Night Shift

R

Released Jul 30, 1982

1 hr. 45 min.

Comedy

List

93%

28 Reviews

Tomatometer

63%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Chuck (Henry Winkler) has given up life as a stockbroker because it was too stressful. Now, he works an easy gig as a night shift attendant at a New York City morgue. His co-worker, Bill Blazejowski (Michael Keaton), on the other hand, is always looking to make a quick buck. When Bill finds out that Chuck's prostitute neighbor, Belinda (Shelley Long), needs a place to do her work, he convinces Chuck to turn the morgue into a brothel where they can work as her pimps.

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Critics Consensus

Night Shift bristles with pitch-perfect laughs thanks to Ron Howard's snappy direction and a side-splitting turn from Michael Keaton.

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Alan J. S

One of Michael Keatons greatest movies! I laughed non stop. It's to bad that they don't make movies like this anymore…

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Taking the Night Shift maybe isn't so bad Longtime collaborators director Ron Howard and producer Brian Grazer make a wacky 1980s sex comedy a bit unorthodox starring a young Henry Winkler, Michael Keaton, and Shelly Long Belinda is a street hooker who's pimp ends up dead, the doctor Chuck is in charge but his boss's nephew is assigned as his new partner, Bill Chuck used to be a stockbroker but found the job too overwhelming Bill is always on the lookout for easy cash A self-proclaimed “idea man” constantly brainstorming can’t-miss innovations into a handheld tape recorder His friend just happens to be Belinda who needs a work space so of course he lets her use Chuck's work station A morgue gets turned into a brothel of all things The film is a competent if somewhat pedestrian affair Chuck prefers a solemn quiet existence with stability and his fiancé who is neurotic yet Bill can't help but be exited and boisterous You actually understand why Bill is the way he is considering his how his parents raised him Sure this is full of 1980's stereotypes to the core but Winkler and Keaton are a likable budding pair It's got that sitcom feel to it too and can't help but have a glib of an anti-feminist spin to Chuck’s journey of self-actualization that sours Night Shift in retrospect The ending is rushed too Still Keaton's zestful energy keeps things alive and the whole experience lets Chuck learn to not be scared anymore Howard's zippy direction makes the film work if not stand out from others of the crowd The characters have enough attention with comic staging and acting thanks to both Howard and Grazer A likable if not entirely flawless comedy

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/31/23

Full Review

Georgan G

A movie of it's time, which I loved at that time. Good music. But in 2023 I can only give it 3 stars.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/20/23

Full Review

tom c

Hysterically funny with great performances by all the leads. Michael Keaton is particularly amazing. So glad I finally saw this! Bravo Ron Howard!!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An underrated comedy gem. They don't make 'em like they used to!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Honestly, this my favorite Michael Keaton movie. No one else could've made Bill as funny as he did. He's just hilarious in it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

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Ron Howard

Director

Henry Winkler

Chuck Lumley

Michael Keaton

Bill Blazejowski

Shelley Long

Belinda Keaton

Gina Hecht

Charlotte Koogle

Pat Corley

Edward Koogle

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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

Winkler is perfect as the redeemed nerd, and Keaton is a super find, bristling with raw energy. Director Ron Howard sometimes takes the easy route to a laugh, drawing from his wealth of sitcom experience, but he also pays attention to his characters.

Oct 22, 2018

Full Review

Bruce McCabe

Boston Globe

Still, Howard's assured style and instinct for comedy keep "Night Shift" light and breezy for most of the time.

Apr 27, 2018

Full Review

Gary Arnold

Washington Post

Night Shift makes it apparent that Howard acquired an enormous amount of savvy about comic staging and acting during those 20 years or so on the tube.

Apr 24, 2018

Full Review

Stephen Silver

Tilt Magazine

When the two stars of "Happy Days" reunited to make a movie about a mild-mannered young man who finds a way out of his crisis of masculinity, by becoming a pimp. (40th anniversary)

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 5, 2022

Full Review

Peter Sobczynski

The Spool

Unlike most of his subsequent features, Howard is not exactly striving for respectability here and Night Shift is all the better for it.

Jul 31, 2022

Full Review

F.X. Feeney

L.A. Weekly

Because I was never a big fan of Happy Days, I didn't hold out much hope for a film starring Henry Winkler and directed by Ron Howard, but I came out of this one very surprised. It's genuinely funny and well made.

Nov 10, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

Chuck (Henry Winkler) has given up life as a stockbroker because it was too stressful. Now, he works an easy gig as a night shift attendant at a New York City morgue. His co-worker, Bill Blazejowski (Michael Keaton), on the other hand, is always looking to make a quick buck. When Bill finds out that Chuck's prostitute neighbor, Belinda (Shelley Long), needs a place to do her work, he convinces Chuck to turn the morgue into a brothel where they can work as her pimps.

Director: Ron Howard
Screenwriter: Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Ladd Company
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 30, 1982, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 15, 2008
Sound Mix: Surround

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