Key Points
- Taiwanese action-thriller 96 Minutes debuted on Netflix January 30, 2026.
- The film quickly entered Netflix’s Top 10 charts in multiple countries, including Australia, Mexico, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the UAE.
- Directed by Hung Tzu-hsuan, the movie originally premiered in theaters on June 20, 2025.
- With a US$5 million budget, it became the third highest-grossing local film in Taiwan in 2025.
- The plot follows a bomb disposal expert racing against time aboard a bullet train.
Streaming Success Across Borders
Taiwanese thriller 96 Minutes has found new life on Netflix, surging into the platform’s Top 10 rankings worldwide just days after its streaming debut. The film, which blends real-time suspense with disaster-movie spectacle, has resonated strongly with audiences across diverse markets, proving the global appeal of high-stakes, time-sensitive thrillers.
From Theatrical Release to Global Discovery
Originally released in Taiwan on June 20, 2025, 96 Minutes was already a domestic success, ranking as the third top-grossing local film of the year. Its arrival on Netflix has introduced the film to a much wider audience, giving it a second wave of popularity and positioning it as one of the standout Asian thrillers of early 2026.
Plot: A Race Against Time
The story centers on Song Kang-ren (Austin Lin), a bomb disposal expert traveling with his fiancée, police detective Huang Xin (Vivian Sung), aboard a southbound bullet train from Taipei to Kaohsiung. When a live explosive is discovered on board, Kang-ren has just 96 minutes to disarm the device before the train reaches its destination.
The crisis forces him to confront a haunting secret tied to a double bombing tragedy three years earlier, adding a deeply personal layer to the suspense.
Creative Vision and Legacy
Directed by Hung Tzu-hsuan, the film was produced on a US$5 million budget, delivering blockbuster-scale thrills with a sharp focus on tension and character. The movie is also a modern retelling of Junya Sato’s 1975 classic The Bullet Train, reimagined for contemporary audiences.
What Happens Next?
With its strong streaming performance, 96 Minutes highlights the growing global appetite for Asian genre films on platforms like Netflix. Its success could pave the way for more Taiwanese blockbusters to reach international audiences, expanding the country’s cinematic footprint beyond arthouse and romantic comedies.
