Midnight Express
Seen it?1978 | 121 min | Drama, Crime
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
It won 2 Oscars, people are still talking about it, it earned strong reviews (90% on Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences rate it highly (7.4 out of 10). Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime-drama fans. If you loved Bronson or Chopper, start here.
- The mood
- Dark and gritty.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 1 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: expect violence and drug use.
- Made in 1978: an older pace and style.
Billy Hayes is caught attempting to smuggle drugs out of a country. The courts decide to make an example of him, sentencing him to more than 30 years in prison. Hayes has two opportunities for release: the appeals made by his lawyer, his family, and the American government, or the "Midnight Express".
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
90% on Rotten Tomatoes, 59 on Metacritic
- AudiencesStrong
7.4 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 2 Oscars: Academy Awards: Best Screenplay – Based on Material from Another Medium, Academy Awards: Best Original Score. Won 6 Golden Globes: Golden Globe Awards: Best Motion Picture – Drama, Golden Globe Awards: Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture, Golden Globe Awards: Best Screenplay – Motion Picture, Golden Globe Awards: Best Original Score – Motion Picture and 2 more. Won 3 BAFTAs: British Academy Film Awards: Best Direction, British Academy Film Awards: Best Actor in a Supporting Role, British Academy Film Awards: Best Film Editing. Won 1 WGA Award: Writers Guild of America Awards: Best Drama Adapted from Another Medium. Also nominated for 4 more Oscars, 2 more Golden Globes and 2 more BAFTAs. Plus 3 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$35 million worldwide on a $2 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactVery strong
About 383K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
Bronson
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A Prayer Before Dawn
Sunday Safe BetAnother drug-world crime drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Chopper Saturday SpecialAnother prison crime drama, and a Saturday Special.
Cleveland Abduction Sunday Safe BetAnother true-story crime drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Coffy Saturday SpecialAnother drug-world crime drama that's easy to miss.
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Cast & crew
Directed by Alan Parker
- Brad DavisBilly Hayes
- Irene MiracleSusan
- Bo HopkinsTex
- Paolo BonacelliRifki
- Paul L. SmithHamidou
- Randy QuaidJimmy Booth
- Norbert WeisserErich
- John HurtMax
- Mike KellinMr. Hayes
- Franco DiogeneYesil