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Poster for The First Great Train Robbery

The First Great Train Robbery

Seen it?

1978 | 110 min | Thriller, Adventure, Drama, Crime

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It earned strong reviews (77% on Rotten Tomatoes). A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for crime-drama fans, anyone who likes to be kept guessing and adventure fans. If you loved The Night of the Hunter or The Asphalt Jungle, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Tense, dark and gritty.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 50 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
  • Made in 1978: an older pace and style.

In Victorian England, a master criminal makes elaborate plans to steal a shipment of gold from a moving train.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    77% on Rotten Tomatoes, 68 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    6.7 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Reach & staying powerSolid

    Streaming release that reached a modest audience; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 72K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Michael Crichton

  • Sean ConneryEdward Pierce
  • Donald SutherlandRobert Agar
  • Lesley-Anne DownMiriam
  • Peter ButterworthPutnam
  • Michael ElphickBurgess
  • Alan WebbEdgar Trent
  • Robert LangSharp
  • Malcolm TerrisFowler
  • Wayne SleepClean Willy
  • Gabrielle LloydElizabeth Trent