Netflix has set an April 23 premiere date for Bullet Train Explosion, a modern reimagining of the 1975 cult classic The Bullet Train that helped inspire the Hollywood hit Speed.
The high-stakes thriller follows the same nail-biting premise as its predecessor — a bomb planted aboard a high-speed train will detonate if the vehicle drops below a certain speed. The Japanese-language production arrives 50 years after the original film first introduced the concept that would later influence the 1994 Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock action blockbuster.
According to the official synopsis, the plot centers on a mysterious caller who contacts the Shinkansen General Operation Control Center with a deadly threat. The saboteur demands a 100 billion yen ransom after rigging the Hayabusa No. 60 train bound for Tokyo with explosives set to detonate if the train’s speed falls below 100 km/h.
“The last-minute battle unfolds as the crew, passengers, and railroad workers strive to prevent the explosion within the limited time available,” the synopsis continues.
The remake maintains the original’s multi-perspective storytelling approach, following stressed officials, trapped passengers, and a complex antagonist whose motivations may not be entirely villainous. However, the new version enhances the visual experience with contemporary cinematography, an intense musical score, and heightened action sequences.
The East Japan Railway Company provided special cooperation for the production, allowing filmmakers to utilize authentic bullet trains and railway facilities to create a heightened sense of realism throughout the film.
Bullet Train Explosion joins Netflix’s growing catalog of international thrillers and continues the platform’s investment in Japanese-language content following recent successes in the market.
