Bullet Train movie release date, cast, synopsis, and more

Bullet Train is a star-studded picture headed our way. The movie is directed by the incredibly talented David Leitch, who previously worked on John Wick, Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, and Hobbs & Shaw, so you know Leitch is no stranger to action movies. We can’t wait to see what he created with Bullet Train. But when is the movie being released in theaters? Will it also get a streaming release? If so, where can we watch it from home? We have all the information you need, including the cast, plot synopsis, a controversy, and more.

Bullet Train release date

The release date of Bullet Train, as usual, varies across countries. The US release will be Aug. 5, whilst the UK will be able to see the film in theaters two days earlier, on Aug. 3. You can check the full list of global release dates here.

Bullet Train cast

The 2022 action-comedy is boasting a great mix of names, spearheaded by Hollywood pro, Brad Pitt. Director David Leitch previously worked as Pitt’s stunt double, clearly deeming him a great choice for protagonist assassin, Ladybug. The other stars of the movie include the incredibly versatile Joey King (The Kissing Booth series, The Act) as The Prince; Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Avengers: Age of Ultron) and Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta) as “the Twins” Tangerine and Lemon; Hiroyuki Sanada (The Last Samurai) as The Elder; and Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side) as Ladybug’s handler, Maria Beetle. Here’s the main cast:

• Bratt Pitt
• Joey King (The Kissing Booth)
• Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Avengers: Age of Ultron)
• Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta)
• Andrew Koji (Warrior)
• Michael Shannon (The Shape of Water)
• Bad Bunny (rapper and singer)
• Logan Lerman (the Percy Jackson series)
• Zazie Beetz (Atlanta)
• Karen Fukuhara (Suicide Squad)
• Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side)
• Hiroyuki Sanada (The Last Samurai)

What is Bullet Train about?

The 2-hour movie by Columbia Pictures is an action-comedy based on a Japanese novel of the same name in English publications (originally called Maria Beetle), written by mystery novelist Kōtarō Isaka. The story will follow five assassins as they each travel on a Tokyo-to-Kyoto bullet train to complete their seemingly separate missions. The protagonist, Ladybug (Brad Pitt), is jumping into what he hopes will be a simple first mission back on the job after experiencing bouts of “bad luck”. But when his ride entangles him with faces from the past and the other assassins, chaos ensues. With explosions, combat fights, comedy à la Deadpool, and Japanese criminal organisations, Bullet Train looks to be heaps of fun.

Bullet Train trailer

Bullet Train’s controversy

However, even before release, Bullet Train has been met with controversy regarding its lack of Japanese characters/actors for a movie set in Japan and based on a Japanese novel, as well as its apparent stereotypical depictions of a yakuza-style crime ring. The Executive Director of the Japanese American Citizens League, David Inoue, spoke to AsAmNews about the former discourse:

"I absolutely think charges of whitewashing are accurate as this is a story based around what were originally Japanese characters and it remains set in Japan…To see a film set in Japan with Japanese characters only as the background is offensive…"

However, others have noted that the novel and the movie are two separate entities, and that creative casting changes were made in order to “create the best possible cinematic experience”. Of course, such reasoning is controversial in and of itself, and there is perhaps more to be unpacked in an argument like this one.

Nevertheless, with the approval of novelist Kōtarō Isaka, and millions of views on each official trailer, Bullet Train is looking to become a swift success.

Where can you stream Bullet Train online?

Bullet Train is getting an exclusive theater release, but after that’s up, we will most likely see the movie on Hulu as it’s a Sony Pictures film and they have a contract with Disney at the time of this writing.