Midnight Express

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Midnight Express

R

1978

2h 1m

Drama

Biography

Crime

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

31 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Billy Hayes is a young American caught by Turkish police while attempting to smuggle hash out of Istanbul. He's tried and sent to prison for four years, where he endures all manner of privation and abuse. As he finishes up his time, he's shocked to learn that the Turkish High Court has added another 30 years to his sentence. He is now thoroughly demoralized, and his life in prison grows increasingly unbearable until he concludes that escape is his only option.

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Critics Consensus

Raw and unrelenting, Midnight Express is riveting in its realistic depiction of incarceration -- mining pathos from the simple act of enduring hardship.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

09/18/2023

Midnight Express is single-minded in its brutal manipulation of the audience: this is a clear-cut case of the use of film technique split off from any artistic impulse.

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Jay Scott

Globe and Mail

08/11/2022

Just another prison break movie... but I liked it.

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Ed Potton

The Times (UK)

06/22/2018

4/5

It's a film that probably wouldn't be made today, but it taps into a potent fear: losing your liberty far from home.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Jul 6

3.5/4

An emotionally gripping drama.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

08/09/2023

6/10

Its strict adherence to facts isn’t necessarily as potent as the cinematic cautionary tale that it generates, though the depicted events will surely inspire further research into Hayes’ genuine plight.

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Alistair Lawrence

Common Sense Media

03/03/2021

2/5

Brutal, dated prison drama has drugs, language, stereotypes.

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Horror fan 4

@Horrorfan4life Apr 9

Apparently this movie had some controversy. That aside this movie is a reminder that in other countries the laws are much different and that the prison sentences are even worse. When Billy is caught trying to smuggle drugs into America he is giving a lengthy sentence. The best character in the movie is Jimmy played by Randy Quaid. I really wish he had more screen time. Tim Treakle

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Cinzia C

@RT96508344 Mar 28

I was mesmerized when I first watched this film in VHS almost 20 years ago. Is it racist towards Turkish people and its portrayal of the country is biased and charicaturized for dramatic purposes? Absolutely, yes. I think I lost a Turkish friendship over this but I can't change my mind, this film is an absolute masterpiece and not only "another prison break movie": this is THE prison break movie.

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Stoner J

@Stoner Feb 21

By far the best movie about doing time and prison break in a third world country. Outstanding writing, directing and acting

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mark g

@Mark_Alan_G. Feb 20

Based on a true story. Very entertaining and harrowing take of being caught muling drugs in a foreign country and the consequences. Davis gives an incredible performance and the soundtrack is amazing. Turkish people claim it's a racist film, but it's not about Turkey, it's about a Turkish prison.

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Russ G

@RT78760655 Dec 9

A very effective film; so effective that you won't want to view it a second time!

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Don V

@bondo150 Nov 29

It defined the hell of a Turkish prison whil portraying the humanity needed to survive such a terrible place

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Synopsis

Billy Hayes is a young American caught by Turkish police while attempting to smuggle hash out of Istanbul. He's tried and sent to prison for four years, where he endures all manner of privation and abuse. As he finishes up his time, he's shocked to learn that the Turkish High Court has added another 30 years to his sentence. He is now thoroughly demoralized, and his life in prison grows increasingly unbearable until he concludes that escape is his only option.

Director: Alan Parker
Producer: Alan Marshall, David Puttnam
Screenwriter: William Hayes, William Hoffer, Oliver Stone
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Biography, Crime
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 1, 1978, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Runtime: 2h 1m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)