Overview
Two convicts on the run find themselves in a deadly race against time aboard a runaway train.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- adrenaline-fueled
- bleak
- claustrophobic
- action movie night
- 1980s movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's adrenaline-fueled train sequences and the commanding performances of Jon Voight and Eric Roberts, despite finding parts of its premise or setup absurd and routine.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
After the convicts board the locomotive, the runaway train and its tracks determine nearly every major threat and decision.
Manny's escape from maximum-security imprisonment and his conflict with warden Ranken make resistance to carceral authority central.
The prison escape begins in snowy, desolate Alaska and includes a freezing river crossing before the train ordeal.
The film's extended locomotive sequences emphasize real-feeling train movement, hazardous tracks, and escalating physical peril.
Films like Runaway Train, and why
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
survival thriller built around escalating mechanical danger, intense performances, and a hostile environment
Snowpiercer
claustrophobic train-bound action, criminal protagonists, and relentless momentum
The Great Escape
prison escape drama driven by hardened outcasts, moral conflict, and physical survival
Sorcerer
high-stakes action thriller pairing tense pursuit with psychologically forceful character dynamics
Movie Details
- Director
- Andrei Konchalovsky
- Release Date
- 1985-11-15
- Runtime
- 111 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (687)
Cast
- Jon Voight
- Eric Roberts
- Rebecca De Mornay
- Kyle T. Heffner
- John P. Ryan
- T.K. Carter
- Kenneth McMillan
- Stacey Pickren
- Walter Wyatt
- Edward Bunker
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- History Vault
- Rent
- Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Runaway Train about?
- Two escaped convicts find their hard-won freedom transformed into a fight for survival aboard an unstoppable train.
- What is Runaway Train like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Runaway Train as breakneck, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Runaway Train violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Runaway Train as moderate.
- What did critics think of Runaway Train?
- Critics broadly praised the film's adrenaline-fueled train sequences and the commanding performances of Jon Voight and Eric Roberts, despite finding parts of its premise or setup absurd and routine.
- Which films are like Runaway Train?
- Films with a similar feel include The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, Snowpiercer, The Great Escape, and Sorcerer.
- How long is Runaway Train?
- Runaway Train runs 111 minutes.
- Where can I watch Runaway Train?
- In United States, Runaway Train streams on History Vault.
