Speed (1994 film)

Speed
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJan de Bont
Written byGraham Yost
Produced byMark Gordon
Starring
CinematographyAndrzej Bartkowiak
Edited byJohn Wright
Music byMark Mancina
Production
company
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release dates
  • June 7, 1994 (1994-06-07) (Hollywood)
  • June 10, 1994 (1994-06-10) (United States)
Running time
116 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$30–37 million[1][2]
Box office$350.4 million[3]

Speed is a 1994 American action thriller film directed by Jan de Bont in his feature directorial debut, with a screenplay by Graham Yost. The film stars Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, and Sandra Bullock in lead roles, with Joe Morton and Jeff Daniels in supporting roles.

The plot centers around a city bus rigged by a vengeful extortionist (Hopper) to explode if its speed drops below 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). Reeves plays an LAPD officer tasked with preventing the disaster, with Bullock portraying a passenger who becomes unexpectedly involved in the mission.

Speed premiered on June 10, 1994, to widespread critical acclaim, with high praise directed at its fast-paced action sequences, direction, and performances by Reeves, Hopper and Bullock. The film emerged as a major commercial success at the box-office, grossing over $350 million worldwide against a budget of $30–37 million, ranking as the fifth-highest grossing film of 1994. It catapulted Reeves into action-hero stardom and solidified Bullock's status as a leading Hollywood actress.

At the 67th Academy Awards, Speed won Best Sound Effects Editing and Best Sound. The film also won Best Sound and Best Editing at the 48th British Academy Film Awards.

A sequel, Speed 2: Cruise Control, was released on June 13, 1997, but performed poorly, receiving widespread criticism for Reeves' absence and the film's change in setting. It is often cited as one of the worst sequels and action films ever made.[4][5]

  1. ^ Weinraub, Bernard (June 11, 1994). "Hurtling to the Top: A Director Is Born". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 26, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  2. ^ Bart, Peter (July 29, 2021). "Peter Bart: Hollywood Yearns For Budget-Bending Box Office Blast-Offs Of Former Summers". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 11, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference mojo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "59 Worst Sequels of All Time". Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  5. ^ Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997) - Awards - IMDb. Retrieved April 13, 2024 – via www.imdb.com.