but I agree that he also succeeds in the latter. Just to a significantly lesser degree.

His previous works include the 2016 Godzilla Returns and Shin Ultraman from 2022. Also, he was part of the Tokyo crew for Kill Bill: Vol. 1. Certainly a movie that excelled at combining action-packed visuals with human drama. Though largely thanks to its cast, I’d say.

The screenplay comes from writers Kazuhiro Nakagawa and Norichika Oba. Especially the former has a lot of experience with Gojira (Godzilla) and Kaiju movies, which utilize some of the same elements of action and suspense as this movie does.

I was not thrilled with Bullet Train Explosion, but I should highlight that I am rarely thrilled with the style of Japanese movies. For me, the South Korean style of character-driven stories with lots of gray areas (in story and characters) and surprising twists just does much more for me.

Bullet Train Explosion is on Netflix globally from April 23, 2025.

Details

Director: Shinji Higuchi
Screenplay: Kazuhiro Nakagawa, Norichika Oba
Cast: Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Kanata Hosoda, Non, Jun Kaname, Machiko Ono, Hana Toyoshima, Daisuke Kuroda, Satoshi Matsuo, Suzuka Ohgo, Matsuya Onoe, Naomasa Musaka, Pierre Taki, Bando Yajuro, Takumi Saitoh