Thrilling Subway Crime Films You Must Watch

Description: While not exclusively set in the subway, the iconic car chase scene involving a train is a highlight. The film follows two NYPD detectives tracking a heroin smuggling ring, with the subway playing a key role in several pivotal scenes.

Fact: The film won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The famous chase scene was improvised, with the director telling the actors to just drive and he would film whatever happened.

Description: This classic film sets the stage for subway crime thrillers, where a group of hijackers take control of a New York City subway train, demanding a ransom for the passengers' release. The tension builds as the city's transit police work against time to resolve the situation.

Fact: The film was remade in 2009 with Denzel Washington and John Travolta. The original novel by John Godey was inspired by a real-life subway hijacking in Tokyo.

Description: Luc Besson's stylish thriller follows a fugitive who hides out in the Paris Metro, where he encounters a variety of eccentric characters while evading the police. The film blends crime with a touch of romance and a lot of action.

Fact: The film's soundtrack was composed by Eric Serra, who would later work with Besson on "The Fifth Element." The movie was shot entirely on location in the Paris Metro.

Description: While more of a horror film, it involves a photographer who follows a serial killer through the subway, leading to gruesome discoveries. The film uses the subway's eerie atmosphere to enhance its horror elements.

Fact: The film is based on a short story by Clive Barker, known for his dark and imaginative horror narratives. It was one of the first films to be released under the Lionsgate "Grindhouse" label.

Description: A modern remake of the 1974 classic, this film updates the story with contemporary technology and a different twist on the original plot, focusing on the psychological battle between the hijacker and the subway dispatcher.

Fact: The film was shot on location in New York City, with many scenes filmed in actual subway stations and trains.

Description: Liam Neeson stars as an insurance salesman who finds himself embroiled in a criminal conspiracy during his daily commute on a train. The film plays with themes of identity, trust, and survival in a confined space.

Fact: The film was shot in London, using the London Underground as its primary setting. Neeson performed many of his own stunts.

Description: Although not a crime film per se, this British comedy-horror film involves a group of stranded passengers on a supposedly haunted train, which leads to a series of mysterious and criminal events.

Fact: The film was based on a play by Arnold Ridley, who later became known for his role as Private Godfrey in the TV series "Dad's Army."

Description: A gritty, real-time drama about two thugs who terrorize passengers on a New York City subway car. The film explores the dynamics of fear, courage, and bystander apathy in a confined environment.

Fact: The film was shot in a single subway car, creating an intense, claustrophobic atmosphere. It was one of the first films to use the subway as a primary setting for its entire runtime.

Description: This German film tells the true story of a group of East Berliners who dug a tunnel under the Berlin Wall to escape to the West, using the subway system as cover.

Fact: The film was based on real events, and the tunnel depicted was one of the longest and most successful escape tunnels during the Cold War.

Description: A lesser-known film where a group of passengers on a subway train are taken hostage by a gang of robbers. The film explores themes of survival and the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Fact: The film was shot in Montreal, using the city's metro system for authenticity.