Keanu Reeves’s 115-Minute 10/10 Action-Thriller Epic Is Finally Streaming on Netflix
The 1994 action film Speed, directed by Jan de Bont and starring Keanu Reeves, is now available to stream on Netflix. The thriller follows Los Angeles Police Department officer Jack Traven (Reeves), who becomes entangled in a deadly confrontation with a deranged bomber (Dennis Hopper) seeking revenge. After Jack and his partner Harry Temple (Jeff Daniels) thwart the bomber’s initial attack, the criminal retaliates by detonating a bus in front of Jack before initiating an elaborate, high-stakes scheme.
Released during the golden age of 1990s action cinema, Speed distinguished itself by transposing the hostage crisis thriller formula to an unconventional setting: a city bus rigged with a bomb that will detonate if the vehicle’s speed drops below 50 miles per hour. The film represents one of the most successful and creative variations on the “Die Hard” template that dominated action filmmaking throughout the decade. With its innovative premise, practical stunt work, and relentless tension, Speed became a defining entry in pre-CGI action filmmaking. The film cemented Reeves’ emergence as an action star and showcased director de Bont’s mastery of suspenseful, high-octane set pieces.