Are you ready to embark on a cinematic journey where the rails lead to unexpected and thrilling disasters? This curated list of sci-fi films featuring train crashes will take you through time, space, and alternate realities where trains meet their dramatic ends. From post-apocalyptic landscapes to futuristic settings, these movies blend the excitement of science fiction with the adrenaline rush of train wrecks, offering a unique viewing experience for fans of both genres.

The Last Train from Gun Hill (1959)
Description: While primarily a Western, this film features a dramatic train chase and crash, showcasing early cinematic techniques in depicting train disasters.
Fact: The film was one of the last Westerns directed by John Sturges before he moved into other genres.


The Train (1964)
Description: Set during WWII, this film involves a train carrying stolen art, with a plot to derail it to prevent the art from reaching Germany. Its inclusion is due to its dramatic train-related action sequences.
Fact: The film was shot on location in France, using real trains from the era.


The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
Description: A classic heist film where a subway train is hijacked, leading to a tense standoff and eventual derailment. Its futuristic setting and high-tech elements make it relevant to our sci-fi theme.
Fact: The film has been remade twice, in 1998 and


The Cassandra Crossing (1976)
Description: Although not strictly sci-fi, this disaster film involves a train carrying a deadly virus, leading to a forced derailment to prevent a global catastrophe. Its inclusion here is due to its thematic connection to sci-fi elements like biological threats.
Fact: The film was shot in various locations across Europe, including the famous Geneva railway station.


Unstoppable (2010)
Description: This action thriller features a runaway freight train, which, while not sci-fi, showcases advanced technology and human ingenuity in stopping the train, fitting our theme of train-related disasters.
Fact: The film was inspired by the real-life CSX 8888 incident in


The Commuter (2018)
Description: A commuter train becomes the setting for a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, with elements of futuristic technology and a plot twist involving a potential derailment.
Fact: The film was shot on the actual Metro-North Railroad in New York.


Snowpiercer (2013)
Description: In a post-apocalyptic world where humanity lives on a perpetually moving train, a class uprising leads to a catastrophic derailment. This film blends social commentary with high-octane action, making it a standout in the genre.
Fact: The film is based on the French graphic novel "Le Transperceneige." The train set was built on a sound stage in Prague and was over 600 meters long.


The Incident (1967)
Description: Although not sci-fi, this film involves a subway train hostage situation that escalates to a point where a derailment seems inevitable, fitting our theme of train-related disasters.
Fact: The film was shot entirely in New York City's subway system.


Runaway Train (1985)
Description: While more of a thriller, this film features a runaway train scenario with elements of science fiction in its premise of an unstoppable, driverless train. It's a gripping tale of survival and human ingenuity.
Fact: The film was inspired by a real-life incident involving a runaway train in


The Bullet Train (1975)
Description: This Japanese film involves a bomb threat on the Shinkansen bullet train, which, although not sci-fi, has elements of futuristic technology and a high-stakes scenario that fits our theme.
Fact: The film was remade in Hollywood as "Speed" in
