The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1998 film)

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three is a 1998 American made-for-television action thriller film directed by Félix Enríquez Alcalá. It is a remake of the 1974 film of the same name, which was itself based on the 1973 novel by John Godey. The 1998 film stars Vincent D'Onofrio as Mr. Blue (the leader of the hijackers), Donnie Wahlberg as Mr. Grey, and Edward James Olmos as Lieutenant Anthony Piscotti, the New York City Transit Police officer who negotiates with the hijackers.

The plot closely follows the original novel and 1974 film. A group of four heavily armed men hijack a New York City Subway train, Pelham 123 (meaning it left Pelham Bay Park station at 1:23 PM), holding the passengers hostage for a million dollars in ransom. The hijackers, using color-coded pseudonyms, threaten to kill one passenger for every minute the city is late in delivering the money.

Compared to the 1974 film, the 1998 version modernizes the setting and incorporates updated technology, such as cell phones. It is generally considered to be a less critically acclaimed adaptation than the original. Key differences also exist in character portrayals and plot details, such as the motive behind the hijacking and the backgrounds of the characters involved. The film aired on ABC on January 12, 1998.