6 Best Ferry and Cable Car Movies

By Vlad Zakh · April 5, 2026

Enclosed transport suspended over water or dangling from cables has powered some of cinema’s most claustrophobic disaster and action thrillers. In A Night to Remember (1958): The sinking of the Titanic unfolds through the eyes of its crew and passengers on the fateful night. Also notable is Speed (1994): A cop must keep a city bus above fifty miles per hour to prevent a bomb from detonating.

Unstoppable (2010)

TMDB ★ 6.8

Two railway workers race to stop a runaway freight train from causing a catastrophic disaster.

Directed by Tony Scott · 1h 38m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Guardian (2006)

TMDB ★ 6.6

A legendary Coast Guard rescue swimmer trains a talented but arrogant new recruit.

Directed by Andrew Davis · 2h 19m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video · Buy: Apple TV Store

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Cliffhanger (1993)

TMDB ★ 6.4

A mountain rescuer is forced to help criminals recover money lost in the Rockies after a heist gone wrong.

Directed by Renny Harlin · 1h 53m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Speed (1994)

IMDb ★ 7.3 RT 95% Metacritic 78

A cop must keep a city bus above fifty miles per hour to prevent a bomb from detonating.

Directed by Jan de Bont · 1h 56m · Rated R

Won 2 Oscars21 wins & 20 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, YouTube TV, FXNow, Netflix Standard with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

IMDb ★ 7.1 RT 82% Metacritic 70

A capsized ocean liner's surviving passengers fight to climb their way to safety and rescue.

Directed by Ronald Neame · 1h 57m · Rated PG

Won 1 Oscar5 wins & 13 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

A Night to Remember (1958)

TMDB ★ 7.6

The sinking of the Titanic unfolds through the eyes of its crew and passengers on the fateful night.

Directed by Roy Ward Baker · 2h 03m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Ferry and Cable Car Movies

Unstoppable (2010)

The Guardian (2006)

Cliffhanger (1993)

Speed (1994)

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

A Night to Remember (1958)

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