The plot is brutally efficient. A group of criminals, led by the cold and cerebral Kenji Taki (played with terrifying calm by Ken Takakura), rigs the brand-new Shinkansen (Bullet Train) "Hikari 109" with a powerful bomb. The device is set to detonate if the train drops below 80 kilometers per hour. The criminals’ demand: a massive ransom of 500 million yen. If their demand isn’t met within a few hours, the train—and its 1,500 passengers—will vanish in a fireball.
Director David Leitch—known for John Wick and Atomic Blonde —uses the tight confines of the train to craft inventive, close-quarters combat. The film leans heavily into its aesthetic, featuring: The Bullet Train Film
Action / Comedy / Thriller Director: David Leitch Starring: Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Sandra Bullock. The plot is brutally efficient
: High-speed action, "cartoonish" and neon-soaked visuals, and a standout ensemble cast. The criminals’ demand: a massive ransom of 500 million yen
The film also touches on the idea of redemption, as Ladybug navigates a complex web of allegiances and rivalries. Through his character, the film raises questions about the morality of violence and the true cost of playing with fire.
When you hear the keyword , your mind might immediately race to the 2022 Hollywood action-comedy starring Brad Pitt, directed by David Leitch. However, for cinephiles and students of Japanese cinema, that same keyword triggers a dual recognition: the glossy Tarantino-esque blockbuster and the 1975 Japanese all-star classic Shinkansen Daibakuha (Bullet Train). Both films share a name, a locomotive setting, and a breakneck pace, yet they represent two entirely different eras of filmmaking.