The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

Play trailer

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

R

1974

1h 44m

Mystery & Thriller

Action

Crime

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

45 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

In New York City, a criminal gang led by the ruthless Mr. Blue (Robert Shaw) hijacks a subway car and threatens to start shooting one passenger per minute unless they receive a million dollars in cash from the city within an hour. On the other end of the line, crusty veteran transit policeman Zachary Garber (Walter Matthau) has his hands full dealing with the mayor's office and his hotheaded fellow cops, while also trying to deliver the ransom before the deadline expires.

Critics Consensus

Breezy, thrilling, and quite funny, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three sees Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw pitted against each other in effortlessly high form.

Read Critics Reviews

Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

09/21/2023

The movie must have been an editor's nightmare: the scenes are thudders, and the whole thing was punched together -- with no glue but the basic idea.

Go to Full Review

Jerry Renshaw

Austin Chronicle

03/07/2021

Stiller is terrific as a transit authority police lieutenant, as is Matthau as the rather sour cop who has to outsmart the bad guys.

Go to Full Review

John H. Dorr

The Hollywood Reporter

10/03/2018

The large, well-characterized cast is ably headed by Walter Matthau, whose wonderfully weary sense of irony is perfect.

Go to Full Review

Don Shanahan

Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast

09/26/2023

This movie walked... err... rolled so "Die Hard" could run a decade and a half later.

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

02/15/2023

4/4

Filled with distinctive characters and crackling dialogue -- and always with another surprise up its sleeve.

Go to Full Review

Joe Nolan

Nashville Scene

09/13/2021

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three's title is as memorable as its unique hold-a-subway-car-hostage take on the heist film

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Nathan Y.

@NathanYatesDouglass Apr 4

Somehow funny and off-beat while serious. Akin to Die Hard in ways. Dips a little heavily into NYC stereotypes but that kind of works somehow. A fun ride. Walter Matthau just at peak charisma in this.

See more

Lars N

@movie_douche Apr 1

Fun as a product of it's time rather than an actual thrilling film. Every New York stereotype on display here.

See more

Irene M

@igawel Mar 11

Watching as part of a "competency porn" festival. I was expecting something very gritty and serious, like "Dog Day afternoon", but instead I was pleasantly surprised by the mix of comedy with the drama. And yes, it is a microcosm of NYC in the 70s.

See more

Rio P

@Ericraymond111 Feb 22

Great movie I have seen it many times

See more

Giacomo M

@Iamsparticus Dec 25

Watching this again for the enth time, it is a classic gritty New York crime thriller set in the early 70s. Simple story, fantastic acting, great music. I absolutely love it. First saw it in 1975 in some second rate south London cinema. It grabbed me then, it still grabs me today. I highly recommend it.

See more

thiago s

@Thiagostone Dec 22

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Joseph Sargent

Director

Walter Matthau

Lt. Zachary Garber

Robert Shaw

Blue

Martin Balsam

Green

Héctor Elizondo

Grey

Earl Hindman

Brown

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three: Official Clip - I'm Taking Your Train

2:04

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three: Official Clip - Gesundheit!

2:08

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three: Official Clip - Rolling in Dough

2:00

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three: Official Clip - The Mayor and His Wife

2:21

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three: Official Clip - The Money Has Arrived

2:35

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three: Official Clip - Meeting the Demands

2:06

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three: Official Clip - You're a Sick Man, Rico

1:22

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three: Official Clip - Mr. Blue Electrocutes Himself

2:03

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three: Official Clip - Trying to Negotiate

1:44

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three: Official Clip - Runaway Train

1:24

View more videos

Magnum Force

69%

78%

Magnum Force

Watchlist

Dirty Harry

89%

90%

Dirty Harry

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Dirty Harry

The Enforcer

32%

49%

The Enforcer

Watchlist

Death Wish 3

14%

53%

Death Wish 3

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Death Wish 3

Death Wish II

33%

44%

Death Wish II

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Five Favorite Films with Patton Oswalt

Gandolfini Joins Pelham One Two Three Remake

Tony Scott Directing Don Aronow Biopic

View more photos

Synopsis

In New York City, a criminal gang led by the ruthless Mr. Blue (Robert Shaw) hijacks a subway car and threatens to start shooting one passenger per minute unless they receive a million dollars in cash from the city within an hour. On the other end of the line, crusty veteran transit policeman Zachary Garber (Walter Matthau) has his hands full dealing with the mayor's office and his hotheaded fellow cops, while also trying to deliver the ransom before the deadline expires.

Director: Joseph Sargent
Producer: Gabriel Katzka, Edgar J. Scherick
Screenwriter: John Godey, Peter Stone
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Action, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 2, 1974, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 6, 2010
Runtime: 1h 44m

Most Popular at Home Now