Hop aboard the Hayabusa No. 60, where the stakes are sky-high and the brakes are nowhere to be found. Netflix’s Bullet Train Explosion, directed by Shinji Higuchi (Shin Godzilla), is a high-octane reboot of the 1975 Japanese classic The Bullet Train, streaming as of April 23, 2025. Starring Tsuyoshi Kusanagi as conductor Kazuya Takaichi, this action thriller pits railway workers and passengers against a bomb that’ll detonate if the Shinkansen drops below 120 km/h. With jaw-dropping visuals, heart-pounding suspense, and a love letter to Japan’s railway culture, Bullet Train Explosion is a crowd-pleaser that occasionally buckles under its own ambition. Think Speed with a samurai spirit—here’s why it’s worth boarding.
A High-Stakes Setup with Heart
The premise is disaster-movie catnip: an anonymous bomber demands ¥100 billion (about $710 million) to disarm a device on the Hayabusa 60, racing from Shin-Aomori to Tokyo. After detonating a freight train to flex their seriousness, the bomber forces the crew—Takaichi, driver Chika Matsumoto (Non), and young conductor Fujii (Kanata Hosoda)—to keep the train speeding while authorities, led by control center commander Kasagi (Takumi Saitoh), scramble for solutions. Add a colorful passenger roster, from politician Yuko Kagami (Machiko Ono) to YouTuber Todoroki (Jun Kaname), and you’ve got a pressure cooker of drama and heroics.
Higuchi, a lifelong train enthusiast, infuses every frame with authenticity, thanks to a rare collaboration with East Japan Railway Company (JR East). Unlike the 1975 original, which lacked railway backing, Bullet Train Explosion uses real Shinkansen trains, control rooms, and a 1/6-scale model for explosive crash scenes. The result is a visual stunner, with CGI-enhanced vistas and LED wall tech that put you right on the tracks. Variety praises Higuchi’s “smart characters” who solve problems with ingenuity, and a daring mid-movement passenger transfer via a temporary bridge had me glued to my screen.
Standout Performances and Japanese Soul
Kusanagi grounds the film with quiet intensity, playing Takaichi as a conductor whose duty feels almost sacred. His line to students—“We’re all heading in the same direction”—is a bit on-the-nose but nails the film’s theme of collective grit. Non, as driver Matsumoto, shines with fierce resolve, earning buzz for her commanding presence. The ensemble, including Hana Toyoshima as spunky student Yuzuki, adds emotional heft, though subplots like Todoroki’s livestreamed chaos feel tacked on.
What makes Bullet Train Explosion unique is its celebration of Japan’s Shinkansen and the workers who keep it humming. Higuchi told AP News the train embodies Japan’s “samurai spirit” of precision and sacrifice, and scenes like the control room’s model-train strategy—called “one of the most tense” by Roger Ebert—drive this home. It’s less about Hollywood heroics and more about everyday people rising to the occasion, drawing United 93 comparisons from Indian Express.
Hits and Misses
When it’s firing on all cylinders, Bullet Train Explosion is a masterclass in suspense. A track-switching sequence to avoid a stalled train is edge-of-your-seat stuff, and the villain’s reveal, tied to the 1975 incident, adds a surprising layer of generational trauma (Digital Spy unpacks this twist well). Higuchi’s blend of practical effects, miniatures, and Koichi Noguchi’s pulsing score keeps the adrenaline high. Roger Ebert calls it a “straight-down-the-line crowdpleaser,” and the control room’s technical wizardry is a highlight.
But the film’s not without derailments. At 2 hours and 14 minutes, it sags in the middle, with passenger backstories that don’t always connect. AV Club dubbed it “sluggish” despite its polish, and I found Kagami’s political redemption arc a momentum-killer. The PG-13 rating keeps it accessible but softens the bomb’s threat—don’t expect Shin Godzilla’s bite. Rotten Tomatoes shows a 69% score, reflecting the split: IndieWire found it too conventional, while Indian Express praised its “glossy, fast-paced” nod to 1970s disaster flicks.
A Netflix Gem with Flaws
Bullet Train Explosion showcases Netflix’s knack for bold, global stories. Higuchi, who faced casting hurdles due to Kusanagi’s past agency issues, credited Netflix to Deadline for bypassing Japan’s studio politics. The result is a film that feels both nostalgic and fresh, melding the 1975 original’s spirit with modern flair. Fans of the original will appreciate the callbacks, while newcomers will dig the sleek thrills.
It’s not a perfect trip—the runtime needs a trim, and some characters feel like excess baggage. But as a tribute to Japan’s railway legacy and a showcase of human resilience, it’s a blast. Bullet Train Explosion delivers heart, spectacle, and enough Shinkansen swagger to make you rethink your next train ride. Stream it now on Netflix, and brace for a wild journey.
Rating: ★★★½ out of 5
Where to Watch: Streaming on Netflix
Runtime: 2 hours, 14 minutes
For Fans Of: Speed, The Towering Inferno, Shin Godzilla
