Netflix has increasingly remade iconic movies in multiple languages to appeal to its diverse global audience. Notable examples include 2021’s The Guilty starring Jake Gyllenhaal, an English remake of a 2018 Danish film. Netflix also remade Rebecca in 2020, starring Armie Hammer and Lily James, reimagining the same novel that Alfred Hitchcock previously adapted into his 1940 film of the same name. The reception of these remakes has generally been mixed, with critics often comparing them unfavorably to the original versions.

One area of cinematic history that is largely untouched by Netflix remakes is Japanese action thrillers. During the 1970s, the genre evolved into a bolder and grittier style reflecting postwar anxieties and shifting cultural norms, often blending noir and yakuza themes with stylized violence. Directors like Kinji Fukasaku led the charge with Battles Without Honor and Humanity, which revolutionized yakuza cinema. Other iconic examples include the cult classics Female Convict Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 and Street Mobster. Now, Netflix has remade one of these iconic 1970s Japanese action thrillers.

Bullet Train Explosion Debuts With A Solid Rotten Tomatoes Score

It’s A Remake Of 1975’s The Bullet Train

Bullet Train Explosion has debuted with a solid Rotten Tomatoes score. A remake of the iconic 1975 Japanese action thriller The Bullet Train, which inspired Speed, the new movie is set aboard a speeding bullet train strapped with a bomb that will detonate if it slows below 100 km/h. Directed by Shinji Higuchi (Shin Godzilla), Bullet Train Explosion‘s cast includes Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Kanata Hosoda, Non, Takumi Saitoh, Machiko Ono, Jun Kaname, Hana Toyoshima, Satoru Matsuo, Suzuka Ohgo, and Pierre Taki.

Now, the same day it premieres on Netflix, Bullet Train Explosion has debuted with a solid 77% score on Rotten Tomatoes. It only has 13 reviews at the time of writing, so the score should fluctuate as more are published. With fewer than 50 ratings, the film does not yet have an audience score.

What Bullet Train Explosion’s Rotten Tomatoes Score Means For The Movie

What Are The Reviews Saying?

Bullet Train Explosion‘s solid Rotten Tomatoes score means that its reviews are mostly positive, with many critics praising its ability to blend edge-of-your-seat suspense with emotional storytelling. Shinji Higuchi’s direction is commended for its stunning visuals, enhanced with cutting-edge VFX. While the remake pays homage to the original film, some critics claim it doesn’t always break new ground. Some feel that, while gripping, the film isn’t always explosive. Still, Bullet Train Explosion is seen as a solid action thriller with a unique focus on everyday heroes rather than traditional action tropes.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes