Iconic Train Movies Across Genres

Trains are a powerful storytelling device. They can work as an ideal setting for action, drama, or comedy. No matter the genre, trains bring something extra to the screen.

Thrilling mysteries

Trains are a perfect setting for mystery. Confined spaces, limited exits, and a cast of strangers immediately create unease. Passengers suddenly find themselves trapped together with no way to escape and, often, a killer amongst them.

Isolation always raises the stakes. In that charged environment, every single glance, gesture, or hushed conversation feels significant.

In classic mystery films, trains often reflect society in miniature. A mix of characters, each hiding something, all thrown together in a moving pressure cooker.

In Murder on the Orient Express, the famous luxury train soon becomes a claustrophobic pressure cooker. It’s up to Hercule Poirot to work his way through the complex web of relationships and motives behind a murder.

In The Girl on the Train, the train becomes a moving viewpoint. As she watches from her platform, she slowly entangles herself in a mystery. The repetitive movements of the train mirror her restless thoughts, heightening the tension.

Action-packed adventures

Trains are a natural setting for high-octane action films. In this genre, the linear tracks and confined spaces add urgency and intensity. They also provide an electrifying backdrop for fights and life-or-death struggles.

In Snowpiercer, the train’s segmented carriages create a relentless, upward battle. Set in a permanent ice age in a dystopian future, rebels fight their way to the front of the train. As they attempt to get to those in charge, each section brings new challenges and dangers.

Train to Busan finds survivors trapped on a speeding train in a zombie apocalypse. Protagonists battle both the undead and the clock to try and reach their destination. The train’s constant motion injects the story with thrilling unpredictability. The carriages become high-stakes arenas.

In Unstoppable, characters attempt to stop an unmanned runaway train carrying hazardous materials. This film is inspired by a real-life event and shows both the danger of runaway trains and the bravery of those who step in to try and stop them.

Heartfelt dramas

Trains can also create an intimate setting for self-discovery and meaningful connections. This makes them an ideal backdrop for touching drama.

In films like Before Sunrise, the train is what brings two strangers together. Two strangers meet during their travels and spark a deep connection as they share stories and dreams. As they talk and travel, a connection forms that feels all the more powerful because it’s temporary.

The shared space of a train fosters these unexpected relationships. For many characters, it becomes a place of reflection, clarity, or change. Trains often remind us that even the shortest journeys can have a lasting impact.

How Trains Enhance Cinematic Storytelling

With their blend of visual splendour and narrative depth, trains add layers of meaning and drama to any story.

Visual appeal and symbolism

Trains add a unique visual style to film. Their journeys take us through busy cities, quiet countryside, and everything in between. They make the scenery part of the story

Whether it’s a calm sunset ride or a race against time, the setting helps build the mood. This movement and changing backdrop make train scenes feel alive and full of atmosphere.

Trains aren’t just visually striking - they’re rich with symbolism. They also carry a lot of meaning. Their steady forward motion often represents change, progress, or escape.

In some films, a train brings characters closer to a new beginning. In others, it’s a way to leave something behind.

The constant forward motion of a train can also feel like fate unfolding on screen. It adds weight to a story, showing that time keeps moving and choices have consequences.

That’s part of why trains remain such a powerful tool in cinema. They bring depth, emotion, and unforgettable visuals to stories that stay with us.

Memorable scenes set on trains

There are many train film scenes that have cemented themselves in cinema history. Some of these include:

• Skyfall: James Bond chases down a henchman on the roof of a train, mixing intense action and stunning visuals
• Spider-Man 2: The titular superhero uses all his strength to stop a runaway train
• Spirited Away: The train journey Chihiro takes is a moment of self-discovery and maturity
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: Harry meets best friends Ron and Hermione on the Hogwarts Express
• The Hunger Games: Catching Fire: The victorious Katniss travels on a luxury train in contrast to the poverty she grew up in

Hidden Gems and Lesser-Known Train Movies

These lesser-known titles offer a refreshing departure from the mainstream.

Discovering underrated films

Wes Anderson’s The Darjeeling Limited follows three brothers as they travel by train across India. The confined space of the train forces them to face their differences, confront old wounds, and slowly reconnect.

The train becomes both a literal and emotional journey, shaped by Anderson’s colourful and detailed visual style. It’s a story that mixes light moments with deeper reflections on family and healing.

Similarly, The Lady Vanishes is a classic Hitchcock thriller. In this film, an elderly woman disappears, turning an otherwise mundane train journey into a gripping mystery. The train setting heightens suspense, creating insolation and paranoia within its carriages.

In The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, trains play an important role in the love story. This colourful French musical uses a train station as the setting for a moving goodbye between two young lovers.

These lesser-known train movies often engage audiences on a more intimate level. They use their settings to deepen character development, build suspense, and capture emotion.

A Must-Watch List for Train and Film Enthusiasts

If you’re thinking a train movie would be the perfect choice for your next movie night, we’re here to help you figure out exactly which one to watch.

Combining cinematic excellence with railway magic

For action lovers, why not try:

• The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three (1974), or the 2009 remake of the same name
• Runaway Train (1985)
• Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)

If you can handle the tension, go for:

• The Lady Vanishes (1938)
• Murder on the Orient Express (either the 1974 or 2017 version)
• Train To Busan (2016)
• The Fugitive (1993)

If you’re after a love story, you could choose:

• Before Sunrise (1995)
• The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)
• Chennai Express (2013)

If you’re watching as a family, some titles appropriate for all ages include:

• The Little Engine That Could (2011)
• The Railway Children (1970)
• The Polar Express (2004)

Examples of other genres include:

• Western: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), Stagecoach (1939)
• Wartime: Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), The Railway Man (2013)
• Comedy: The Darjeeling Limited (2007), Silver Streak (1976)

There are many more options, but these could serve as a good starting point for a train movie marathon.

With so many genres and styles to explore, train films offer something for every viewer. Whether you’re in the mood for suspense, drama, or a laugh, there’s a train ride waiting for you.

So sit back, relax, and let the rhythm of the rails take you on an unforgettable journey.