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Entertainment • Film

Bullet Train

Bullet Train is a 2022 American action comedy film directed by David Leitch.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Bullet Train is a 2022 American action comedy film directed by David Leitch. It is based on Kōtarō Isaka’s 2010 Japanese novel *Maria Beetle* and follows a group of assassins whose missions intersect on a Japanese high-speed train.

Plot

The story follows Ladybug, an assassin assigned to retrieve a briefcase on a bullet train travelling through Japan. Other killers on board have overlapping goals, causing escalating conflict during the journey.

Production

David Leitch directed the film, which was produced as a stylized action comedy. Review coverage notes that much of the train-and-city imagery was created with green-screen work, miniatures, and CGI.

Cast

The film features a large ensemble cast led by Brad Pitt, with Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon, Bad Bunny, and Sandra Bullock among the credited performers.

Source material

The film is adapted from the Japanese novel *Maria Beetle* by Kōtarō Isaka, published in 2010. English-language coverage and listings identify the project as a screen adaptation of that work.

Key facts

  • Bullet Train is a 2022 American action comedy film directed by David Leitch.
  • It is based on Kōtarō Isaka’s 2010 novel *Maria Beetle*.
  • The film is set largely aboard a Japanese Shinkansen, or bullet train.
  • Brad Pitt plays Ladybug, an unlucky assassin trying to complete a job peacefully.
  • The ensemble cast includes several prominent American and Japanese actors, plus rapper Bad Bunny.
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Canadian context

No strong Canada-specific connection is evident in the provided sources; the film is primarily an American production with international cast and setting.

Frequently asked questions

What is Bullet Train?
Bullet Train is a 2022 American action comedy film directed by David Leitch.
What is Bullet Train based on?
It is based on Kōtarō Isaka’s 2010 novel *Maria Beetle*.
Who stars in Bullet Train?
The ensemble cast includes Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon, Bad Bunny, and Sandra Bullock.
What is the film about?
It follows several assassins whose missions collide aboard a Japanese bullet train.
Is Bullet Train a Japanese film?
No. It is an American film, though it is set primarily in Japan and adapted from a Japanese novel.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullet_Train_(film)
    Supports: Release year, director, country, plot premise, cast, and source novel.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bullet_train_2022
    Supports: Genre, plot synopsis, Brad Pitt lead role, and streaming release date.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12593682/plotsummary/
    Supports: Plot summary involving multiple assassins on a bullet train.
  4. AlloCiné — https://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=284846.html
    Supports: Director, release date, cast, runtime, and adaptation from *Maria Beetle*.