← All Movies
Speed
LAPD SWAT bomb disposal officers Jack Traven and Harry Temple are tasked with preventing a bombing on a city elevator containing 13 people, planned by an extortionist, Howard Payne. After narrowly rescuing the passengers, the duo hunt down Payne, during which Harry is wounded to stop Payne from taking him hostage. Payne seemingly blows himself up, and Jack and Harry are later commended in a ceremony for their bravery. It is revealed that Payne had faked his death, and has become personally bitter towards Jack. After destroying a city bus to get Jack's attention, Payne contacts him with a new scheme: a bomb planted on a second city bus (a 1966 GMC New Look) that will activate upon reaching 50 mph (80 km/h) and detonate if the speed goes below 50, but is also set to go off sometime before noon. He warns Jack not to offload passengers or the bus will explode.
Jack receives a demand from Payne: $3.7 million in ransom or the bomb will explode. Racing through traffic, Jack gets a ride in a Jaguar from Maurice to warn the bus driver of the bomb. Realizing the bus has surpassed 50 mph and the bomb is armed, Jack boards the bus, but a felon's panic leads to the driver, Sam, being shot. A passenger, Annie Porter, takes over driving. With the bomb armed and passengers aware of the threat, Jack contacts Harry for help while trying to keep the bus moving. Payne agrees to allow Sam to be offloaded as a sign of good faith. A passenger, Helen, panics and attempts to get off the bus, but Payne detonates a smaller bomb, causing her to fall out and be killed.
Despite Payne's constant surveillance, Jack and Annie maneuver the bus through several dangerous obstacles, including a gap in the freeway, and direct it to Los Angeles International Airport to avoid traffic-congestion. Meanwhile, Harry discovers that Payne is a former Atlanta Police Department bomb squad officer who was placed on administrative leave after losing a thumb. The bomb's design reflects his long-lasting bitterness over being under-compensated with nothing but a "cheap gold watch". Harry leads a SWAT team to arrest him; however, Payne's house has been rigged with explosives, and Harry and his teammates are killed in the blast.
In a last-ditch effort to defuse the bomb, Jack goes under the bus on a tethered roller bed, but the cable snaps. He is helped onboard by the passengers. In the process, he punctures the fuel tank and the bus starts leaking gasoline. Jack admits defeat until he notices that Payne is monitoring the bus interior with a hidden surveillance camera. With the help of a television crew, the LAPD tamper with Payne's surveillance footage. This gives Jack enough time to help the passengers escape before the bus crashes and explodes into a cargo plane. While noticing the LAPD has dropped-off the ransom and is waiting to apprehend him, Payne sees the tampered video feed and seeks revenge.
The SWAT team are waiting for Payne to appear, but Payne kidnaps Annie while impersonating a police officer. Jack discovers a hole under the trash can, where Payne has taken the ransom and accessed the subway system. Jack finds Annie wearing an explosive vest; after a confrontation between Payne and Jack, Payne escapes on a train with Annie. Payne shoots the driver and train controls. He opens the duffel bag containing the money and a dye pack explodes in his face. An enraged Payne fights Jack on the train roof, only to be decapitated by a passing overhead signal when Jack pushes him to the roof of the tunnel. Jack deactivates the vest from Annie, but finds that the train cannot be stopped. Jack instead accelerates the train, causing it to derail and crash onto Hollywood Boulevard, and screeches to a halt in front of a tour van. Jack and Annie emerge unscathed and share a kiss as onlookers watch in amazement.