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White Nights

Play trailer Poster for White Nights PG-13 Released Nov 22, 1985 2h 15m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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46% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
When his plane makes an emergency landing in Siberia, ballet dancer Nikolai Rodchenko (Mikhail Baryshnikov) is recognized as a defector and brought into custody. Returned to Leningrad and reunited with his former love, aging prima ballerina Galina Ivanova (Helen Mirren), Nikolai meets American dancer Raymond Greenwood (Gregory Hines), who defected to the Soviet Union during the Vietnam War but has secretly grown disenchanted. Together, they plot an escape to the American consulate and freedom.
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White Nights

Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times White Nights is made by people who seem much more comfortable with dance than with the requirements of the Hollywood thriller. It comes to life in the dance sequences, and then drifts away again. Rated: 2.5/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Barbara Shulgasser Common Sense Media '80s dance drama has some violence, profanity. Rated: 3/5 Jul 12, 2016 Full Review Jake Euker F5 (Wichita, KS) Rated: 1/5 Feb 18, 2007 Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Rated: 3/5 Oct 22, 2006 Full Review Chuck O'Leary Fantastica Daily Rated: 2/5 Oct 5, 2005 Full Review Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat Spirituality & Practice A manipulative movie that spoils the few pleasures it delivers. Rated: 2/5 Aug 21, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C Funny in 2.25 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $41,500,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/04/25 Full Review Moody C This is an unmistakable product of 80s from classic pop songs of that era to Cold War backdrop but what it really is is a showcase for two iconic dancers to show off their talent because while dancing is quite amazing, story is a bit unbelievable and thin. You feel producers were thinking how can we develop a story around their dancing? Script quite clunky, too with lines like “You lost” or “Don’t expect a welcome mat, deserter”. It brings back old memories because I only saw ending with my dad at theater since we snuck in to wait for Rocky IV to start. Theme still relevant today since US and Russia relationship remains same today if not worse. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/19/25 Full Review Melissa M This movie has Non-Stop action. It also has romance, drama, a hint of comedy, and ballet. Gregory Hines not only proves he is an amazing actor he also proves he's a very talented dancer. Mikhail Baryshnikov is beyond amazing in this film. The storyline is fresh and unique. This movie will definitely have you on your toes. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/19/25 Full Review Heidi Star-studded Cold-War era drama/thriller. It'd become dated through the decades, but is now eeriely prescient with the arrest of a Russian-American Ballerina charged with treason. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/22/24 Full Review Steve D The tone is all over the place and the cuts to song and dance are just odd. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 08/27/23 Full Review Debra S I have always loved this movie - more for the dancing of the two leads than the plot, but I've watched it several times and still remain entranced by it. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/02/23 Full Review Read all reviews
White Nights

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Cast & Crew

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Taylor Hackford

Director

Mikhail Baryshnikov

Nikolai "Kolya" Rodchenko

Gregory Hines

Raymond Greenwood

Isabella Rossellini

Darya Greenwood

Jerzy Skolimowski

Colonel Chaiko

Helen Mirren

Galina Ivanova

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White Nights

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Movie Info

Synopsis When his plane makes an emergency landing in Siberia, ballet dancer Nikolai Rodchenko (Mikhail Baryshnikov) is recognized as a defector and brought into custody. Returned to Leningrad and reunited with his former love, aging prima ballerina Galina Ivanova (Helen Mirren), Nikolai meets American dancer Raymond Greenwood (Gregory Hines), who defected to the Soviet Union during the Vietnam War but has secretly grown disenchanted. Together, they plot an escape to the American consulate and freedom.
Director
Taylor Hackford
Producer
William S. Gilmore, Taylor Hackford
Screenwriter
James Goldman, Eric Hughes
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Columbia Pictures Corporation, New Visions Pictures, Delphi IV Productions
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 22, 1985, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 18, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA)
$41.5M
Runtime
2h 15m
Sound Mix
Stereo, Surround
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