
The Taking of Pelham 123
A seasoned subway dispatcher races against a ticking clock to outmaneuver a ruthless hijacker who has seized a Manhattan train and threatens to kill hostages unless his $10 million demand is met.
“I can't get it out of my head. I'm gonna die today.”
Synopsis
Armed men hijack a New York City subway train, taking the passengers hostage in exchange for a ransom and turning an ordinary day at work for dispatcher Walter Garber into a confrontation with the mastermind behind the crime.
Credits
Related titles
No curated related titles yet. Use the edit affordance to add "More from this director", "Same franchise", or "Adaptation source material" entries — every change goes through the wiki review queue.
How many hands made this film
The scale of the collaboration
A crew of 791+ credited
Why a floor?
This is a minimum, not a total. We only count the credits we’ve captured so far, and coverage is uneven — a blockbuster might show a few hundred names while another of the same size shows a couple dozen. The real crews all ran into the thousands. The number here only grows as full credits are enriched — so we frame it as a floor, never a headcount.
Craft leads on file
Edited by Chris LebenzonShot by Tobias A SchliesslerScored by Harry Gregson WilliamsDesigned by Chris SeagersSound by Kami AsgarCostumes by Elizabeth SheltonStunts by Chuck Picerni JrVFX by Nathan Mcguinness
Box Office
2009 · Box office
⚖️ Fell short of break-even — grossed 1.5× its budget
Why 2.5×?
Cinemas keep roughly half of every ticket sold, and a wide release’s marketing often costs about as much again as the film — so a movie needs to gross around 2.5× its production budget just to break even theatrically. It’s a rule of thumb, not the studio’s ledger (home video and streaming come later).
Worldwide gross
$150.2M
US & Canada: $65.5M — 44% of worldwide · International: $84.7M (56%)
Opening weekend: $23.4M — 36% of its US run. Front-loaded — most of its money arrived opening weekend.
Opening week (7-day): $32.0M — 49% of its US & Canada run.
Peak 3,074 theaters
Full synopsis
Also known as
- Die Entführung der U-Bahn Pelham 1 2 3de
- Die Entführung der U-Bahn Pelham 123de
- The Taking of Pelham 123en
- L'attaque du métrofr
- L'Attaque du métro 123fr
- Pelham 1-2-3: Ostaggi in metropolitanait
- Pelham 123 - Ostaggi in metropolitanait
- (Bulgarian)Ударът Пелам 1 2 3: Отвличане в метрото
Release dates around the world4 countries · showhide
- United StatesJun 4, 2009
- EgyptJun 10, 2009
- United Arab EmiratesJun 11, 2009
- South KoreaJun 11, 2009
Production & Distribution
Community tags
Be the first to tag this page — tags appear right away. Try a theme, capability, or subject (e.g. WWII, heist, slow burn, time travel, A24).
Cast & Crew
791 unique people credited
Top billed cast
Victor Gojcaj
as Bashkin
John Travolta
as Ryder
Luis Guzman
as Phil Ramos
Robert Vataj
as Emri
John Turturro
as Camonetti
Michael Rispoli
as John Johnson
Ramon Rodriguez
as Delgado
James Gandolfini
as Mayor
John Benjamin Hickey
as Deputy Mayor LaSalle
Denzel Washington
as Walter Garber
Gary Basaraba
as Jerry Pollard, motorman
Alex Kaluzhsky
as George, teen hostage
Supporting cast
118Alice Kremelberg
as George's Girlfriend
Katherine Sigismund
as Mother-hostage
Jake Siciliano
as Boy hostage
Gbenga Akinnagbe
as Wallace, hostage
Jason Butler Harner
as Hostage who can't urinate
Aunjanue Ellis Taylor
as Therese Garber
Tonye Patano
as Regina, conductor
Ty Jones
as Sniper
Chance Kelly
as ESU Captain
Billy Devlin
as ESU Guy
Chip Brookes
as Zealous Aide
Jonathan Rau
as Federal Reserve Supervisor
Anthony Annarumma
as 'Q' Train Motorman
Victor Cruz
as Maintainer Three
Glen Tortorella
as Maintenance Worker
Bobby Bojorklund
as Maintenance Worker
Saidah Arrika Ekulona
as Dispatcher One
Jasmin Tavarez
as Puerto Rican Girl
Sean Meehan
as Undercover Cop
Todd Susman
as Supervisor
J Bernard Calloway
as Officer Moran / NYPD Liaison
Zach Poole
as LaSalle's Aide
Reuben Jackson
as Reporter at MTA
Sean Nelson
as ESU One
Deak Evgenikos
as ESU Two
Lee Shepherd
as Dr. Weiss
Mike Houston
as Money Car Driver
Frank Wood
as Police Commissioner Sterman
Brian Haley
as Police Captain Hill (MTA)
Maria Bartiromo
as Financial Reporter
John Lavelle
as Team Member (NYPD)
Peter Bucossi
as SUV Driver
Steve Routman
as Heckler
Laurie Cole
as Reporter at 42nd Street & Vanderbilt
Nick Loren
as Tunnel Commander
Daniel Stewart Sherman
as ESU Lieutenant Staley
Patrick Dalton
as MTA Worker
John Keiser
as MTA Worker
Adrian Martinez
as Cabbie
Jordan Gelber
as Commuter
Rose Delcastillo
as Reporter
Joe Forbrich
as ESU Guy
Jason Cerbone
as ESU Guy
Michael Mihm
as ESU Desk Officer
Robert Perry
as Motorman
Sammy Miraglia
as Motorman
Kenneth Natal
as Motorman
Rene Ifrah
as Money Car Shotgun
Tommy Bayiokos
as Garber's Hero Transit Cop (uncredited)
Frank Anello
as NYPD Officer (uncredited)
John Farrer
as Subway Passenger (uncredited)
Justiin Davis
as Lewis (uncredited)
Mike Mihm
as ESU Desk Officer
Fernando Alicea
as Business Man
Michael Arthur
as NYPD Cop
Daniel Bartkewicz
as Commuter
Ira Berkowitz
as Plainclothes Detective
Craig Castaldo
as Radioman
Bill Chemerka
as Subway Passenger
Joseph Cintron
as Track Worker
David Collihan
as MTA Personnel
Tom Coughlin
as Subway Pedestrain
Maria Diaz
as MTA Employee
Elli
as Subway Commuter
Mark Falvo
as Subway Commuter
Katerina Gagkas
as Teen Girl Hostage
Cassidy Gard
as Passenger
Ronald E Giles
as Commuter
Danielle Glick
as Train Passenger
Casimir Gregory
as Gang Banger #3
Johnathan Hallgrey
as Subway Passager
Walter Hartung
as Deputy Mayor Asst.
Takako Haywood
as MTA Worker
Gina Hernandez
as Press Conference Photographer
Jenny Hill
as Commuter
Billy Horton
as Journalist
Joe Hunt
as Train Passenger
Kalon Jackson
as Swat Team Memeber
Michael Jeremiah
as Mechanic
Edgar Jimz
as NYPD Lieutenant
Martin Kalwill
as Subway Passanger
Samantha Kelly
as Hotel Clerk
Anthony Locascio
as News Reporter
Tom Margiotta
as Extra
Jamie Mcbriety
as Hostage
Christopher Moser
as NYPD Sergeant
Edvin Ortega
as Mariachi 2, Hostage
Nelson Pena
as Server
Daniel Joseph Pennacchi
as Train Pedestrian
Martin Pfefferkorn
as 2nd Train Car Subway Passenger
Nick Poltoranin
as MTA Manager
Vince Puma
as ESU Officer
Michaela Quinn
as Track Captain
Bartolo Raffaele
as Commuter
Robert Resto
as Commuter
Vincent Riviezzo
as SR. MTA Person
Angel Rosa
as Officer on Bridge
Melisanne Russo
as Car #3 Rider
Nick Sakai
as Paramedic
Christina Sampson
as Commuter
Gloria Sanders
as Driver
Carlovito Santangelo
as Spanish Couple Boy Hostage
Tim Schuebel
as Sergeant of Mayors Security Detail
Duane Sequira
as Gang Banger #2
Kenny Shapiro
as Car crash pedestrian
Ryan Shibley
as Wall Street Train Hostage
David Stroebel
as Reporter
Peter Gordon Uliano
as Background
Teddy Valdes
as Williams
Ben Van Bergen
as NYPD officer
Julian Walker
as ESU Sergeant
Michael T Walker
as Reporter
Liz Walsh
as MTA Worker
Bill Walters
as Hasidim on Subway
Todd Travis Warrick
as ESU Officer
Neville White
as Apprehending Officer on Bridge
Ralph A Wilburn Jr
as Subway Rider
Brad Lee Wind
as Hostage Negotiator #1
Directors
1Writers
3Producers
18Andy Foster
visual effects producer: Asylum (as Andrew Foster)
Anson Downes
co-executive producer
Barry H Waldman
executive producer (as Barry Waldman)
C Y Yoon
producer: titles, Skip Film
Don Ferrarone
associate producer
Erik Rogers
senior digital intermediate producer
Jason Blumenthal
Producer
John Wildermuth
associate producer
Kathy Chasen Hay
visual effects executive producer: Asylum
Kimberly Jacobs Toeg
executive producer: titles, Skip Film (as Kimberly Jacobs Toeg)
Linda Favila
co-executive producer
Michael Costigan
executive producer
Richard Baratta
associate producer
Ryan Kavanaugh
executive producer
Stefan Sonnenfeld
digital intermediate executive producer / senior colorist
Steve Tisch
Producer
Todd Black
Producer
Tony Scott
Producer
Other crew
654Brendon Malone
a' camera dolly grip / dolly grip (as Brendan Malone)
Kay Wilson
accounting clerk
Timothy O Malley
accounting clerk
Andrew Cavagnet
additional 24 frame video operator / additional video assist: second unit
Kevin Kilcher
additional camera loader (uncredited)
Kyle Repka
additional camera loader
Nathan Gabriel Lopez
additional camera loader
Hilary Benas
additional camera loader / additional second assistant camera
Bradley Grant
additional camera loader / camera production assistant
Jacki O Brien
additional costumer
Rhonney Greene
additional costumer
Michael Cambria
additional first assistant camera / second assistant camera: 'a' camera
Parents Guide
AI Personalities
Advisory Bot AI
I keep the family-safety picture honest — community advisories, AI-moderated, summarized without spin.
Ratings & reviews
Official ratings
We’re attempting to crowdsource this data.
Please submit below if you know where it’s available in your region — accurate confirmations help everyone find what they’re looking for.
Where to watch
Not currently streaming on any platform we track.
Gallery
Add imageNo community images for The Taking of Pelham 123 yet
Add a still, a storyboard, or concept art — every image gets its own page where members can discuss it.
Trailers
The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009) Original Trailer [FHD]
Media & Uploads
Scripts, set photos, storyboards, score sketches — community-curated reference material for film students and industry professionals.
Did you or a loved one work on The Taking of Pelham 123?
Every stage matters — pitch decks and treatments from development, location scouts and table-reads from pre-production, set photos and crew anecdotes from production, edit-bay notes from post, and press kits, festival memories, or marketing ephemera from distribution. Any moment that didn't make the press tour, any document or photograph that's been sitting in a box — please share it so it's not lost to time.
We particularly welcome contributions from writers, producers, cast, crew, festival programmers, distributors, marketing teams, their families, and anyone who was there at any stage.
Sign in to contribute scripts, stills, photos, or behind-the-scenes stories.
Be the first to share something on The Taking of Pelham 123.
Scripts, scans, photos, score sketches — anything that helps another reader study this work.
Memorable quotes
Browse all →No quotes logged for The Taking of Pelham 123 yet — add the first memorable line below.
Got a quote we’re missing?
Submit a line from any film, show, or game.
The conversation
Loading the conversation…
Comments (0)
on The Taking of Pelham 123No comments yet. Be the first to share what you think.
Edit history
Loading edit history…
