Midnight Special

PG-13

Released Apr 8, 2016

1 hr. 51 min.

Sci-Fi

Mystery & Thriller

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for Midnight Special: International Trailer 1

List

83%

240 Reviews

Tomatometer

67%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

The government and a group of religious extremists pursue a man (Michael Shannon) and his son (Jaeden Lieberher), a young boy who possesses special powers.

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Critics Consensus

Midnight Special's intriguing mysteries may not resolve themselves to every viewer's liking, but the journey is ambitious, entertaining, and terrifically acted.

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Alec C

Sometimes, what we think we know about the universe has a habit of biting us in the back! On the run from the government and a cult, a father and his son travel across the American frontier as the boy begins to exhibit powers that boggle the mind, implying that the boy is not from this earth. What makes it such an intriguing story is that we do not fully understand what this alien power is, making it a mystery that leaves us guessing!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/03/24

Full Review

Jack B

Okay, I had to edit this one and give a higher rating than I did initially. I'm a sucker for Sci-Fi and this counts.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/29/24

Full Review

Alec B

It's an interesting genre piece. Nichols has made an early Spielberg/comic book movie hybrid, only he's successfully gutted it of clunky exposition and heavy handed sentimentality. Proof that these kinds of movies can have that fat trimmed away and still successfully sell their premise and characters.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/14/23

Full Review

Dani G

In Jeff Nichols' style, and it reminded me of Take Shelter, only this a little more to pass time if you don't have much better options.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

08/08/23

Full Review

GM M

This is a terrific film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/04/23

Full Review

Emilliano S

Great casts but it could have been better.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/27/23

Full Review

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Jeff Nichols

Director

Michael Shannon

Roy

Joel Edgerton

Lucas

Kirsten Dunst

Sarah

Jaeden Martell

Alton

Adam Driver

Sevier

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Midnight Special: International Trailer 1

1:02

Midnight Special: Trailer 2

2:01

Midnight Special: Trailer 1

1:45

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Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

The heavens keep splitting to deliver forked tinsel masquerading as sci-fi lightning.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 28, 2016

Full Review

Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

Nichols does so many things so well, and all at once, that it sort of takes your breath away.

Nov 17, 2016

Full Review

Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

There is an adrenaline-fueled elasticity to events that is as smooth as it is exhilarating, all of it given extra potency thanks to the emotional complexities driving things to their conclusion.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 11, 2016

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Jeff Nichols, the writer and director, keeps [a] sense of mystery throughout Midnight Special, always raising more questions with each answer.

Oct 6, 2023

Full Review

Jordan Brooks

Vague Visages

It has an emotional core compelling enough to draw in massive crowds of cinemagoers, a sci-fi grandeur showy enough to pull in the Marvel/DC crowd and a visual acuity worthy of the interest of even the most hardened cinephiles.

Aug 1, 2023

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

“Midnight Special” is such a satisfying experience from Nichols’ smart script and assured direction to the top-notch performances especially from Shannon.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 24, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

The government and a group of religious extremists pursue a man (Michael Shannon) and his son (Jaeden Lieberher), a young boy who possesses special powers.

Director: Jeff Nichols
Executive Producer: Glen Basner, Hans Graffunder, Christos V. Konstantakopoulos
Screenwriter: Jeff Nichols
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Tri-State Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Some Violence|Action)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 8, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 7, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.7M
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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