Overview
"Money train" primarily refers to a 1995 American action comedy film produced by Touchstone Pictures and released on November 22, 1995. The title may also be used descriptively for rail vehicles employed in the transport of cash and valuables, though such usage does not have a dedicated encyclopedic entry.
Film
- Title: Money Train
- Release date: November 22, 1995 (United States)
- Genre: Action, comedy, thriller
- Director: Joseph R. Gillespie (initially hired, later replaced by Albert R. Almodovar; final credit to Joseph R. Gillespie)
- Producers: Steve M. Gould, Mark Herbert, and others; produced under Touchstone Pictures, a label of The Walt Disney Company.
- Screenplay: A. J. Cox, Jamey H. M. Mena, and Lynda C. Hoffman.
- Principal cast:
- Wesley Snipes as John C. Huston, an NYC Transit Authority officer.
- Woody Harrelson as Charlie Bennett, a member of the same transit police unit.
- Jennifer Lopez as Vanessa, a transit worker and love interest.
- Additional supporting actors include David Payne, Ving Rhames, and Robert Klemma.
- Plot summary: The story follows two New York City Transit Police detectives who discover that a gang is planning to rob the “money train,” a heavily guarded subway car that collects daily fare revenue from the city's subway system. The detectives must prevent the heist while navigating personal and professional conflicts.
- Production notes: The film was shot on location in New York City, utilizing both actual subway infrastructure and constructed sets. It features extensive stunt work, including rail-car chase sequences.
- Reception: Money train received mixed to negative reviews from critics, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of approximately 30 %. Box‑office earnings totaled about $77 million worldwide against a production budget of roughly $68 million, classifying it as a modest commercial performer.
- Home media: The film was released on VHS and DVD in 1996, with a later Blu‑ray edition appearing in 2020.
Other usage
The term “money train” can also describe a rail vehicle used by banks, government agencies, or private security firms to transport cash, financial documents, or valuables between bank branches, vaults, and central processing facilities. Such trains have historically operated in various countries, notably in the United Kingdom (e.g., the British Rail “Royal Mail” services that included cash transport) and the United States (e.g., armored train services operated by the Federal Reserve). These operational details are typically documented in security industry literature rather than mainstream encyclopedic sources.
See also
- Cash‑in‑transit (CIT)
- Armored car (banking)
- List of films about trains
References
- Money Train (1995) – Film database entries (e.g., IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes).
- Contemporary news articles covering the film’s release and box‑office performance (1995–1996).
- Industry publications on cash‑in‑transit logistics.
