--- title: "Bullet Train: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/bullet-train/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/bullet-train" critics_score: 48 critics_reviews: 28 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Bullet Train (2022): what the critics said Critics' score 48 from 28 reviews: 6 positive, 10 mixed, 12 negative. ## Empire — Ben Travis Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 August 2022. The action and cast chemistry deliver a slick, cartoonish ride with fun set-pieces, but it stays surface-level with shallow themes and tokenistic elements. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/bullet-train/) ## Slant Magazine — Wes Greene Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 August 2022. The critic praises the film's verve and craft in blending action with humorous digressions and empathetic characterizations that humanize the violent psychopaths. It notes the narrative momentum and heart beneath the carnage, though the climax becomes overly bombastic. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/bullet-train-review-brad-pitt-sandra-bullock/) ## Total Film Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 August 2022. Too many twists and tropes make it flabby, but the cast, comedy, and carnage create a zippy, enjoyable ride buoyed by stylish violence and a disposable A-list ensemble. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/bullet-train-review-brad-pitt/) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 3 August 2022. The critic sees the film as elaborate, ridiculous, compelling and fun, with impressive choreography and verve that embraces its artificiality. It highlights the expert staging of action and the film's refusal to take itself too seriously. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/movie-review-bullet-train-starring-brad-pitt.html) ## Radio Times — Emma Simmonds Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 3 August 2022. The critic calls it a mixed bag that settles affably into its stride thanks to charming performances from Pitt, Henry and Taylor-Johnson, but notes the script isn’t always the sharpest and points out issues with whitewashing the source material. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/bullet-train-review/) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 2 August 2022. It delivers a cartoonishly over-the-top high-speed battle royal with eccentric assassins and hot-potato plotting choreographed by a former stuntman. The film wears its pop style on its sleeve but lacks the vision or wit of its influences. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2022/film/reviews/bullet-train-review-brad-pitt-1235331291/) ## Sight and Sound Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 4 August 2022. The critic notes some accomplished fight sequences, atmospheric lighting and a game performance from Brad Pitt, but finds the film’s reliance on modern blockbuster tropes grows tiring and its final act drives it off the rails. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/bullet-train-mind-gap-between-its-ears) ## Evening Standard — Stephanie Bunbury Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 4 August 2022. The film is fun up to a point with contrived battles and strong cast moments, but lacks comic snap and the action becomes too insistent and repetitive. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/bullet-train-movie-review-brad-pitt-aaron-taylor-johnson-b1016424.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 7 August 2022. The movie is sleek and shiny on the outside but empty and shallow on the inside, a glib slice of action entertainment that resists revealing any inner life from its characters. The appealing global cast and nonstop action provide some appeal. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-08-07/bullet-train-review-brad-pitt) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 5 August 2022. The comic nihilism feels labored and the film comes across as a juiced-up version of Murder on the Orient Express without a narrative puzzle to solve. Brad Pitt drifts through the carnage with unbothered charm, the only element to emerge with credit. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/08/15/why-does-the-comic-nihilism-of-bullet-train-feel-so-labored) ## The AV Club — Todd Gilchrist Rating D. 2 August 2022. The critic calls the film bloated, tedious, dim-witted, and glib, saying it falls short in mimicking Tarantino and Ritchie styles. Pitt's performance drags the film along amid predictability and lack of personality from the director. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/bullet-train-review-brad-pitt-david-leitch-1849358392) ## Financial Times — Danny Leigh Rating ★★☆☆☆. 4 August 2022. The critic finds Pitt’s comic chops cannot save an ultra-violent crime caper stuffed with self-delighted banter and meandering execution. They single out the lack of snap and slow-moving pace for complaint despite the star’s nimble performance. [Read the review](https://www.ft.com/content/4b1c7b3d-0307-401b-8344-743344ad8824) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 2 August 2022. Festival review. The critic finds the self-consciously hip action-comedy bolstered by a game cast led by Brad Pitt but criticises Leitch for indulging in a pseudo-Tarantino mix of outlandish violence and quirky character beats that can’t hide its lack of originality. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/bullet-train-review/5173142.article) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 2 August 2022. The critic finds the film an exhausting and overwhelmingly unfunny gonzo-violent action comedy that feels like a sub-Guy Ritchie clanger. They single out the placeholder dialogue, unexciting fights and cursory Japanese setting for complaint. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/aug/02/bullet-train-review-brad-pitt-choo-chooses-badly-with-runaway-vehicle) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 2 August 2022. The critic finds the film a high-octane bore, criticizing its tedious plotting, one-note characters, and soulless action despite Pitt's charisma. The review notes the director's stunt background but faults the overall execution and lack of engaging characters. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/bullet-train-brad-pitt-review-1235190275/) ## The i Paper — Christina Newland Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 3 August 2022. It has glimmers of amusement and inventive fight choreography but is too smarmy, convoluted, and assumes viewer stupidity with repetitive exposition and obnoxious tone. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/bullet-train-movie-review-brad-pitt-1776218) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 4 August 2022. The critic calls the film a watchable but predictably stupid and giddily violent bummer set on a high-speed train turned theater of death. The likable cast and stunt choreography stand out as attractions. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/04/movies/bullet-train-review.html) ## The Times — Kevin Maher Rating ★★☆☆☆. 3 August 2022. The critic says even Brad Pitt’s swagger is derailed by the film’s emotional emptiness, describing it as little more than a series of fights on a train. They single out the utter lack of depth in characters and story for complaint. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/bullet-train-review-even-brad-pitts-defiant-swagger-is-derailed-by-the-emotional-emptiness-njwtnrxrm) ## Little White Lies — Charles Bramesco Rating 3/1/1. 2 August 2022. The critic dismisses the film as derivative of Tarantino with recycled clichés, smugness-as-comedy and a facile relationship to Japanese cultural signifiers, concluding that the whole thing has run out of steam. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/bullet-train) ## The Telegraph — Chief Film Critic Rating 1/5. 4 August 2022. The critic calls the film a runaway wreck and the cinematic equivalent of a delayed, broken-down train. They single out the miscast Brad Pitt, bloated running time and lack of propulsion for complaint. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/bullet-train-review-brad-pitt-goes-rails-runaway-wreck/) ## Collider — Ross Bonaime Rating B. 2 August 2022. The critic finds Bullet Train knowingly absurd and fun overall, praising the cast's chemistry and action sequences, especially those featuring Pitt, Taylor-Johnson, and Henry, while noting repetitive and convoluted plot elements. [Read the review](https://collider.com/bullet-train-review-brad-pitt-aaron-taylor-johnson-david-leitch/) ## Polygon — Joshua Rivera Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 August 2022. The critic describes it as a Looney Tunes-esque action-comedy with strong, characterful action staging and fun performances, particularly Pitt's, though it over-relies on hit-or-miss jokes and could benefit from more focus on its Japanese characters. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23288981/bullet-train-review-brad-pitt-john-wick/) ## Digital Spy — Ian Sandwell Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 2 August 2022. The critic calls it an entertaining action-packed ride with inventive fights and a strong ensemble cast that ultimately falls short of an action classic in the final act. The contained setting and darkly funny beats are singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a40768794/bullet-train-review-brad-pitt-joey-king/) ## /Film — Josh Spiegel Rating 6/10. 2 August 2022. Bullet Train is a slick but glib and only moderately entertaining adventure that feels indebted to Guy Ritchie films. The critic singles out its light tone and lack of superheroes as a mild positive while noting it falls short of better similar movies. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/948954/bullet-train-review-a-slick-glib-moderately-entertaining-adventure/) ## HeyUGuys — Emily Breen Rating 3/5. 3 August 2022. The film is an entertaining but ultimately underwhelming action-comedy that fails to fully capitalize on its premise or source material. The critic praises the Shinkansen setting and some strong supporting performances but criticizes the misjudged tone and lack of depth. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/bullet-train-review/) ## NME — Paul Bradshaw Rating 3/5. 2 August 2022. The critic sees it as a raucous ’90s throwback that delivers cracking fight scenes and gleeful gore when Leitch sticks to his strengths, but loses momentum with too many twists and a sloppy CGI ending. Brad Pitt’s charismatic performance is the main highlight. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/bullet-train-review-brad-pitt-3281798) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 2 August 2022. The critic finds the film a frenetic but cartoonish live-action anime that never quite stays on track, with relentless action scenes and a game cast undermined by repetitive plotting and characters lacking any human credibility. Pitt's charisma and strong production values provide some entertainment value. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2022/08/bullet-train-review-brad-pitt-1235083123/) ## Den of Geek — Don Kaye Rating 2/5. 4 August 2022. The critic finds the film an overlong, tedious and self-satisfied Tarantino knockoff that fails to land its gags or story. Some praise goes to the hard-working performances of Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Joey King and Brian Tyree Henry plus striking design and cinematography. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/bullet-train-brad-pitt-action-movie-tries-too-hard-to-be-quentin-tarantino/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/bullet-train.md