The Commuter

The Commuter

movie

PG-13, 2018

WISE
35%

WISE Score

55

Avg. Tomatometer

Liam Neeson does his 'particular set of skills' thing on a train, but this time even audiences weren't buying tickets.

IMDb6.3
RT Critics55%
MC56
Common Sense Media
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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this is peak 'dad falls asleep on the couch watching TNT on a Saturday afternoon' material. Liam Neeson punches people on a train for 104 minutes while trying to solve a mystery that critics found meh and audiences found even more meh.

The WISE scores are low across the board because it's violent without being particularly smart about it, formulaic without being fun, and that 40% audience score tells you everything—people who actually watched it were disappointed. The 2.9/5 on Letterboxd is especially damning in a world where most movies hover around 3.5.

If your 15-year-old is bored and scrolling through Amazon Prime, they could do worse. But they could also do way better. This isn't offensively bad, it's just aggressively mediocre—which might actually be worse.

Age Fit

Best for ages 14+ who specifically enjoy action thrillers. The violence and intensity make it inappropriate for younger kids, and honestly, most teens will find better action movies to watch. Adults might enjoy it as background viewing, but no one's calling this a must-see.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
45

Action thriller with intense violence, threat, and peril throughout. While protagonist is trying to protect his family, the chaotic pacing and sustained tension don't model emotional health or cooperation—it's survival mode. The premise involves manipulation and coercion, with innocent lives constantly at stake.

Imaginative
35

Generic Liam Neeson action formula executed on a train. The 'Taken on a train' setup is derivative rather than original. No creative expression invited, minimal world-building beyond standard thriller mechanics. It's a puzzle-box mystery but lacks genuine innovation—critics noted it as formulaic (55% RT, 2.9/5 Letterboxd suggests viewers found it uninspired).

Safe
40

Common Sense Media rates it 14+, indicating significant action violence, peril, and intensity. Likely includes deaths, physical combat, and threatening situations that would be inappropriate for younger viewers. Not gory horror, but sustained threat and violence throughout. The premise involves innocent people being targeted and killed, which creates genuine tension and fear.

Enriching
42

Minimal cognitive or ethical growth. It's a serviceable thriller with some problem-solving elements (figuring out the conspiracy), but the 40% audience score on RT and 2.9/5 Letterboxd suggest it's not particularly engaging or memorable. No meaningful takeaways beyond 'don't accept money from strangers on trains.' Entertainment value is middling at best—critics were lukewarm, audiences were disappointed.

Parent Info
✓

Why It Might Be Great

  • If your teen loves Liam Neeson action movies, this is another one of those—familiar comfort food for fans of the genre
  • The confined train setting creates some claustrophobic tension and puzzle-solving elements
  • Straightforward thriller without graphic gore or sexual content—just punching and running
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What to Watch For

  • Significant violence and sustained peril—people die, fights are brutal, innocent passengers are threatened
  • That 40% audience score isn't lying—this is pretty forgettable, even by action thriller standards
  • The plot requires some suspension of disbelief (okay, a LOT of suspension of disbelief)
  • Common Sense Media says 14+ for good reason—the intensity and violence are real

Conversation Starters

  • "What would you do if someone offered you money to do something that seemed wrong?"
  • "How do you think the main character felt being forced to make impossible choices?"
  • "Do you think the movie's action scenes were realistic or over-the-top?"
Stills
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