How Spider-Man 2 Set the Gold Standard for Movie Train Scenes – And Who Topped It

Superheroes, spies, and fugitives have one thing in common: they all love a good train scene. Whether it’s Spider-Man 2’s gravity-defying battle, Bond’s brutal fight in Skyfall, or the jaw-dropping crash in The Fugitive, trains have delivered some of the most thrilling moments in cinema. But what makes them so unforgettable?

Trains have long been a staple of cinema, appearing in everything from classic westerns to modern action thrillers. Whether it's a hero fighting on top of a speeding locomotive or a moment of quiet tension as a train whistle signals a dramatic shift, these sequences often leave a lasting impact on audiences.

Few films show the potential of train action sequences as well as Spider-Man 2 (2004). Sam Raimi’s masterfully crafted battle between Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus on an out-of-control elevated train remains one of the most thrilling moments in superhero history. But Spider-Man 2 isn’t the only film to make brilliant use of a train setting—movies like Skyfall, The Fugitive, and Mission: Impossible have all capitalized on the tension, speed, and danger that trains bring to the screen, as noted by Keith and the Movies.

What makes these scenes so compelling? It’s a combination of stunt work, visual effects, cinematography, and high-stakes storytelling. Let’s take a closer look at how train sequences have shaped some of cinema’s greatest action moments.

The Spider-Man 2 Train Fight: A Benchmark in Superhero Action

While many superhero films lean heavily on CGI, Spider-Man 2 balanced practical effects with digital wizardry to create a fight sequence that feels grounded and visceral. The scene features Spider-Man battling Doctor Octopus on a moving train, culminating in a heroic moment where Peter Parker stops the runaway train with sheer strength—only to collapse in exhaustion as the passengers gently carry him inside.

According to Scott Stokdyk, the film’s visual effects supervisor, the sequence was a massive undertaking that involved extensive pre-visualization, live-action stunt work, and background plates shot in Chicago to replicate New York’s elevated train system. "Sam Raimi brought in multiple storyboard artists and pre-vis teams to refine every beat," Stokdyk recalled, according to SlashFilm.

Brad Martin, one of Tobey Maguire’s stunt doubles, confirmed that Raimi pushed for as much practical action as possible. "They designed it to match the animatics exactly, down to the frame," Martin said. One particularly intense stunt involved Spider-Man being slammed through a train window, which, as noted by SlashFilm, Martin described as "one of the hardest hits I’ve ever taken".

But what makes the scene truly special is its emotional impact. After stopping the train, Spider-Man collapses, revealing his vulnerability. When the passengers lift him up and one remarks, "He’s just a kid," the moment humanizes the superhero in a way that few action films manage. This element of humanity and sacrifice is what elevates the scene beyond just another action sequence.

Other Unforgettable Train Sequences in Film

The Fugitive (1993) – A Spectacular Train Crash

If Spider-Man 2 delivered one of the best train fights in film, The Fugitive set the gold standard for train crashes in action cinema. The sequence, where Harrison Ford’s character barely escapes as a train collides with a prison bus, was achieved without CGI—the production team derailed an actual train to capture the destruction. According to befores & afters, the sequence was achieved through a mix of full-scale crashes, miniatures, and groundbreaking optical effects. The train and bus collision was filmed practically, with the real explosion and debris adding to the intensity.

Abandoned train wreck from the 1993 film “The Fugitive” starring Harrison Ford (North Carolina)
byu/c_stone710 inAbandonedPorn

The shoot wasn’t without challenges—a tornado warning disrupted production, and Ford, despite an injured ankle, was persuaded to redo a stunt. Three decades later, The Fugitive’s train wreck remains one of the most intense and realistic in movie history.

Skyfall (2012) – Bond’s High-Stakes Train Fight

James Bond has been in plenty of dangerous situations, but the train fight in Skyfall ranks among the best. In the film’s opening sequence, Bond (Daniel Craig) chases an enemy atop a moving train while dodging gunfire, fighting hand-to-hand, and even using an excavator to leap between carriages. As Keith and the Movies notes, unlike The Fugitive, which relied on practical destruction, Skyfall used seamless CGI and green screen work to create an exhilarating experience.

Mission: Impossible (1996) – The Bullet Train Showdown

Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt hanging onto a high-speed bullet train in Mission: Impossible remains one of the franchise’s most thrilling moments. The scene features Hunt grappling with a helicopter that’s attached to the train, leading to an explosive climax inside the Channel Tunnel. The film’s blend of practical effects, stunt work, and early CGI innovations helped create an action sequence that felt ahead of its time. The visual spectacle and tension still hold up decades later, proving that train scenes remain a goldmine for high-stakes action.

Why Do Train Scenes Work So Well in Cinema?

Beyond the spectacle, train scenes captivate audiences because they offer a unique blend of confinement, movement, and symbolism. A train’s tight, enclosed space creates claustrophobic tension while still allowing for dynamic movement, making it an ideal setting for chases, fights, and suspenseful confrontations. The constant momentum of a moving train naturally heightens the stakes, whether it’s a desperate escape or a high-speed pursuit.

Trains also carry strong symbolic weight, often representing transition, change, or impending doom, which makes them a powerful storytelling tool. Reddit users argue that filmmakers frequently use train sounds and motion to enhance drama. In The Godfather, a train whistle builds tension just before Michael Corleone commits his first murder, while in No Country for Old Men, a passing train replaces a musical score, amplifying the brutality of a key scene.

The Lasting Legacy of Movie Train Scenes

From Spider-Man’s desperate rescue to The Fugitive’s heart-stopping crash, train scenes have delivered some of cinema’s most unforgettable moments. Practical stunts, cutting-edge VFX, and emotional storytelling keep them relevant across genres, from action thrillers to classic westerns. Whether it’s a fight atop a speeding train or a tense moment punctuated by the sound of passing tracks, trains remain one of film’s most powerful storytelling tools. And, as Sam Raimi put it, "If a scene doesn’t have emotional payoff, it’s forgettable." And when it comes to train sequences, the best ones are anything but forgettable.

Sources: Keith and the Movies; SlashFilm; befores & afters; Reddit