David Leitch’s Bullet Train is a sleek, stylish, and darkly comedic action thriller that hurls audiences into a non-stop ride of violence, wit, and unexpected twists. Released in 2022 and based on Kōtarō Isaka’s novel Maria Beetle, the film follows a group of assassins with overlapping missions who find themselves aboard the same high-speed train from Tokyo to Kyoto. The confined setting becomes a pressure cooker of secrets, betrayals, and hyper-stylized action sequences.
At the center of the story is Ladybug (Brad Pitt), an unlucky but good-hearted assassin trying to go “non-lethal.” His attempt at a simple snatch-and-grab mission spirals into chaos when he encounters other killers — including the charismatic "twins" Lemon and Tangerine, a vengeful father named Yuichi Kimura, and the deadly teenage manipulator, The Prince. The film blends humor with emotional backstories, resulting in a layered narrative that keeps the audience guessing and entertained.
The direction is sharp, with fast pacing and a colorful visual palette that mirrors the chaos of the characters’ missions. Leitch, known for John Wick and Atomic Blonde, delivers thrilling fight scenes with creative choreography and slick cinematography. The soundtrack, full of Japanese covers and upbeat tracks, adds a stylish rhythm to the carnage.
Though some critics found the plot overly convoluted, Bullet Train succeeds in embracing its absurdity. It’s not meant to be realistic — it’s a high-octane, genre-bending spectacle that leans into its comic-book energy.
While Bullet Train concluded with a satisfyingly explosive finale, there’s ample room for a sequel — and fans would surely welcome a return. In Bullet Train: Return to the Rails, Ladybug is reluctantly pulled back into the world he tried to escape. This time, the train isn’t in Japan — it’s a new route, perhaps in Europe or South America, with a fresh group of deadly passengers, all chasing a mysterious briefcase tied to a global conspiracy. Old faces like Lemon might return, this time seeking revenge or redemption, while new assassins raise the stakes even higher.
As chaos unfolds again in confined, high-speed space, the sequel could deepen themes of fate, morality, and what it means to choose peace in a violent world — all while delivering the stylized action and sharp humor fans loved in the first ride.
