Before Midnight

R

Released May 24, 2013

1 hr. 49 min.

Romance

Drama

List

98%

206 Reviews

Tomatometer

82%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

On the last night of their idyllic Greek vacation, longtime lovers Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) reminisce about their lives together and what different choices might have brought.

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Premiered Oct 03

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Critics Consensus

Building on the first two installments in Richard Linklater's well-crafted Before trilogy, Before Midnight offers intelligent, powerfully acted perspectives on love, marriage, and long-term commitment.

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Julien T

It simply couldn't have ended any other way. Brilliant. Funny. Smart. Tough at times. Do we need a 4th instalment? Maybe. But if it were to never be the case, this would still be the best ending to Jessie and Céline's on-screen love story.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/11/24

Full Review

salsagirl135

Maybe it's me, but how does this movie adhere to plot structure? These characters never gave me a reason to care about them, so why would I be engaged? Watching an entire movie as one long act, listening to a couple fight, had me hitting the fast forward button. Granted, I didn't watch the previous movies so I didn't know what I was getting into. It's not like I am into sappy romances or the obligatory happy endings, but I think there's a much more interesting way to portray the angst of midlife existential crises. Obviously, I'm in the minority crying out, Did you notice that the emperor has no clothes?

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/08/24

Full Review

Sofia J

De las tres películas para mí esta es la más floja, no soy nada, fan de las películas que tengan algo relacionado con amor y sale una discusión que puede perjudicar ese amor, sé que es lo más real, pero al haber construido una pareja tan bella y una relación tan linda, no me gusta ver esos problemas. Por eso esta película si me dejo un poco meh, la verdad no sé si es que para mi ver esta discusión es mucho, como que la actitud de Celine me pareció muy exagerada y no llegue a comprenderla. Pero bueno, las otras dos si las recomiendo sin duda

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/08/24

Full Review

Leaburn O

A classic and quality ending to the trilogy. Real enough gripes about middle age are played out and the acting as with the first two films, is top rate. Watched on Prime.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/22/23

Full Review

matthias s

"Before Midnight" continues the realistic and heartfelt journey of Jesse and Celine. The film explores the complexities of long-term relationships with honest dialogue and authentic chemistry. Balancing joy and pain, it provokes introspection and offers profound insights into love and the passage of time. With its deliberate pace and relatable portrayal, "Before Midnight" leaves a lasting impact.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/09/23

Full Review

Music L

I can't say I "like" this installment. It's gritty, and honest. Like so many, I didn't envisage the couple ending up like this. I guess it's just too close to reality. I can't bring myself to watch it again. I want better for them. It left me feeling like there is no hope. It's so tragic. A miserable end to a beautiful story.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/21/23

Full Review

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Richard Linklater

Director

Ethan Hawke

Jesse

Julie Delpy

Celine

Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick

Hank

Jennifer Prior

Ella

Charlotte Prior

Nina

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Oktay Ege Kozak

Bitch Media

A refreshing counter-point to Hollywood's typical happily ever after stories.

Jan 15, 2021

Full Review

Amy Taubin

Film Comment Magazine

Unleashing a stream of feminist consciousness that is both outraged and outrageous-and cathartic because we are laughing with her, not at her-Céline emerges as a 21st-century hero and Delpy as the Carole Lombard of our time.

Aug 28, 2019

Full Review

Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

While the film has certainly satisfied many audiences and critics across the board, I was left very cold and bewildered, questioning what I even saw.

Sep 6, 2017

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

In another dialogue-driven showcase to match the first two chapters, the chemistry of the two leads back together has grown and matured to match the grown and matured characters they play.

Rated: 5/5

Feb 16, 2024

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

It uses many of the same familiar narrative structures of the previous films while also making a few pretty big departures.

Rated: 3.5/5

Aug 19, 2022

Full Review

David Bax

Battleship Pretension

Before Midnight's journey is not only an intellectual one.

Mar 3, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

On the last night of their idyllic Greek vacation, longtime lovers Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) reminisce about their lives together and what different choices might have brought.

Director: Richard Linklater
Executive Producer: Jacob Pechenik, Martin Shafer, Liz Glotzer, John Sloss
Screenwriter: Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Faliro House, Castle Rock Entertainment, Venture Forth
Rating: R (Sexual Content/Nudity|Language)
Genre: Romance, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 24, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 15, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.1M

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