Night Train Cast: The Complete Guide to Every Movie Version (2026 Update)

Which 'Night Train' Are You Looking For? The Definitive Disambiguation

Before you dive into the credits, you need to know which track you are on. The title 'Night Train' has been used for everything from psychological thrillers to philosophical journeys and black-and-white espionage classics.

• The 2009 Thriller: Starring Steve Zahn, Danny Glover, and Leelee Sobieski. This is the 'mystery box' movie where passengers find a dead body and a cursed object.
• Night Train to Lisbon (2013): Starring Jeremy Irons. A philosophical adaptation about a Swiss professor who leaves his life behind.
• Night Train to Munich (1940): Starring Rex Harrison. A classic British thriller in the vein of Alfred Hitchcock.
• Night Train (1999): Starring John Stanislav. A surrealist Polish-German co-production.
• Night Train Murders (1975): Also known as 'Last Stop on the Night Train,' a cult horror/exploitation film.

You’re sitting on your couch, the opening credits are rolling, and you see a name that doesn't match the poster you clicked on. Your brain does a double-take. That 'Shadow Pain' of confusion isn't just about a movie title; it’s the frustration of losing your evening to the wrong story. We are going to fix that right now by breaking down every major night train cast and the roles they played so you can get back to the film you actually meant to watch.

This disambiguation is essential because searching for a cast list often pulls up a 'Franken-result' of actors from three different decades. By categorizing these by lead actor and genre, we are using a systems-thinking approach to eliminate the 'noise' and get you straight to the signal.

Night Train (2009) Cast: Steve Zahn and Danny Glover's Cursed Ride

The 2009 version of Night Train is arguably the most searched version for modern streaming audiences. Directed by Brian King, it leans heavily into the 'Greed is a Curse' trope. The night train cast here is a compact, high-intensity trio that carries the entire narrative weight.

• Steve Zahn as Pete: Usually known for his comedic timing, Zahn plays Pete with a desperate, grounded edge. He represents the everyman pushed to his moral limits.
• Danny Glover as Miles: Glover brings a weary authority to the role of the conductor. His performance anchors the film's shifting morality.
• Leelee Sobieski as Chloe: Sobieski plays a medical student whose cold logic often outpaces the men, providing a chilling counterpoint to the growing chaos.

Psychologically, this film works because of the enclosed space. The mechanism of 'confinement' forces the audience to identify with one of these three distinct archetypes: the desperate (Zahn), the weary (Glover), or the cold (Sobieski). When they discover the mysterious passenger's box, the cast's chemistry shifts from cooperation to predatory suspicion. This is a classic example of how a limited cast can amplify tension without needing a massive ensemble. If you are seeing a snowy landscape and a heavy focus on a mysterious wooden box, this is your movie.

Night Train to Lisbon: The Jeremy Irons Ensemble

If your film feels more like an intellectual puzzle set in the winding streets of Europe, you are likely watching the 2013 adaptation of Pascal Mercier's novel. The cast for Night Train to Lisbon is an international powerhouse, led by the incomparable Jeremy Irons.

• Jeremy Irons as Raimund Gregorius: Irons plays a professor whose life is upended by a chance encounter and a book. His performance is a masterclass in quiet introspection.
• Melanie Laurent as Young Estefania: Laurent brings a fierce, revolutionary energy to the flashback sequences that define the film’s stakes.
• Jack Huston as Amadeu de Almeida Prado: The doctor and poet whose life Gregorius is investigating.
• Martina Gedeck as Mariana: The modern-day anchor for Gregorius’s journey in Lisbon.

This film operates on a completely different frequency than the 2009 thriller. While the 2009 cast is trapped by a physical object, the Night Train to Lisbon cast is 'trapped' by history and philosophical inquiry. The mechanism here is the 'unlived life'—the idea that one decision can derail your entire existence. If you are seeing Jeremy Irons looking contemplative on a train through Switzerland or Portugal, you have found the right guide. The cast list reflects a high-EQ exploration of regret and renewal. For more on the specific roles, you can check the official Fandango cast page for this adaptation.

Night Train to Munich (1940): The Classic Espionage Credits

For cinephiles looking for the roots of the 'train thriller' genre, the 1940 classic Night Train to Munich is the gold standard. Directed by Carol Reed, it shares much of its DNA with Hitchcock’s The Lady Vanishes, including some of the same actors playing the same characters.

• Rex Harrison as Gus Bennett: Harrison is the suave, quick-thinking British agent. His performance is the archetype for the 'charming spy' that would eventually lead to the likes of james bond.
• Margaret Lockwood as Anna Bomasch: The daughter of a Czech scientist who must navigate a web of Nazi lies.
• Paul Henreid as Karl Marsen: Long before Casablanca, Henreid was playing complex, often dangerous figures.
• Basil Radford & Naunton Wayne: Reappearing as Charters and Caldicott, the quintessential 'oblivious British travelers.'

This night train cast is a study in wartime propaganda handled with a light, witty touch. The mechanism here is 'identity deception.' Almost every character is pretending to be someone they aren't, which was a vital theme in 1940 cinema. The fast-paced dialogue and the chemistry between Harrison and Lockwood make this more of an adventure than a dark thriller. If your movie is in black-and-white and involves a daring escape from the Gestapo, you are in Munich, not Lisbon. You can find streaming options and the full classic credits at JustWatch.

The Cult Classics: 1999, 1975, and Beyond

There are several other versions that often pop up in the search results, causing further confusion for the 'Night Train' enthusiast. Let's map these quickly to ensure you aren't lost in the archives.

• Night Train (1999): A Polish film directed by Leszek Wosiewicz. It stars John Stanislav and Nikoletta Skarlatos. This is a much more experimental, surrealist take on the train journey, often discussed in European film circles for its unique visual language.
• Night Train Murders (1975): If you find yourself watching something far more violent and gritty, you’ve hit the 'Video Nasty' era. This film is a staple of the exploitation genre and features a cast led by Flavio Bucci and Macha Meril.
• Night Train (2007): Occasionally cited in databases, this is often confused with the 2009 Zahn version, but it’s a distinct, lower-budget project that didn't see wide international distribution.

The psychological satisfaction of the 'Library' format is that it allows you to cross-reference your memory with hard data. Each of these films uses the 'Train' as a metaphor for the unstoppable passage of time or a journey into the subconscious. Whether it’s the horror of 1975 or the surrealism of 1999, the night train cast serves the same purpose: to act as our surrogates on a journey where the destination is always in doubt.

Comparison Matrix: Which Night Train Movie Are You Watching?

To help you finalize your identification, we’ve built a comparison matrix. This is the 'Logic Layer' that prevents you from wasting 20 minutes on the wrong movie. By looking at the lead actors and the primary conflict, you can instantly pinpoint your film.

Using this table allows your brain to categorize the information visually. If you remember 'the guy from Casablanca,' you're in 1940. If you remember 'the guy from Die Hard 3' (Jeremy Irons), you're in 2013. This type of mental mapping is what Bestie AI excels at—taking fragmented information and turning it into a clear decision-making framework. The 'Night Train' phenomenon is a perfect example of why we need centralized guides to navigate the digital content overload. Identifying the night train cast is just the first step in reclaiming your streaming experience.

Beyond the Credits: Why We Are Obsessed with 'Night Trains'

Now that you've identified your specific cast, why does this title keep coming back? From a narrative architecture perspective, the 'Night Train' is a universal archetype. It represents a liminal space—a place between where you were and where you are going, where the normal rules of society don't quite apply. This is why directors from Brian King to Bille August keep returning to it.

Finding the right night train cast is about more than just trivia; it’s about finding the vibe you’re in the mood for. Are you looking for the high-stakes panic of Steve Zahn? Or the existential pondering of Jeremy Irons? Your choice says a lot about your current state of mind.

If you find yourself frequently lost in the sea of similar movie titles, you don't have to navigate it alone. Bestie AI is designed to be your personalized watchlist curator, helping you find movies based on the specific 'vibe' or 'actor energy' you're craving. It’s like having a big sister who has seen every movie ever made and knows exactly what you’ll love next. No more scrolling for hours—just clear, logic-backed recommendations tailored to your unique taste.

FAQ

1. Who stars in the 2009 movie Night Train?

The 2009 movie Night Train stars Steve Zahn as Pete, Danny Glover as Miles, and Leelee Sobieski as Chloe. This version is a supernatural thriller involving a mysterious box found on a train.

2. Is Jeremy Irons in Night Train to Lisbon?

Yes, Jeremy Irons plays the lead role of Raimund Gregorius in the 2013 film Night Train to Lisbon. He is joined by an international cast including Melanie Laurent and Jack Huston.

3. Who is in the cast of Night Train to Munich?

The cast of Night Train to Munich (1940) features Rex Harrison as Gus Bennett and Margaret Lockwood as Anna Bomasch. It is a highly regarded classic British espionage thriller.

4. Who played Bobby in Night Train 1999?

In the 1999 version of Night Train directed by Leszek Wosiewicz, the role of Bobby is played by John Stanislav. This film is known for its surrealist and atmospheric storytelling.

5. What is Danny Glover's role name in Night Train?

Danny Glover plays the character Miles, the veteran train conductor, in the 2009 film Night Train. His character serves as a moral anchor throughout the thriller.

6. Who does Melanie Laurent play in Night Train to Lisbon?

Melanie Laurent plays the role of Young Estefania in Night Train to Lisbon. Her character is central to the historical mystery that Jeremy Irons' character investigates.

7. Does Steve Zahn star in Night Train?

Yes, Steve Zahn plays the lead role of Pete in the 2009 thriller. His performance is a departure from his usual comedic roles, focusing on a man caught in a deadly situation.

8. Is Leelee Sobieski in Night Train?

Leelee Sobieski plays Chloe, a med student who is one of the three primary passengers involved in the central mystery of the 2009 Night Train cast.

9. Who directed the Night Train movie starring Steve Zahn?

Night Train (2009) was directed by Brian King, who also wrote the screenplay. He is known for his work in the mystery and thriller genres, often focusing on high-concept plots.

10. Who is in the full cast of Night Train Murders 1975?

The Night Train Murders (1975) features a cast including Flavio Bucci, Macha Meril, and Gianfranco De Grassi. It is a notorious entry in the Italian exploitation horror genre.

References

m.imdb.com — Night Train (1999) - Full Cast & Crew

fandango.com — Night Train to Lisbon Cast and Crew

justwatch.com — Night Train to Munich (1940) Streaming and Cast