History YMMV / Speed

* MoralEventEventHorizon: If Payne doesn't cross it by murdering Helen when she tries to escape, he certainly does when he [[spoiler: sets up a bomb at his (supposed) hideout which kills Harry and his entire team.]]

* HilariousInHindsight: Annie at point wonders if Payne targeted them because the U.S. bombed his country. Eight years later, [[Series/TwentyFour another 20th Century Fox production]] also featured Creator/DennisHopper playing the villain to a protagonist named Jack, and part of his motivation did involve revenge for his home being bombed by the hero.

* HarsherInHindsight : The scene where Jack breaks down over Harry's death can be seen as this as Keanu's close friend Creator/RiverPhoenix had died during filming. As well, according to Sandra Bullock, Keanu tried to put on a brave face but was deeply affected by it.

* RetroactiveRecognition: [[Series/TheWestWing Richard Schiff]], very early in his career, plays the subway conductor in the final sequence.

* {{Narm}}: Harry's stoic "aw, crap" face before [[spoiler:he is killed by a bomb in Payne's home]].

** The general idea of a vehicle that can't slow down without a bomb going off has been parodied endlessly, with one example being the deadly wheelchair in WesternAnimation/SouthPark.

* HilariousInHindsight: Annie at point wonders if Payne targeted them because the U.S. bombed his country. Eight years later, [[Series/TwentyFour another 20th Century Fox production]] also featured Creator/DennisHopper playing the villain to a protagonist named Jack, and part of his motivation did involve revenge for his home being bombed by the heroes.

* MemeticMutation: "Pop quiz, hotshot," which is spoken over and over by Harry and Payne.

** The general idea of a vehicle that can't slow down without a bomb going off has been parodied over and over, such as the deadly wheelchair in WesternAnimation/SouthPark.

** The general idea of a vehicle that can't slow down without a bomb going off has been parodied over and over, such as the deadly wheelchair in Series/SouthPark.

%%* MemeticMutation: "Pop quiz, hotshot."

* AndYouThoughtItWouldFail: While filming ''Film/DemolitionMan'', Creator/RobSchneider befriended Creator/SandraBullock. Upon hearing the premise of her follow-up project, Schneider incorrectly dismissed what he called "this bus movie" as something that wouldn't succeed at the box office.

* MemeticMutation: "Pop quiz, hotshot."
* {{Narm}}: Harry's stoic "aw, crap" -face before [[spoiler:he is killed by a bomb in Payne's home]].

* EndingFatigue: The subway chase at the end is almost completely divorced from the main body of the film and seems to be there just to engineer a showdown between Payne and Traven - after all, they couldn't exactly get the bad guy onto the bus in any plausible way.
** Some people who haven't seen the film in a few years find they had completely forgotten about the whole subway part.

* SpecialEffectsFailure: The ramp that the bus goes over during the bridge jump scene is visible. As are the shadows of the (digitally removed) gap of the bridge.

* StrangledByTheRedString: Jack and Annie. After knowing each other for all of a few hours, they're making out and about to have sex in a wrecked subway car in the middle of a street with a [[ConcertKiss crowd of people watching]]. TruthInTelevision, people bond over traumatic experiences quickly regardless of compatibility. They both [[LampshadeHanging lampshade]] this.
-->'''Jack:''' I have to warn you, [[MeaningfulEcho I've heard relationships based on intense experiences never work]].
-->'''Annie:''' OK. We'll have to base it on sex then.
** [[spoiler: In the sequel, they've broken up - [[FanonDiscontinuity although many like to pretend that the sequel never happened]]]].

* CatharsisFactor: [[spoiler: Given what a monster he is, seeing Payne getting decapitated is ''very'' satisfying]].

** [[spoiler: In the sequel, they've broken up - [[FanonDiscontinuity although many like to pretend that the sequel never happened]]]].

** [[spoiler: In the sequel, they've broken up - [[FanonDiscontinuity although many like to pretend that the sequel never happened]]]].
* SpecialEffectsFailure: The ramp that the bus goes over during the bridge jump scene is visible. As are the shadows of the (digitally removed) gap of the bridge.
** There's also the "[[OffTheShelfFX Obviously a model]]" subway car during the climax.
** Look closely at the scene where the first bus is blown up and you can clearly see the camera crew in the distance as well as a truck dragging the flaming bus by a chain.
** In the final shot of the film, it is obvious that the unfinished track from which the subway train has emerged is merely a false backdrop, with no other fixtures to indicate the presence of a track there.

* FreudWasRight: Harry compares the bomber's over-enthusiasm for detonating his own explosives with premature ejaculation.

* CompleteMonster: Howard Payne begins by trapping several office workers inside a skyscraper elevator using small, remotely-detonated bombs. He demands $3 million, threatening to detonate the emergency brakes that are preventing the elevator from plunging down the shaft, and then detonates the brakes before the time limit is even up. Payne blows up a commuter bus to make a point and informs TheHero SWAT member Jack Traven that he will detonate another if Jack does not get on and keep the bus from dropping below a certain speed limit. Payne baits the SWAT team with a fake address so he can have them blown up with explosives he'd set before, taunting Jack about his friends' deaths.