The Keanu Reeves Action Thriller That Roger Ebert Gave A Perfect Score Is Driving Off Netflix

Published Oct 16, 2026, 4:45 PM EDT Richard Craig is a Senior Author at Screen Rant covering film and TV. Richard has also written extensively about horror and film soundtracks, contributing a chapter to the first major academic collection on the folk horror genre, The Routledge Companion to Folk Horror. Richard is also a performing musician and holds an MA in Music and Sound Art. Viewers have until the end of October to catch Keanu Reeves’ celebrated action thriller that earned one of cinema's most respected critics' highest possible ratings. Roger Ebert was famously discerning about the movies he reviewed, but gave a surprising 4 stars to a 1990s action classic that many often dismiss. Yet the Reeves action vehicle is actually one of the decade’s greatest thrillers. Robert Ebert was a Pulitzer Prize-winning critic who appreciated films that understood their own ambitions and executed them with precision, regardless of genre. He could recognize exceptional craftsmanship in a blockbuster just as readily as in an acclaimed drama, provided the filmmaking justified the experience. Ebert’s enthusiastic response to this particular thriller is a testament to how effectively commercial cinema can work when every element serves the story. For Keanu Reeves, the film arrived at a pivotal moment in his career. Before becoming synonymous with the John Wick franchise and the groundbreaking action of The Matrix, Reeves was establishing himself as a convincing leading man in physically demanding thrillers. Reeves' understated screen presence made him an effective counterpoint to more flamboyant villains, while his willingness to perform demanding action sequences helped establish his credentials as an action star. This made Reeves the ideal star for the 1994 classic Speed. Speed Is Still One Of Keanu Reeves' Best Movies Directed by Jan de Bont, Speed follows LAPD bomb-squad officer Jack Traven (Reeves), who faces an elaborate scheme devised by disgruntled former police officer Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper). Payne rigs a Los Angeles bus with a bomb that will detonate if its speed drops below 50 mph. Jack boards the vehicle, where passenger Annie Porter (Sandra Bullock) takes the wheel after the driver is shot. Keeping the bus moving becomes a desperate balancing act involving traffic, increasingly dangerous maneuvers, and a seemingly (read definitely) impossible jump across a gap in an unfinished freeway. Roger Ebert awarded Speed four out of four stars in his June 1994 review, praising its ingenuity and relentless momentum. Ebert described Speed as “an ingenious windup machine,” calling it “a smart, inventive thriller.” Ebert continues: "We’ve seen this done before, but seldom so well, or at such a high pitch of energy.” Ebert’s assessment gets to the heart of Speed’s appeal. The premise is inherently ridiculous, yet the screenplay continually introduces complications that prevent the central gimmick from becoming repetitive. Jack cannot simply stop the bus, Annie must learn to control a vehicle under extraordinary pressure, and Payne's ability to anticipate the police keeps the threat personal. Ebert described this kind of thriller as a “Bruised Forearm Movie,” meaning a film that makes viewers squeeze the arm of the person sat next to them. He continued: “Done wrong, they seem like tired replays of old chase cliches. Done well, they’re fun. Done as well as ‘Speed,’ they generate a kind of manic exhilaration.” Indeed, that is exactly why Speed remains so effective. Its freeway jump is absurd, its villain's scheme demands a certain suspension of disbelief, and its characters occasionally survive situations that should be impossible. Yet de Bont's background as a cinematographer gives the action a remarkable sense of physical geography. The audience understands the obstacles facing the characters, making each near miss feel consequential rather than interchangeable. Reeves also delivers a performance that anticipates his later action-star persona. Jack is resourceful without being invincible, and Reeves balances determination with a dry sense of humour. Bullock supplies much of the film's personality as Annie, while Hopper makes Payne's calculated cruelty entertainingly unpredictable. Their contrasting performances prevent the relentless action from becoming emotionally monotonous. It's silly, frequently outrageous fun, but Speed never loses its grip on the audience. Dismissing it as another disposable '90s blockbuster overlooks how carefully its escalating set pieces are constructed. Ebert recognized that precision in 1994, and Speed remains an exemplary demonstration of action filmmaking that knows exactly what it wants to achieve. Speed's Netflix Future Has Been Confirmed Unfortunately, subscribers in the United States will soon lose access to Speed through Netflix. The film appears on What's on Netflix's November 2026 departure list, with November 1 listed as its removal date. American viewers therefore have until October 31 to stream the movie before it leaves the service. Speed is available through other services and digital rental or purchase options, although availability varies by region. For anyone planning a rewatch, Speed is an excellent choice for a tense, uncomplicated action movie night. Release Date June 10, 1994 Runtime 116 minutes Director Jan de Bont Cast Dennis Hopper Howard Payne