Speed (1994)

Last updated:
August 1, 2025

Jan de Bont’s Speed (1994) isn’t just a high-octane action film—it’s a tightly wound thriller that became a template for countless imitators. With an unforgettable premise and sharp pacing, Speed transformed a runaway city bus into one of cinema’s most suspenseful set pieces.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Opening: The Elevator Hostage Situation

LAPD SWAT officers Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves) and Harry Temple (Jeff Daniels) are introduced during a tense elevator rescue. A madman named Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper), a disgruntled former bomb squad officer, has rigged a building elevator with explosives, demanding a ransom. Jack and Harry save the hostages, but Payne escapes, faking his death in the explosion.

The Bus Bomb Threat

Just as Jack thinks the ordeal is over, he receives a call from Payne the next morning. Payne has rigged a Los Angeles city bus with a bomb that will arm itself once the bus hits 50 mph—and will detonate if the speed drops below that. The kicker? Jack must ensure the bus never slows down while navigating the congested streets of LA.

Jack boards the bus mid-transit, and after the driver is injured, a passenger named Annie (Sandra Bullock) takes the wheel. She’s spirited but scared, and their dynamic becomes the emotional center of the film. Meanwhile, Jack scrambles to manage the panic on board, keep the bus moving, and outwit the bomber.

Highway Mayhem and Creative Maneuvering

The movie shifts into full-throttle mode—literally—as the bus jumps a 50-foot gap in an unfinished freeway (yes, that scene), narrowly avoids traffic, and evades police blockades. Payne watches everything from a hidden location, always one step ahead.

Meanwhile, Harry tries to trace the bomber’s identity. He ultimately discovers Payne’s location and history with the police force—but is killed when Payne detonates a booby-trapped house.

Airport and The Great Escape

Jack directs the bus to LAX, using the airport’s runways to keep moving in circles. With time running out and no way to defuse the bomb safely, he gets the passengers off using a flatbed truck and then a trapdoor under the bus. Only Annie and Jack remain.

To save themselves, they abandon the bus, letting it crash and explode—a massive, fiery wreck that ends the central set piece of the film.

Movie Ending

After the bus explosion, Jack and Annie are seemingly safe—but Payne has one last play. He kidnaps Annie, disguising himself as a police officer, and escapes onto a subway train.

Jack chases them underground. Payne attempts to kill Annie, who has been handcuffed to a pole with a bomb strapped to her. In a brutal fight atop the train, Jack decapitates Payne by slamming his head into an overhead sign.

With the subway train’s controls destroyed and the brakes nonfunctional, Jack uses a manual throttle override to speed the train up instead of slowing it down—intentionally derailing it above ground through a construction site. The train crashes spectacularly through street-level scaffolding and comes to a halt.

Annie and Jack survive, landing amidst a crowd. They kiss, bruised but alive, joking that relationships built on extreme circumstances never work out. The film ends with that iconic shot of wreckage and romance.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Speed does not have any post-credits scenes. Like many action films of the 1990s, the credits roll immediately after the final scene without additional footage, teasers, or hidden epilogues.

Type of Movie

Speed is a high-concept action thriller, known for its relentless pacing, grounded stakes, and clever tension-building mechanics. It also contains elements of disaster films, cat-and-mouse suspense, and a touch of romantic chemistry.

Cast

Keanu Reeves as Jack Traven
Sandra Bullock as Annie Porter
Dennis Hopper as Howard Payne
Jeff Daniels as Harry Temple
Joe Morton as Lt. “Mac” McMahon
Alan Ruck as Stephens (the annoying tourist guy)

Film Music and Composer

The intense and pulse-pounding score was composed by Mark Mancina, who delivered an iconic 90s action sound. The music heightens the suspense, particularly during the bus scenes, and blends electronic beats with traditional orchestration.

Filming Locations

Los Angeles, California: Most of the movie was shot on location in and around LA, including downtown, the 105 Freeway (which was under construction at the time), and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Metro Red Line: The subway sequence was filmed in the LA Metro system with modified sets to accommodate the stunts.
The realism of these locations helped ground the action in a believable, urban environment, making the outlandish premise feel visceral.

Awards and Nominations

Academy Awards:

Won:
- Best Sound
- Best Sound Effects Editing
Nominated:
- Best Film Editing

Other Awards:

Multiple wins at the MTV Movie Awards, including Best On-Screen Duo (Reeves and Bullock)
BAFTA nomination for Best Editing

Behind the Scenes Insights

The bus actually jumped 50 feet during filming. The stunt was real, with CGI only used to clean up the background.
Sandra Bullock learned to drive a bus for her role (though a stunt driver was used for dangerous scenes).
The original ending involved the bus exploding in Hollywood, but the LAX ending was considered more cinematic.
The freeway jump wasn’t in the script—it was added after a producer dreamt it.
Keanu Reeves shaved his head for the role, which initially upset studio executives.

Inspirations and References

The film draws inspiration from 1970s disaster movies like The Taking of Pelham One Two Three and Airport.
There are thematic parallels to Die Hard, especially with the isolated setting and lone hero facing a villain with a plan.
Screenwriter Graham Yost reportedly got the idea from a Japanese action movie concept involving a train.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

Early drafts had a more subdued climax without the subway chase.
An extended version of the elevator rescue was shot but trimmed for pacing.
A deleted scene featured a subplot where Payne taunts Annie over the radio, further developing their antagonism.

Book Adaptations and Differences

There is no novel that Speed was directly adapted from. However, it inspired novelizations and unofficial sequels in book form. The original screenplay was significantly rewritten by Joss Whedon, who polished dialogue and added humor, though he is uncredited.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

The elevator rescue in the opening.
The bus jump over the freeway gap.
Annie driving the bus through downtown LA traffic.
The final subway crash and fight on top of the train.

Iconic Quotes

“Pop quiz, hotshot: There’s a bomb on a bus…” – Howard Payne
“If the bus drops below 50, it blows up. What do you do?”
“I’m smarter than you!” – Howard Payne (right before getting decapitated)
“Relationships that start under intense circumstances, they never last.” – Annie

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

The bus is labeled “2525”—a reference to the song “In the Year 2525”, possibly symbolizing a doomed future.
The number “13” appears multiple times subtly, often tied to bad luck moments.
Dennis Hopper’s character shares a last name (“Payne”) with the theme of the movie—pain.

Trivia

Keanu Reeves did 90% of his own stunts.
The bus was rigged with a secret fifth wheel to stabilize it during the jump.
Sandra Bullock replaced another actress just weeks before shooting.
The screenplay was originally set on a train, not a bus.
A sequel (Speed 2: Cruise Control) was made in 1997—but without Keanu, and it was universally panned.

Why Watch?

Speed is a masterclass in suspense pacing. Its genius lies in taking a simple premise (“don’t slow down”) and extracting every ounce of tension, character development, and kinetic energy from it. It’s a lean, edge-of-your-seat thrill ride that never lets up—and features the rise of Sandra Bullock as a lovable leading lady.

Director’s Other Movies

Twister (1996)
The Haunting (1999)
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003)
(Speed was Jan de Bont’s directorial debut—he was previously a cinematographer on Die Hard and Basic Instinct)

Speed (1994)