Midnight Express

R

Released Sep 1, 1978

2 hr. 1 min.

Drama

Biography

Crime

List

90%

30 Reviews

Tomatometer

88%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Billy Hayes (Brad Davis) 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 a further 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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Mike P

Stunning captivity drama penned by American Ex-patriot and student Billy Hayes, (and adapted to a screenplay by Oliver Stone); based on his own real-life experiences as a young man, en route to the States on a routine trip; who was suddenly apprehended and thrown into a Turkish Prison for four years for smuggling hashish...And then then it's like a Heart of Darkness type journey through hell; as he struggles to survive for four years in a Turkish Prison.(!!) The opening scenes in particular are VERY powerful; (it's impossible not to imagine yourself in that situation, the way they film it); and this serve as a stunning "Just Say No" type cautionary tale...It's all so gritty and intense; and it grabs you by the jugular from that unforgettable opening sequence...Excellent work from the always reliable Alan Parker; the surefooted director; who brilliantly creates a sense of gritty urgency; and gritty determinism from the opening shots...Good work from Brad Davis too; who has such a vulnerable, young-man/wounded puppy look about him in this movie, that you can't help sort of falling in love with him and feel sorry for him...(Even though his actions were IDIOTIC!!) Anyway; impressive job from everyone... Infact I'd say this is a minor classic from the 70s..Overall: 👍 Recommended PS. THIS is likely the movie where that old saying "I'd rather be locked up in a Turkish Prison for two years" came from...Because Turkish Prisons weren't even part of the national zeitgeist until this movie came out.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/10/24

Full Review

Martin F

A difficult movie with harsh but beautiful visuals. Midnight Express is a controversial movie, the main character is stuck in a cycle of mental and physical torture in what looks like one of the most horrible place in the world. The movie is all about maintaining hope and subsequently humanity but none of the characters succeed to do so. The visuals contribute a lot to the atmosphere of the movie, it's all about sand, used structures, sweats, naked bodies and dusts; you can feel the unbearable heat through the scenes. There is a homoerotic overtone of the movie that really contribute to the unique atmosphere of Midnight Express. The movie can be pretty controversial for Turkey representation as their prison and justice system are pictured are deeply flawed and inhuman. In one scene, the main character made a whole speech about how he hates the country and his people. Despite, being obviously a gross exaggeration of what Turkey really is, it shows the main character's point of view, as he is going through hell and have a justifiable anger to express.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/02/24

Full Review

Definitely B

One of the best movies 🎥 made a whole country mad 😂

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/28/23

Full Review

Tony M

A great movie from start to finish. If you like Prison movies, Midnight Express is one of the best. A must see.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/15/23

Full Review

Brenda O

Very good! Just one thing that stuck in my head: when did Susan zip up her shirt?? The blouse was open and out of nowhere it appears closed at the end of the scene. But apart from that continuation error that caught me a little, the film is excellent.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/28/23

Full Review

Alejandro E

Of all prison dramas, this is one that made a lot of fury in the increasing 70s. It is not precisely one of the best or definitive but the actions give it something, but a lot of value.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

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Alan Parker

Director

Brad Davis

Billy Hayes

Randy Quaid

Jimmy Booth

John Hurt

Max

Bo Hopkins

Tex

Paul L. Smith

Hamidou

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Pauline Kael

New Yorker

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.

Sep 18, 2023

Full Review

Jay Scott

Globe and Mail

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

Aug 11, 2022

Full Review

Ed Potton

Times (UK)

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

Rated: 4/5

Jun 22, 2018

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

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.

Rated: 6/10

Aug 9, 2023

Full Review

Alistair Lawrence

Common Sense Media

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

Rated: 2/5

Mar 3, 2021

Full Review

Tom Meek

Cambridge Day

The score by Moroder is infectious and chest rattling...

Rated: 3/4

Aug 7, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

Billy Hayes (Brad Davis) 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 a further 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
Executive Producer: Peter Guber
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
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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