Bullet Train (2022) is an action-packed, darkly comedic thriller directed by David Leitch, best known for his work on John Wick and Atomic Blonde. Set almost entirely on a high-speed train racing through Japan, this film combines over-the-top action, witty banter, and a wild ensemble of assassins who all find themselves entangled in the same chaotic mission.
Detailed Summary
Opening: The Train Ride from Hell Begins
The film starts with a Japanese father whose young son is pushed off a rooftop by mysterious criminals. His father, known only as The Elder (Hiroyuki Sanada), vows revenge. Meanwhile, across the city, a hitman code-named Ladybug (Brad Pitt) reluctantly returns to work after a long break focused on therapy and inner peace. His new mission? Retrieve a briefcase filled with ransom money aboard a bullet train heading from Tokyo to Kyoto.
The Assassins Assemble
As Ladybug boards the train, he quickly realizes he’s not alone. Other assassins are also after the same briefcase:
- Tangerine (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Lemon (Brian Tyree Henry), British brothers nicknamed “The Twins,” assigned to escort the briefcase and the kidnapped son of a powerful Russian crime lord known as The White Death.
- The Prince (Joey King), a manipulative young woman posing as an innocent schoolgirl.
- The Wolf (Bad Bunny), a Mexican assassin seeking vengeance for his wedding’s bloody massacre.
These killers all clash in the confined space of the train, leading to a series of chaotic, violent, and hilariously unlucky encounters.
Ladybug’s Terrible Luck
Despite trying to avoid conflict, Ladybug keeps accidentally killing or knocking out fellow assassins, insisting he’s “not into the whole murder vibe anymore.” He constantly references his therapist and blames bad luck for his problems. Meanwhile, the briefcase keeps changing hands as alliances shift and bodies pile up.
The White Death’s Web of Revenge
As the plot thickens, it’s revealed that the White Death orchestrated the entire situation. Every assassin on the train played a role in the death of his wife — including Ladybug, who unknowingly replaced another hitman (Carver) on this mission. Essentially, the train is a death trap designed to kill everyone involved in the White Death’s vendetta.
The Elder’s Arrival
The Elder boards the train halfway through the journey to protect his son and settle an old score with the White Death. His calm, philosophical demeanor contrasts sharply with the chaotic energy of the other assassins.
Movie Ending
As the train nears Kyoto, chaos erupts. Tangerine dies in a shootout, leaving Lemon devastated. The White Death’s men surround the station, but Ladybug, The Elder, and his son manage to keep the train moving. In a high-speed crash sequence, the bullet train derails and barrels through Kyoto’s streets in a spectacular CGI explosion of metal and debris.
The survivors crawl from the wreckage: Ladybug, The Elder, The Elder’s son, Lemon, and The Prince. The Prince attempts to manipulate The White Death into killing himself by giving him a booby-trapped gun. Ironically, when he tries to shoot Ladybug, the gun backfires — literally — blowing his own face off. The Prince gloats, thinking she’s won, but then gets run over by a tangerine truck (a darkly comic nod to Lemon and Tangerine’s partnership).
Ladybug, barely conscious but alive, finally completes his mission — though the briefcase is destroyed. He’s met by his handler (Sandra Bullock, in a brief cameo), and the two walk away from the wreckage as dawn rises over Kyoto. Ladybug’s luck, for once, seems to have turned.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
Yes — there’s a mid-credits scene (but no full post-credits scene). In it, Lemon is revealed to have survived by jumping off the train before the crash. He avenges his brother by running over the surviving goons with the very tangerine truck that kills The Prince. It’s a perfectly chaotic, fitting conclusion to the Lemon-Tangerine storyline.
Type of Movie
Bullet Train is a stylized action-comedy and neo-noir thriller. It mixes martial arts, slapstick humor, and Tarantino-style dialogue, wrapped in a neon-lit, hyper-kinetic package.
Cast
- Brad Pitt as Ladybug
- Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Tangerine
- Brian Tyree Henry as Lemon
- Joey King as The Prince
- Bad Bunny as The Wolf
- Andrew Koji as The Father
- Hiroyuki Sanada as The Elder
- Michael Shannon as The White Death
- Sandra Bullock as Maria (Ladybug’s handler)
- Zazie Beetz as The Hornet
Film Music and Composer
The score was composed by Dominic Lewis, blending J-pop, funk, and orchestral tension. The soundtrack features upbeat Japanese covers of Western hits, including “Stayin’ Alive” by Bee Gees (Japanese version), which perfectly captures the movie’s offbeat tone.
Filming Locations
Although set in Japan, the film was primarily shot at Sony Pictures Studios in Los Angeles. A few establishing shots of Tokyo and Kyoto were filmed on location, but most of the train interiors were elaborate sets enhanced with LED screens simulating speed and movement. This technique allowed for dynamic camera angles and realistic lighting reflections.
Awards and Nominations
While Bullet Train didn’t receive major awards, it was nominated for several visual and stunt coordination awards and praised for its production design and fight choreography.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Brad Pitt did 95% of his own stunts.
- Director David Leitch is Pitt’s former stunt double from Fight Club and Troy.
- The movie’s tone evolved in editing — early cuts were darker, but Pitt pushed for more humor.
- Joey King trained in Krav Maga and weapon handling for her role.
- The Wolf’s wedding scene was inspired by The Godfather’s chaos-meets-celebration tone.
Inspirations and References
- Based loosely on the Japanese novel Maria Beetle by Kōtarō Isaka.
- Stylistically influenced by Guy Ritchie, Tarantino, and anime aesthetics.
- The visual design borrows from Japanese pop culture, neon signage, and even Kill Bill-style color palettes.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
Deleted scenes include:
- A longer flashback of The White Death’s rise to power.
- A comedic therapy session between Ladybug and Maria (Brad Pitt and Sandra Bullock) that was cut for pacing.
- Early drafts included a darker ending where Ladybug died, but test audiences preferred the lighter, ironic finale.
Book Adaptation and Differences
In Maria Beetle, the tone is more subdued and introspective. The assassins are less exaggerated, and the humor is darker. The movie amplifies the comedy, adds more action, and changes several character fates — for example, The White Death is Japanese in the novel, but Russian in the film.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Ladybug vs. Lemon’s quiet fight while trying not to wake passengers.
- The Wolf’s flashback of the blood-soaked wedding.
- Tangerine and Lemon arguing about Thomas the Tank Engine morals mid-fight.
- The final train crash sequence in Kyoto.
Iconic Quotes
- Ladybug: “I’m not unlucky. People just keep dying around me.”
- Lemon: “Everything comes down to Thomas the Tank Engine.”
- The Prince: “You think I’m a schoolgirl? That’s your mistake.”
- Ladybug: “Let this be a lesson in perspective… and brakes.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The code name “Ladybug” symbolizes luck and transformation — themes that run throughout.
- A sticker of Thomas the Tank Engine appears in multiple scenes, hinting at Lemon’s moral compass.
- Cameos: Channing Tatum and Ryan Reynolds appear briefly (Reynolds as Carver, Ladybug’s replacement).
- The tangerine truck brand is a nod to the twins’ name and their story arc’s closure.
Trivia
- Brad Pitt called Bullet Train his “summer action therapy movie.”
- The film features over 120 on-train fight sequences.
- David Leitch used the same stunt team from John Wick and Deadpool 2.
- Each assassin’s costume subtly reflects their personality (e.g., Lemon’s bright yellow tie).
Why Watch?
Watch Bullet Train if you love chaotic, stylish action movies filled with absurd humor, slick fight choreography, and colorful characters. It’s Kill Bill meets John Wick — with a dash of Snatch’s attitude.
Director’s Other Movies
- John Wick (2014) – co-directed
- Atomic Blonde (2017)
- Deadpool 2 (2018)
- Hobbs & Shaw (2019)
- The Fall Guy (2024)
