The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

Name: The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime
Released: June 12, 2009
Duration: 106 min
Rating: 55
Cast: Denzel Washington, John Travolta

2009

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 34 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 164 Ratings

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6.4

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6.4	Your Score
6.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 164 Ratings

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THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123

Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: June 12, 2009

Starring: Denzel Washington, John Travolta

Summary: In The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, New York City subway dispatcher, Walter Garber's, day is thrown into chaos by an audacious crime: the hijacking of a subway train. Ryder, the criminal mastermind who, as leader of a highly-armed gang of four, threatens to execute the train’s passengers unless a large ransom is paid within one hour. As theIn The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, New York City subway dispatcher, Walter Garber's, day is thrown into chaos by an audacious crime: the hijacking of a subway train. Ryder, the criminal mastermind who, as leader of a highly-armed gang of four, threatens to execute the train’s passengers unless a large ransom is paid within one hour. As the tension mounts beneath his feet, Garber employs his vast knowledge of the subway system in a battle to outwit Ryder and save the hostages. But there’s one riddle Garber can't solve: even if the thieves get the money, how can they possibly escape? (Sony Pictures)… Expand

Director: Tony Scott

Genre(s): Action, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 106 min

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Awards & Rankings

65	#65 Most Discussed Movie of 2009
75	#75 Most Shared Movie of 2009

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Rolling Stone - Peter Travers

It's a first-class ride. All aboard. Read full review

New York Daily News - Joe Neumaier

A fast and relentless hostage thriller that never stops. Read full review

USA Today - Claudia Puig

The new Pelham takes the chilling original premise and modifies it for an era steeped in technology, making for an energetic and engrossing adaptation. Read full review

Boston Globe - Ty Burr

By itself, the new "Pelham" is a solid, suspenseful tale all over again, so long as it stays in the subway tunnels and airless offices of the transit department. Read full review

New York Magazine (Vulture) - David Edelstein

Watching this Pelham--a money job from its conception--you can believe that there's no other motivation on Earth. Read full review

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) - Liam Lacey

An efficiently engineered piece of studio product, enjoyable enough at times, but with an unmistakable assembly-line quality. Read full review

Salon - Andrew O'Hehir

Disposable crap. Read full review

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User Reviews

LoganH

Nov 3, 2009

Actors in this movie seem like they were given a lot of freedom in this movie and just have fun. Denzel and Travolta are amazing in this movie.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

BobK

Jun 29, 2009

I'm surprised this movie got such mediocre reviews. It was good entertainment and well worth the admission. It's been a long time since I've seen the original - maybe I'll try and rent it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

TomS

Jun 14, 2009

All action. Not a boring moment. A lot of fun.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Fantasy

Jun 14, 2009

Fast pace hostage thriller with John Travolta as the BAD guy and Denzel Washington the GOOD guy. Many plot holes in the story as it would have been nice to have character development to see why they became who they were? In the end, the movie loses its credibility as Denzel reverts from Fast pace hostage thriller with John Travolta as the BAD guy and Denzel Washington the GOOD guy. Many plot holes in the story as it would have been nice to have character development to see why they became who they were? In the end, the movie loses its credibility as Denzel reverts from ordinary Joe Citizen to action hero. The whole premise was ridiculous in the first place. Not a bad movie but not a good one either. A nice way to spend a rainy afternoon.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

EpicLadySponge

Apr 4, 2016

Pelham 1 has been found just standing right there without any movement. Pelham 2 is just moving all over the place with no aim to go to. Pelham 3 and their rides have been canceled for these people's safety.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

seifer

Jan 6, 2011

This movie could use some work, it seems as though it was made in a space a 1hr... because it's tripe... but with some advantages... NO further discussion... so 4!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Robert

Jun 17, 2009

The movie was good to start and then fell apart completely. Whoever writes this crap should be arrested for impersonating a writer. Let me ask a question? Would someone just released from prison use his own name and invest millions but never consummate the trade to lock up a profit? And The movie was good to start and then fell apart completely. Whoever writes this crap should be arrested for impersonating a writer. Let me ask a question? Would someone just released from prison use his own name and invest millions but never consummate the trade to lock up a profit? And would that person risk his own life instead of hiring thugs to pull off his masterplan for chump change? Would a mild mannered transit worker who rides the trains to and from work suddenly learn how to shoot a gun and drive thru the streets of NY like Evil Knievel? And if a black man ran around the streets of NY waving a gun do you think that somewhere someone may have called a policeman? And if a subway train is roaring out of control on elevated tracks do you think that one of the passengers might dial 911 on their cell to advise that there is no motorman? And there's an open computer the entire time. There were more plot holes in this movie than swiss cheese. After the movie is over you start thinking and nothing makes any sense. Just awful.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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