Speed (1994)
Kernel Score: 79% · 6,721 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Action, Thriller
Released: 1994-06-09
Runtime: 116 minutes
Is Speed worth watching?
Worth watching. A lean, loud action thriller built on one great idea: a bus that can't slow down. Keanu Reeves is likeable, Dennis Hopper is a good villain, and it runs at the pace the title promises.
Watch it if you
- like 90s action
- enjoy a simple, high-concept premise
- want a thrill ride
Skip it if you
- want realistic action
- dislike very loud, silly plots
Best for: Action night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Speed
- Stream: Netflix, YouTube TV
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Tensions run high when a crazed bomber rigs a Los Angeles bus with a device that will kill everyone on board if the vehicle's speed dips below fifty miles per hour.
Speed parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that Speed is an R-rated action thriller centered on bomb threats and high-stakes rescue.
- Violence & scariness: Strong — Features bomb explosions, life-threatening peril, and intense action sequences throughout.
- Language: Moderate — Contains action-movie profanity typical of its R rating.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Speed
If you liked Speed, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Die Hard (1988) — 87%: The model for tense, one-location action.
- Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995) — 83%: Another cat-and-mouse action thriller with a clever bad guy.
- Face/Off (1997) — 80%: Outrageous 90s action with big performances.
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) — 95%: Big, fast action classic.
- Nobody (2021) — 89%: Lean, modern action with a hard-hitting hero.
Director
Jan de Bont
Cast
- Keanu Reeves as Jack Traven
- Dennis Hopper as Howard Payne
- Sandra Bullock as Annie
- Joe Morton as Capt. McMahon
- Jeff Daniels as Harry
- Alan Ruck as Stephens
- Glenn Plummer as Jaguar Owner
- Richard Lineback as Norwood
- Beth Grant as Helen
- Hawthorne James as Sam
Speed FAQ
Is Speed worth watching?
Worth watching. A lean, loud action thriller built on one great idea: a bus that can't slow down. Keanu Reeves is likeable, Dennis Hopper is a good villain, and it runs at the pace the title promises.
Where can I watch Speed?
In the US you can stream Speed on Netflix and YouTube TV and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Speed OK for kids?
Speed is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Speed is an R-rated action thriller centered on bomb threats and high-stakes rescue.
What movies are like Speed?
If you liked Speed, try Die Hard, Die Hard: With a Vengeance, Face/Off and Terminator 2: Judgment Day.