Money Train (released in theaters on November 22, 1995) roars onto the tracks as a fast-paced, explosive action comedy that fuses buddy-cop chemistry with a high-stakes heist plot. Directed by Joseph Ruben, the story centers on foster brothers John (Wesley Snipes) and Charlie (Woody Harrelson), two transit cops patrolling the dangerous subway tunnels of New York City.
While John is level-headed and responsible, Charlie is a reckless, compulsive gambler constantly drowning in severe debt to mob loan sharks.
Their tight bond is further tested when a beautiful new transit officer, Grace Santiago (Jennifer Lopez), joins their precinct, sparking romantic competition between the brothers.
Their workplace tensions peak due to their tyrannical, ruthless transit chief, Donald Patterson (Robert Blake), who cares far more about protecting the armored subway train collecting millions in subway fares – dubbed the “Money Train” – than the lives of his officers.
After Charlie gets fired for losing his gun and owes fifteen thousand dollars to mobsters, he decides to pull off an impossible robbery by hijacking the heavily guarded armored train on New Year’s Eve.
Knowing his brother is heading into a suicide mission, John reluctantly intervenes to help Charlie navigate the subterranean chaos, avoiding ruthless precinct captain Kowalski (Skipp Sudduth) and a violent arsonist (Chris Cooper) terrorizing the subways.
Together, the brothers execute a thrilling high-speed train chase through dark tunnels, fighting off Patterson’s mercenary guards to secure both their freedom and a fortune.
Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrelson and Jennifer Lopez in Money Train (Photo/Columbia Pictures)
Reception for Money Train
Money Train grossed $10.6 million on its opening weekend, ranking fourth at the box office behind Toy Story ($29.1 million), GoldenEye ($18.1 million) and Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls ($13.5 million) and just ahead of Casino ($9.9 million).
The film would gross $77.2 million worldwide.
Legacy
Money Train‘s legacy endures as a celebrated staple of mid-1990s action cinema, highly remembered for reuniting Snipes and Harrelson following their hit pairing in White Men Can’t Jump.
Reunited under director Ruben, the stars delivered energetic, charismatic banter that anchored the film’s spectacular physical set-pieces and explosive subway stunts.
The feature is also notable for featuring an early breakout role for Lopez, alongside Blake’s memorable villainous turn in one of his final film appearances.
Money Train is remembered as a fun, kinetic time capsule of classic buddy-cop spectacle.
