The Commuter (2018)
- Eagle-eyed viewers have noticed a hidden easter egg referencing Jaume Collet-Serra's previous film in the background of the opening scene.
- Many of the practical effects used in the climax were achieved without any CGI.
- During the filming of The Commuter, Liam Neeson improvised one of the most famous lines in the movie.
The Commuter is a 2018 American action thriller directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, the fourth collaboration between Collet-Serra and Liam Neeson. Neeson stars as Michael MacCauley, a retired NYPD detective turned insurance salesman who has commuted on the same Metro-North train between his suburban home and Manhattan for ten years. When a mysterious woman, played by Vera Farmiga, offers him $100,000 to identify a hidden passenger on the train before the last stop, Michael discovers he's been drawn into a criminal conspiracy and that his family is being held hostage to ensure his compliance.
The confined train setting, which Collet-Serra had proven adept at managing with Non-Stop's airplane, created escalating claustrophobia as Michael moved through the cars searching for his target while being watched. The Commuter earned $119 million worldwide on a $30 million budget. The film demonstrated the Sandler comedy brand's reliable commercial appeal regardless of critical reception, confirming that ensemble comedy featuring recognizable stars remained a viable theatrical formula.
