# Unstoppable

> 2010 film directed by Tony Scott

**Wikidata**: [Q644276](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q644276)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unstoppable_(2010_film))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/unstoppable

## Summary
Unstoppable is a 2010 American action thriller film directed by Tony Scott, starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine. The movie follows two railroad workers who must stop a runaway train carrying toxic chemicals before it derails in a populated area.

## Key Facts
- Release date: November 12, 2010 (United States)
- Director: Tony Scott
- Writers: Mark Bomback
- Producers: Julie Yorn, Scott Free Productions, Prospect Park, Millbrook Farm Productions, Scott Free Productions
- Production companies: 20th Century Fox, Dune Entertainment, Scott Free Productions, Prospect Park, Millbrook Farm Productions
- Budget: $100 million
- Box office: $167.8 million worldwide
- Runtime: 98 minutes
- Country of origin: United States
- Language: English
- Genre: Action thriller
- IMDb ID: tt0477080
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 87% (audience score)
- Metacritic score: 69/100
- Box Office Mojo ID: 68540
- Wikipedia sitelink count: 39 language editions

## FAQs
**What is the plot of Unstoppable?**
The film follows veteran railroad engineer Frank Barnes (Denzel Washington) and young conductor Will Colson (Chris Pine) as they attempt to stop a runaway freight train carrying toxic chemicals that threatens to derail in a populated area of Pennsylvania.

**Who directed Unstoppable and what is their background?**
Tony Scott, a British filmmaker known for action films like Top Gun and Enemy of the State, directed Unstoppable. He was the brother of Ridley Scott and founded Scott Free Productions in 1980.

**What production companies were involved in making Unstoppable?**
The film was produced by 20th Century Fox, Dune Entertainment, Scott Free Productions, Prospect Park, and Millbrook Farm Productions, with 20th Century Fox serving as the primary distributor.

**How was Unstoppable received by critics and audiences?**
The film received generally positive reviews, with an 87% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 69/100 Metacritic score. It was praised for its tension and performances, particularly Denzel Washington's.

**What was the budget and box office performance of Unstoppable?**
Unstoppable had a production budget of $100 million and grossed $167.8 million worldwide, making it a commercial success.

## Why It Matters
Unstoppable represents a significant entry in the action thriller genre, showcasing Tony Scott's signature style of high-octane filmmaking combined with practical effects and real-world scenarios. The film demonstrates the continued viability of star-driven action films in the 2010s, with Denzel Washington's presence helping to anchor the project. Its success at the box office proved that audiences still responded to well-crafted, suspenseful action narratives based on real events. The movie also highlighted the ongoing collaboration between Washington and Scott, who had previously worked together on films like Man on Fire and Déjà Vu. As one of Scott's final films before his death in 2012, Unstoppable stands as a testament to his enduring influence on the action genre and his ability to create tension through practical filmmaking techniques rather than relying solely on CGI.

## Notable For
- Based on the real-life CSX 8888 incident (nicknamed "Crazy Eights") that occurred in Ohio in 2001
- One of the last films directed by Tony Scott before his death in 2012
- Featured the final collaboration between Denzel Washington and Tony Scott
- Used extensive practical effects and real trains rather than relying primarily on CGI
- Achieved strong box office performance despite not being part of an existing franchise
- Received positive critical reception for its pacing and tension-building
- Demonstrated the continued commercial viability of mid-budget action thrillers in the 2010s

## Body

### Production Background
Unstoppable was produced by Scott Free Productions, the company founded by Tony Scott in 1980. The production involved multiple companies including 20th Century Fox as the distributor, Dune Entertainment for financing, and Prospect Park as a production partner. Millbrook Farm Productions also participated in the production. The film was written by Mark Bomback and had a substantial budget of $100 million, reflecting the scale of the action sequences and the involvement of major stars.

### Cast and Crew
The film stars Denzel Washington as Frank Barnes, a veteran railroad engineer, and Chris Pine as Will Colson, a young conductor. Washington had previously worked with director Tony Scott on several films, creating a successful actor-director partnership. The supporting cast includes Rosario Dawson, Ethan Suplee, Kevin Dunn, and Kevin Corrigan. Tony Scott directed the film, bringing his experience from previous action thrillers and his distinctive visual style to the project.

### Real-Life Inspiration
Unstoppable is loosely based on the real-life CSX 8888 incident, also known as the "Crazy Eights" incident, which occurred in Ohio in 2001. In the actual event, a 47-car CSX freight train ran away after the engineer got out to fix a switch and failed to properly secure the train. The incident lasted for two hours before being brought under control. While the film dramatizes and fictionalizes many elements of the story, it maintains the core premise of a runaway train carrying hazardous materials.

### Filming and Production Design
The film was shot primarily in Pennsylvania, with extensive use of real trains and railroad infrastructure. Tony Scott was known for his preference for practical effects over CGI, and Unstoppable continued this tradition. The production involved coordination with railroad companies and the use of actual train yards and tracks. The cinematography by Ben Seresin captured the massive scale of the trains and the tension of the chase sequences, while the editing by Chris Lebenzon maintained the film's rapid pace.

### Release and Distribution
Unstoppable was released on November 12, 2010, in the United States by 20th Century Fox. The film had a wide theatrical release and was subsequently distributed internationally. It was released on DVD and Blu-ray on February 15, 2011. The marketing campaign emphasized the film's real-life inspiration and the star power of Denzel Washington and Chris Pine.

### Critical Reception
The film received generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 87% audience score, while Metacritic gave it a score of 69 out of 100, indicating generally favorable reviews. Critics praised the film's tension, pacing, and the performances of Washington and Pine. Some noted that while the plot was straightforward, the execution was effective in maintaining suspense throughout the runtime.

### Box Office Performance
Unstoppable was a commercial success, grossing $167.8 million worldwide against its $100 million budget. The film performed particularly well in international markets, demonstrating the global appeal of well-crafted action thrillers. Its box office performance was considered strong for a non-franchise action film released in 2010.

### Genre Classification
The film is classified as an action thriller, combining elements of disaster films with the tension of a race-against-time narrative. It shares thematic elements with other train-based thrillers and disaster films, but distinguishes itself through its focus on the human drama of the two main characters and its basis in real events.

### Technical Specifications
The film has a runtime of 98 minutes and was shot in color with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The sound mix was Dolby Digital, and the film was distributed in both 2D and IMAX formats. The production utilized extensive location shooting and practical effects to create the realistic train sequences.

### Cultural Impact
While not spawning a franchise or becoming a cultural phenomenon on the level of some other action films, Unstoppable is remembered as a solid entry in Tony Scott's filmography and as one of Denzel Washington's notable action performances. The film is often cited in discussions of effective action filmmaking that relies on practical effects and real-world scenarios rather than excessive CGI.

### Related Works
Unstoppable exists within the context of Tony Scott's body of work, which includes other action thrillers like Top Gun, Enemy of the State, and Man on Fire. It also relates to other train-based thrillers in cinema history, though it distinguishes itself through its basis in real events and its focus on the railroad industry's procedures and personnel.

### Distribution Platforms
The film is available on various home video formats including DVD and Blu-ray. It has also been made available on digital platforms and streaming services, though specific availability varies by region and over time. The film's distribution through 20th Century Fox (now part of Disney) has ensured its continued availability in various formats.

## References

1. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
2. The Movie Database
3. Unstoppable. Rotten Tomatoes
4. Freebase Data Dumps
5. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477080/releaseinfo)
6. [Source](http://nmhh.hu/dokumentum/158992/2010_filmbemutatok_osszes.xlsx)
7. Kinopoisk
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9. terjesztesre_kerulo_filmalkotasok_nyilvantartasa.xlsx
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11. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
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21. Danish Film Database
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