Midnight Express

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Midnight Express

R

Released Sep 1, 1978

2h 1m

Drama

Biography

Crime

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

31 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

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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Pauline Kael

The 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

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Jay Scott

Globe and Mail

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

Aug 11, 2022

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Ed Potton

The 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

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

An emotionally gripping drama.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 6, 2025

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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

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Alistair Lawrence

Common Sense Media

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

Rated: 2/5

Mar 3, 2021

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EE D

The movie opens up slowly as for me it was annoying to see how a kid who decided to do a stupid thing wasn't happy about the outcome but after that when we see what's happening in the Turkish jail i did start to root for him

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/24/25

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Tim F

only the cartunish style makes it barable, otherwise one would drown in its depth. has a lot of ,,The Chorus,, And ,,Apocalzpse now,,

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/24/25

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K W

Amazing performances, great writing and direction

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/18/25

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Arid S

Stressed the life out of me, I just wanted him free, billy was tortured this film is something else.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/22/24

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Aender S

Brutal but engrossing film with great acting and an excellent musical score.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/22/24

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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

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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
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)

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