Pop quiz, hotshot! What is the best action film of the 1990s? From 1991’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day and 1996’s Twister to 1999’s The Matrix, many genre staples of this era found lightning in the bottle. These films captured moments of singular creative brilliance that still hold a place in pop culture today; Twister in particular will resurge with the Glen Powell starrer Twisters (directed by Lee Isaac Chung) coming to theaters this summer. For retired filmmaker Jan De Bont, the original 90s storm chaser was not the only fun action masterclass he directed that decade. Two years before Twister came a picture that put the pedal to the metal, and accelerated well past 50 MPH to become one of the greatest action films ever made. To this day, the enduring nostalgic power of 1994’s Speed has not lost a shred of momentum. The starry first-time pairing of Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, the wildcard villainy of Dennis Hopper, the unapologetically cheesy dialogue, and the exhilaration echoing from the set pieces all radiate a specific tonal energy that simply cannot be recreated. On its 30 year anniversary, Speed has a nostalgic reverence for keeping its clever performers in focus during the most manic thrill chases.

After derailing the elevator hostage plans of retired bomb squad officer Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper) at an LA high rise, LAPD officer Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves) is faced with the wrath of Payne’s vengeance on city streets. There’s a bomb on a bus full of passengers. Once the bus goes 50 miles an hour, the bomb is armed. If the speedometer drops below 50, the bus will explode. The madman has rules — if Jack takes any passengers off the bus, the bomb will detonate. Payne also demands cash; he has no loftier purpose than financial gain (so he says), and Jack has just three hours to deliver the debt. Under the hands of a ticking clock and Payne’s mysterious monitoring, Jack must guide the runaway bus to safety. Jack finds help in passenger and impromptu designated driver Annie (Sandra Bullock), as well as his remote partner Harry (Jeff Daniels) who dials in with bomb expert guidance.

Speed operates in three distinctive story arcs that make excellent use of confined spaces, from an elevator and a subway train, to the Santa Monica line bus 2525. The slick opening titles, set over a miniature model of an elevator shaft climb, set an appropriate tone for a high-stakes story. With an introductory bomb already underway, the film wastes no time establishing urgency. Jack and Harry, called upon to diffuse the hostage situation, make an epic entrance as their cop car flies through the air to reach the building. The two’s combined expertise lead them to the madman hiding in the shafts, and ultimately thwarts what could have been a deadly elevator ride. Jack and Harry receive medals for their bravery, but the relief from danger is only temporary. By setting up key character dynamics, and revealing the villain’s extensive level of planning (crazy, but not stupid), the elevator act offers a smart prelude to the story’s central conflict. When Jack grabs a coffee one day and a bus explodes across the street, remnants of Payne flicker in the back of your mind. Sure enough, a payphone rings in Jack’s vicinity, and Payne’s voice is on the other end to sell the film’s premise.

For the concept of Speed to work, the film must keep up the momentum at every turn for the viewer to feel its real-time urgency. The screenplay by Graham Yost layers increasingly intense scenarios for Jack, Annie, and the rest of the passengers to face. Yost’s writing blends heightened action sequences with a quick witted sense of humor and a fairly grounded approach of having ordinary people do extraordinary things. With impeccable pacing, the bus zooms towards one dangerous circumstance after another. From the threat of oncoming traffic and the heart stopping jump scare of a baby carriage (“There was no baby, it was full of cans”), to the bus flooring it 50 feet over an unfinished section of the freeway, the adrenaline rush never ceases. In the midst of ongoing action, the screenplay brings a steady focus to the bus passengers’ collective energy, speaking to the connections people form through everyday commuting. As such, the film builds a strong foundation for several crises to unfold. Everyone on board is called on to pull through, and even the bus itself starts feeling like a character with an arc.

The performances are a major part of why the simple, nonsensical plot is dynamite to watch unfold. Every rewatch is a triumphant reminder of how movie stars are born, and how integral chemistry can be. Having crossed over $300 million dollars on a $30 million dollar budget, Speed helped to establish Keanu Reeves as the trusty action hero we know him to be today. Reeves would go on to star in The Matrix just years later, which continued to exercise the underrated physicality he brings to his characters. As well, Speed introduced the world to Sandra Bullock in her breakout role. Following its success, Bullock’s 90’s run (which included such films as 1995’s While You Were Sleeping and 1998’s Practical Magic) cemented her as one of the most beloved actresses. Reeves and Bullock are magical together on screen. His cool demeanor and her bold personality make a complimentary pairing. They each have an effortless charm and such immense likability that you are prepared to traverse the ends of the earth with them. With flirty banter and a collaborative spirit, Reeves and Bullock carry high stakes on their charismatic shoulders.

Every great action piece needs a memorable villain, and in Speed, a tremendous Dennis Hopper makes you feel Howard Payne’s presence even when he is not on screen. Hopper plays the character’s relentless bloodlust for control with a creative buoyancy, which makes his casting feel so inspired. Hopper brings a wide-eyed eccentricity and excitement to the dialogue, making Payne one of the most quotable villains of all time. He fully boards the film’s unabashed tone and plays an integral role in the entire premise being taken seriously. His character’s impact also shines through strong editing and pacing. While the runaway bus speeds through obstacles, there are consistent insertions of Payne’s vantage point, where he watches everything unfold through surveillance (“interactive TV, Jack”). The film also takes an exciting leap with his character in a satisfying final act, bringing the action to a subway tunnel of terror.

Hopper’s over-the-top performance has a convincing through line. Payne’s menace is not only driven by money, but also a deep humiliation and bitterness about being pushed into retirement. His parting gift from the force becomes a neat catalyst in the story; he had spent his whole career diffusing bombs, and got a cheap gold watch in return. So, he flips his philosophy in a brilliantly acted monologue: “A bomb is made to explode. That’s it’s meaning, it’s purpose. Your life is empty because you spend it trying to stop the bomb from becoming.” He wants to blow up years of “wasted labor”; one of the triggers he plants onto the bus is a timer running off a wristwatch. 

Speed also has a terrific practicality and build of tension in its visual language and sound. Director Jan De Bont, who worked as a cinematographer on films including 1988’s Die Hard, one-ups the Bruce Willis action classic with an even more entertaining spectacle. De Bont brings his remarkable eye for cinematic angles and sharp cuts. Perfectly timed close-ups, whether of a character’s face or the speedometer on the bus, heighten the emotion of a scene. The use of real set pieces, combined with miniature models that grasp fuller scales, immerse you into the city environment. In a scene when Annie makes a sharp right turn and the bus almost tips over, you feel completely as though you are living that moment through her. Having a grounded quality in the locations, plus realistic fight choreography and an unwavering focus on the characters, make the stakes feel more real. As well, the soundscape holds up impressively. From the Oscar-winning sound editing and effects, to the blockbuster score that sweeps in at all the right times and never overpowers the action. The music also draws out the core emotions of a scene, a prime example being the “you didn’t leave me” exchange between Jack and Annie.

With lived-in sets, memorable action sequences, and an iconic cast, Speed hits a high standard of smart summer blockbusters. Neatly constructed story arcs, action-fueled camera movements, and practical effects make the absolute most out of limited spaces and a ticking clock. Having stood the test of time for 30 years, this action classic is worth more than “a tiny pension and a cheap gold watch.”