It has not been quite long since the Bullet Train came out and intrigued the audiences. The David Leitch creation “Bullet Train” has brought together a wonderful cast with actors like Brad Pitt (Ladybug), Aaron Taylor Johnson (Tangerine), Brain Tyree Henry (Lemon), and Joey King (The Prince). You will also find a host of unexpected cameos here and there. The plotline follows five assassins onboard the bullet train. All five of them are unaware that their paths will cross soon enough. Drama and humor find their way into the plot while seamlessly complementing other present themes.
Naturally, viewers found the plot quite interesting. There is a larger audience now consuming entertainment from the same genre as the movie. If a thrilling, assassin-centric film such as Bullet Train has caught your eye, you will most certainly enjoy the experience brought by the following list of 24 Movies like Bullet Train. The movies all come under a similar umbrella genre with different sub-genres and themes, ranging from releases dating back to 1975 to the latest year.
Shinkansen Daibakuha (1975)
The title of this Japanese film means “The Bullet Train.” Even so, the contemporary movie is not a remake of this classic in any manner. Although this film was, in fact, adapted into the Indian Cinema under the name “The Burning Train.” Junya Sato’s Shinkansen Daibakuha has some elements that can be seen reflected in the 2022 film. The conventional manner of running the plot on a fast-moving train through and through is a significant similarity. A number of “bad people” engaged in “bad stuff” is also something that is seen in a lot of such films.
The plot revolves around a train with a bomb planted in it. If the speed of the train is to go down a certain number, the bomb will explode, putting the lives of the passengers on board at a major risk. The thrill and suspense are kept alive by the constant dwindling between the said “good” and “bad” guys throughout the movie.
John Wick (2014)
A Keanu Reeves star cannot be missed from the list of powerful performances and impactful suspense. John Wick works on a theme quite similar to the one we notice in Bullet Train. The said man, John Wick, is a retired assassin currently planning to destroy the men that killed the gift left to him by his dead wife, a puppy. While seeking revenge, this bold and thrilling character keeps us anticipating what is to come next. Keanu Reeves certainly has delivered one of his best performances while portraying John Wick.
The Gray Man (2022)
The Gray Man is famous for the massive amount of talented faces it features. Ryan Gosling, Ana De Armas, Chris Evans, Dhanush, and several others come together to deliver a wonderful performance. It is one of the latest action-packed movies this year. The plot is a spy versus spy storyline that boasts a great flow of action as well as thrill amongst the watchers. While Bullet Train can be more exotic in several senses, this movie still is able to consistently engage the audiences in the power-packed performances by the stars. The s expected delivery by Ryan Gosling and the portrayal of Chris Evans as a villain make it all the more interesting.
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Since the day it came out, Pulp Fiction is just something that draws movie enthusiasts towards it. You often do not realize your intentions behind recommending it, for it comes so naturally to the fans of the film to simply recommend it to another person. Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction is a pop culture phenomenon from the 90s to the present day. The movie involves two highly straightforward and chatty assassins.
The plot progresses as the pair continues to perceive life in a way that sticks to their beliefs. Bullet Train has a pair of twin brothers who are almost always quarreling with one another; this is a similarity we see between the lead characters, Vincent and Jules as well. The two have contrasting demeanors when they remain unserious but quite different when you see them in action.
Snatch (2000)
Viewers put it quite plainly that the themes of Guy Ritchie’s “Snatch” are subtly present throughout Leitch’s “Bullet Train,” even if no explicit mention of it was ever made on the part of the latter’s creator. You find great similarity in the characters whose wittiness as well as silliness are not true to the 2022 movie but are also present in the 2000 release. The subtle portrayal of action and slow-motion scenes also serves as the matching factor between the two movies.
The 355 (2022)
You may be compelled to watch The 355, not just for its “never seen before” phenomenon of putting together an all-female cast but also for the brilliance in both plot and character. These women are played by well-known actresses like Jessica Chastain, Lupita Nyong’o, Penelope Cruz, and many others.
The spy and heist movie revolves around these characters putting together a heist group throughout the countries. In giving impactful performances, the characters forward this heist-centered plot into an original ending. Fast pacing is ever-present in the film, making it all the more similar to Bullet Train, which also has a briefcase that everyone attempts to possess.
Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003)
If an action-centric martial art movie excites you, Kill Bill: Vol 1 is sure to give you the thrill you want. Uma Thurman plays a former assassin, also known as “The Bride.” The movie follows The Bride while she seeks vengeance for the betrayal by a man who used to be both her lover and boss.
The man leads a crew of the “Deadly Vipers,” who will most definitely act as obstacles in her conquest. She eventually ends up in Japan, where she utilizes her signature sequence of Samurai sword battles. The movie has a second installment, too, Kill Bill: Vol 2.
Taking Of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009)
In general opinion, the 2009 release of “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3” is highly recommended, even more so than the one in 1974. The movie is darker and thrilling, and the settings enthrall the enjoyers of suspense and thriller. The literal movement of the plot between the destinations of Washington and Travolta is reminiscent of Brad Pitt’s character “Ladybug,” who keeps his composure throughout the triggering situations while on board the bullet train.
The crime-centric thriller revolves around a train dispatcher who becomes the center of the story soon enough. Throughout it, he attempts to change the mind of the New York subway hijacker. The stakes are considerably high in this movie, just like in the latest Brad Pitt star.
Shang Chi and the Legend of The Ten Rings (2021)
Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is most definitely one of the best Marvel releases from the year 2021. It is a great addition to the new Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Perhaps, one of the few Phase 4 releases that you will consider re-watching.
It is a movie you can watch later in complement to watching the Bullet Train. As is usual of a Marvel movie, the plot includes a public transport fighting scene as well as a protagonist who does not find fighting the best way to move forward but has to regardless, something you see in Bullet Train as well. The balance between humor and action also makes it similar to the 2022 release, the plot being a well-executed one.
Snowpiercer (2013)
From Bong Joon Ho comes one of the best train movies of all time, “Snowpiercer.” The plot follows a post-apocalyptic world that is suffering under the failure of an experiment meant to curb the present climate change. The disaster that struck the world destroyed everything and everyone, with the only exception being the passengers of the train called “Snowpiercer.”
The movie becomes a struggle for survival by these people. The plot remains unpredictable for the most part, and the course of events becomes different from the beginning itself.
Central Intelligence (2016)
Bob and Calvin from Central Intelligence form a peculiar bond over the encrypted intel in the movie, and this is also seen happening in Bullet Train when Ladybug and Lemon strike a rather strange relationship that revolves around the highly sought briefcase in the movie.
Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart portray excellent on-screen partnership and chemistry. The plot balances perfectly between humor, a dose of confusion here and there, and of course, suspense too. It is surely a good option that you can add to your watch list once you have finished watching Bullet Train.
Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
A larger cast of great actors in Ocean’s Eleven did mean greater quality. The movie is a remake by Steven Soderbergh of the classic movie of the same name. George Clooney plays Danny Ocean, who is an ex-con man that is out of jail now. He then formulates a plan to pull a heist so big, the likes of which could never be seen in Las Vegas. In doing so, he recruits a number of criminals who form a crew called “Ocean’s Eleven.” The movie keeps you engaged with a large main cast and a fun progression.
Free Fire (2016)
Called simply only a “long Mexican standoff,” Free Fire is also a dark comedy movie that you will love to experience. The movie receives its impressive final shape under the writers Ben Wheatley and Amy Jump. There is a lot of thrill to experience throughout the plot in a matter of mere ninety minutes!
The movie also boasts a wonderful cast, like Cillian Murphy and Brie Larson, to bring forward an immersive experience. This is also similar to the Bullet Train, which packs a talented and brilliant cast too. As you see more of the film, you realize the two releases have quite a lot in common after all. The characters are all designed to be morally flawed in one way or the other, which tests your judgment and makes them all the more enjoyable to see fit into the puzzle of the story.
Nobody (2021)
The fans of violent action comedies are sure to like Nobody, which came out in 2021. The movie revolves around Hutch Mansell. He is a suburban father of two children with a normal life until one evening when there is a robbery at their house.
His teenage son, Blake, is compelled to put up a fight with the robbers while Hutch simply steps aside. The traumatizing incident leads to Hutch admitting that he has kept himself under control over the years and that he was a former assassin. The writer for the movie is the same as John Wick Derek Kolstad, which makes the plot as dark-humored and violent in nature as the latter.
Train to Busan (2016)
Expect one of the greatest experiences when watching a movie from South Korea starring actors that stay up to the mark and writers that make the best come true. Predominantly a zombie movie, Train to Busan also packs some resemblance to Bullet Train with the train sequences and confinement to small secluded spaces.
The plot follows a group of people that are stuck inside a Train going from Seoul to Busan. While this happens, there is a zombie outbreak around them. The horror, thrill, and action all add up towards the end for an experience you are sure to never experience again, one that is only felt up to one time.
Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood (2019)
This movie is Brad Pitt’s latest breaking at the box office. In Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood, we see one of Brad’s best performances, a blockbuster indeed. He plays Cliff Booth, a tough man who is not afraid of the dangers that revolve around Hollywood or life generally.
We are presented with a dichotomy between what can be called stunts (Hollywood Work) and acting (fake danger). This results in Booth’s risk of being at the center of danger when run time runs close to the end. The film is signed off with the accursed Tarantino bloody ending, after several moments of humor and drama packed into it.
The Commuter (2018)
While the movies from Liam Nesson seem synonymous with each other in the setting, they all don some thrill that belongs to each movie respectfully and also differ from one another. The protagonist around who the plot revolves unpacks a load of details in the story just while on a phone call.
The story progresses around a train on which a man who previously was a cop but now is an insurance salesman commutes to work daily. On one particular day, he is met with a mysterious woman who makes him take on a deadly operation while on board. The Commuter shares a great similarity with the Bullet Train in creating a full-fledged setting and plot around the given circumstances. It is a movie you need to check out once.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is a satirical comedy that has Nicholas Cage playing a pseudo-alter ego self of himself. The protagonist Nic, upon having money-related issues and no fulfillment professionally, chooses to attend the birthday party of a billionaire, Javi Gutierrez (Pedro Pascal). The billionaire claims to be a huge fan of Nic’s. The two men strike an unlikely but genuine friendship after an initial meeting. The friendship puts Nic on the radar of a pair of CIA operatives that pester him to reveal the truth behind Javi’s strange business dealings.
The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017)
The Samuel L. Jackson and Ryan Reynolds star in “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” was not formerly a film people had considered worth the watch. However, they warmed up to it over time, and now it is a good, fun action movie that is done justice by the main cast.
The sequences of the movie are quite generic in nature, but the solid action scenes here and there between Michael and Darius make it watchable at least once. In two hours of runtime, the film delivers a good amount of comedy packed into it while maintaining some action throughout. If not the plot, the main cast will most certainly compel you to give it a try.
Beasts Clawing at Straws (2020)
An exciting crime thriller from South Korea, “Beasts Clawing at Straws,” is another immersive experience. The creators have drawn quite a lot from the works of Guy Ritchie and Quentin Tarantino in putting together this suspenseful piece. On top of this, the movie is adapted richly from Japanese novels; that being said, the purpose of telling a story like this is completely fulfilled with the quality of writing and characters.
The concept of “bad luck” and “interconnection” between the characters remain overlying themes throughout the movie. Simply put, it has bad people getting involved in doing bad things. The characters are greedy people who are willing to go to any end as a means to obtain what they want while also failing in doing so after all. The emotions are heightened to give off a highly dramatic appeal. The thrilling nature presented by the writers in the story is what is able to keep the attention of the viewers.
Atomic Blonde (2017)
Atomic Blonde boasts two major things. The first is yet another wonderful thriller by David Leitch. Secondly, being the storehouse of a once-in-a-lifetime performance by Charlize Theron. This grim story is of a Cold War agent that travels to Berlin in order to investigate a murder and to gain intel on double agents. The theme of Historical Fiction within this intense spy thriller makes it a must-watch.
Those who enjoyed Bullet Train are bound to enjoy the experience provided by the movie. The movie is sure to satisfy fans of thrill and suspense, with action-packed here and there. The work is also very dark, perhaps even more so than most here on the list. The unfolding of events seems to be neither too conventional nor very unfamiliar, but the overall plot makes the viewer excited for more. With higher stakes and a darker take, Atomic Blonde is sure to impress.
Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)
A much-appreciated mention in the list is “Gunpowder Milkshake,” which is a woman-centric film. The plot allows women to claim a centric role in a genre that is considered home to conventionally “angry and stupid” men. The story follows a young assassin, Sam (Karen Gillan), who does not feel resonate with the firm she has been working for anymore. The Firm is an association for deadly assassins.
While performing what was supposed to be her last assignment, the woman ends up paring up with her so far estranged mother, Scarlet (Lena Headey), who used to be an ex-assassin for The Firm. They deal with a whole range of rivals that are after the lives of her and the little girl she has saved so far. The parental discomfit and themes of revenge make it similar to Bullet Train in some ways.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E (2015)
A tribute to some quality 1960s action thrillers, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. stars Henry Cavill and Alicia Vikander. This is in direct contrast to Bullet Train, which is set in a modern, high-tech world instead. The lead actors engage themselves in a suspenseful fight against a mysterious organization that secretly works with dealing in nuclear weaponry. The plot runs bigger than the characters, accumulating within itself the true essence of a thrilling action release. Just like Bullet Train, this movie dons a cast that does justice to the plot. For a high-paced and shockingly twisted watch, do consider this one.
Runaway Train (1985)
Another film that is much older is Runaway Train which came out in 1985. Directed by Andrey Konchalovskiy, the movie puts together a host of contrasting characters to formulate a grasping story. These people all come from different walks and professions in life.
They are all confined into a small space of a train that keeps moving forward at high speed. What is even scarier is that no one is driving it. Bullet Train shares some similarities with Runaway Train in putting together characters and making them form pacts out of necessity.
