The Commuter

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The Commuter

PG-13

2018

1h 44m

Mystery & Thriller

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

55%

Tomatometer

213 Reviews

41%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Insurance salesman Michael MacCauley is on his daily commute home, which becomes anything but routine. After being contacted by a stranger, Michael is forced to uncover the identity of a hidden passenger on the train before the last stop. As he works against the clock to solve the puzzle, he realizes a plan is unfolding, and he is caught up in a criminal conspiracy that carries life and death stakes for everyone on the train.

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Critics Consensus

The Commuter's cast is better than its workmanlike script - which helps make this reasonably diverting Liam Neeson action thriller worth the price of a matinee ticket or rental, if not a full-price ticket.

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Andrea Gronvall

Chicago Reader

Mar 10, 2020

The film is hobbled by sloppy camera work, ludicrous fight scenes, hairbreadth escapes, and altogether too many suspects.

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Mark Kermode

Kermode & Mayo's Film Review

Aug 28, 2018

The whole big thing is, 'Here's the setup, here's the rules.' And then literally 20, 25 minutes in, the film goes, 'I can't be bothered with that.'

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Kambole Campbell

One Room With A View

Aug 25, 2018

3/5

An enjoyable, pulpy thrill ride that rises above the usual gamut of throwaway early year thriller releases, The Commuter is made all the more interesting by exciting, creative work behind the camera from Collet-Serra.

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Aug 19, 2022

3/5

You know what to expect – a fast pace, good action, that Neeson growl, and some amusing corniness.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Mar 16, 2022

1/4

If the film is mostly disposable and too familiar, the initial face-to-face encounter between Neeson and Farmiga proves that talented actors can make lousy writing sound better. But that single moment is hardly enough to justify the rest.

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Bill Chambers

Film Freak Central

Mar 3, 2022

2/4

If I wish that Neeson had an opportunity to show more gravitas in the throes of his sweaty unravelling, I recognize this is partly my disappointment that we didn't get his Unforgiven before he put this side of himself out to pasture.

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Fifty T

@RT01421419 2 days ago

Better Than Non-Stop, But Not By Much I didn't enjoy Non-Stop all that much, but I thought The Commuter was a small step up. The two movies are built around almost the same idea, but this one felt a bit more believable and kept me interested more consistently. The mystery isn't anything special, but the tension works well and I was more invested in what was happening than I was in Non-Stop. Liam Neeson is basically doing what Liam Neeson does best at this stage of his career, and while the role doesn't ask much from him, he carries the film comfortably. The supporting cast is surprisingly strong too, with quite a few familiar faces showing up. It's still not one of Neeson's better action thrillers and I doubt I'll remember much about it in a few days. But I never felt bored and the story kept moving forward. 6/10: It's a perfectly watchable thriller that does enough to stay entertaining without ever becoming anything memorable.

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Aaron W

@awilsonatl Sep 15, 2026

The bad guy is revealed in the first 5 minutes. Shoddy camerawork. Paint by numbers Neeson one-man-army troper.

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OldNoisy A

@RT74815033 Jul 23, 2026

A convoluted plot needs to make sense at some level so when lines cross and things come together, the viewers can have a penny drop moment and see it's workings. Sadly not the case here. Too many ludicrous fight scenes also.

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Maddi K

@Maddi-3 Jun 9, 2026

Made no sense. The concept was interesting but poorly executed.

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Charles E.

@Motor1712 Apr 17, 2026

Amazing cinematography and a compelling storyline and the lead had me rooting for him the entire time. Some parts felt a little cliche at times, but still worth the watch

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Richard S.

@richard_52 Feb 25, 2026

Givin’ it a 5er. One of the best Liam Neeson movies I’ve watched. Very thrilling and very good

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Jaume Collet-Serra

Director

Liam Neeson

Michael MacCauley

Vera Farmiga

Joanna

Patrick Wilson

Alex Murphy

Jonathan Banks

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The Commuter: Behind the Scenes - Stunt Training

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The Commuter: Behind the Scenes - Creating the Train Set

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The Commuter: Final Trailer

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The Commuter: Trailer 1

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The Commuter: International Teaser Trailer 1

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The Commuter: Teaser Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Insurance salesman Michael MacCauley is on his daily commute home, which becomes anything but routine. After being contacted by a stranger, Michael is forced to uncover the identity of a hidden passenger on the train before the last stop. As he works against the clock to solve the puzzle, he realizes a plan is unfolding, and he is caught up in a criminal conspiracy that carries life and death stakes for everyone on the train.

Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Producer: Andrew Rona, Alex Heineman
Screenwriter: Byron Willinger, Philip de Blasi, Ryan Engle
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Ombra Films, The Picture Company
Rating: PG-13 (Some Intense Action/Violence|Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 12, 2018, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 22, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $36.3M
Runtime: 1h 44m
Sound Mix: Dolby Atmos
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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