Speed

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Keanu Reeves, who shines in movies like the John Wick series, The Matrix: Resurrections, Toy Story 4, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3, among others, can’t always be topped. When you ask someone about his best action movie, you might hear various responses such as Point Break, The Matrix, or Constantine. However, a film that is sure to come up in the conversation is Speed, the 1994 action masterpiece that caused many people to develop a temporary phobia of buses for a while.

Speed is enthralling audiences once again on streaming, as Max users can’t get enough of Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock driving a bus and stopping a domestic terrorist (Speed was a wild movie!). The movie is currently putting in a strong showing on Max’s Top 10 most popular movies of the week — if it drops below fifth place, it might explode. Directed by Jan de Bont, Speed stars Reeves as Jack Tavern, a maverick young cop who becomes embroiled in the schemes of terrorist Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper). After responding to a bomb threat on a bus, Jack Tavern, and passenger Annie (Sandra Bullock) must keep the bus above 50 miles-per-hour, or it will explode.

In the company of a stellar ensemble featuring Joe Morton, Jeff Daniels, and Alan Ruck, and boasting spectacular stunts like leaping a bus over a damaged overpass, Speed undeniably solidified Keanu Reeves as a leading action star. This film marked a significant transition in his career, following his days as a lazy rocker in Bill and Ted, but preceding his groundbreaking performance in the Wachowskis’ The Matrix, which debuted five years later in 1999. The audience adored Speed and it maintains a commendable 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Not only was it nominated for three Academy Awards, but it also won two, for Best Sound and Best Effects.

Could ‘Speed 3’ Ever Happen?

As a movie enthusiast, if you found yourself questioning, “Hold on, isn’t that Speed 3? But what about Speed 2?” then it’s understandable if you forgot about the less favorably received 1997 sequel. In Speed 2: Cruise Control, Sandra Bullock reprised her role, with Jason Patric taking over from Keanu Reeves, who declined the sequel due to its subpar script.

In a surprising twist, the action-packed film formerly known as Cruise Control has transformed its city bus into a luxurious ocean liner. Scenes of daring stunts like leaping over damaged intersections and colliding with deserted airfields have been replaced by… endless sailing. Yes, you guessed it, plenty of sailing! The sequel to the original Speed, titled Speed 2: Cruise Control, was met with scorn from both fans and critics, earning a dismal 4% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Although the second installment in the Speed series didn’t fare well, there’s a possibility that the franchise could live on in the future. Last October, an executive from 20th Century Studios hinted at a potential revival of the action franchise, featuring its original stars Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. However, any continuation would need to be done with careful consideration. As he put it, “Speed is one of those last movies that we haven’t remade.” The actors would need to play a significant role in shaping the concept for this potential revival.

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2025-02-07 19:01