Midnight Express (1978): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Midnight Express is a 1978 biographical thriller directed by Alan Parker, starring Brad Davis, Irene Miracle and Bo Hopkins. It is based on Midnight Express by Billy Hayes and William Hoffer. It runs 2 hours 1 minute and earned $35 million worldwide on a $2.3 million budget. It won 2 Oscars, including Music (Original Score) and Writing (Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium), and 11 awards in all. Critics gave it 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and 59 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 1m (121 min)
- Director
- Alan Parker
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Columbia Pictures
- Budget
- $2.3M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Midnight Express About?
The premise of Midnight Express without spoilers, adapted from Midnight Express by Billy Hayes and William Hoffer. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Billy Hayes, an American abroad, is sentenced to a lengthy prison term in Turkey after being caught smuggling hashish. Facing harsh conditions and a seemingly endless sentence, he struggles to survive and maintain hope. As time passes, Billy’s determination to escape grows, pushing him to risk everything for a chance at freedom, and he must confront the brutal realities of prison life to achieve his goal.
Midnight Express Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- 1970s
- gay kiss
- prison drama
- male rear nudity
- prison
- drug smuggling
- watching someone masturbate
- social masturbation
- year 1970
- male nudity
- torture
- escape
+38 more Show fewer
- lawyer
- court
- airport
- female nudity
- prison life
- speech
- life imprisonment
- revenge
- chase
- cat
- based on book
- based on true story
- male masturbation
- body search
- visit
- album
- anguish
- audio flashback
- bloody face
- codeine
- disturbed person
- eye gouging
- grudge
- heroin
- mercilessness
- suspense
- very little dialogue
- john f. kennedy international airport
- soldier
- dead animal
- police officer
- scream
- turkey the country
- pubic hair
- male pubic hair
- vito russo test passed
- brief male frontal nudity
- gay character
Midnight Express Cast
Brad Davis leads the cast, with Irene Miracle and Bo Hopkins. Directed by Alan Parker; 10 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Alan Parker
Also Starring in Midnight Express
· 6 moreMore from Alan Parker
More films directed by Alan Parker, best-rated first: The Commitments, Birdy, Bugsy Malone and Mississippi Burning.
Midnight Express Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Midnight Express 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and 59 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10.
-
IMDb 7.5 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 90% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 88%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 59 Metascore
User score 7.6
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 75% User score
See on TMDB
Midnight Express Plot Summary
What happens in Midnight Express from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
This film draws its inspiration from Billy Hayes’ memoir Midnight Express, recounting his harrowing five-year odyssey within the Turkish prison system, though certain aspects have been elaborately dramatized for effect.
The story opens on October 6, 1970, replaced by the unsettling sounds of machine gun fire intertwining with Muslim prayers and synth melodies, all set against the backdrop of a twilight Istanbul. The imagery captures the essence of a haunting, ominous atmosphere—the Bosphorus Strait, a mosque, and seagulls fluttering through the city paints a vivid picture of the narrative’s beginning.
Full summary
The whole story of Midnight Express, scene by scene
Midnight Express Box Office & Budget
Midnight Express grossed $35 million worldwide on a $2.3 million budget, 15 times what it cost.
Worldwide gross
$35M
15× its budget
- US & Canada
- $35M
- Budget
- $2.3M
Midnight Express Awards & Nominations
Midnight Express won 2 Oscars, including Music (Original Score) and Writing (Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium), and 11 awards in all. Its biggest night was the Golden Globes 1979, with 6 wins from 8 nominations.
11 wins21 nominations4 ceremonies
-
Golden Globes 1979 6 wins · 8 nominations- Won Best Director – Alan Parker
- Won Best Motion Picture – Drama
- Won Best Original Score – Giorgio Moroder
- Won Best Screenplay – Oliver Stone
- Won Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Comedy or Musical (Supporting Actor) – John Hurt
-
BAFTA 1979 3 wins · 6 nominations- Won Best Actor in a Supporting Role – John Hurt
- Won Best Editing
- Won Direction – Alan Parker
- Nominated Best Actor in a Leading Role – Brad Davis
- Nominated Best Film – Alan Parker
-
Oscars 1979 2 wins · 6 nominations- Won Music (Original Score)
- Won Writing (Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium) – Oliver Stone
- Nominated Actor in a Supporting Role – John Hurt
- Nominated Best Picture
- Nominated Directing – Alan Parker
-
DGA Awards 1979 1 nomination- Nominated Feature Film – Alan Parker
Midnight Express Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Midnight Express.
How Well Do You Know Midnight Express?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What drug does Billy Hayes attempt to smuggle out of Turkey?
Cars in Midnight Express
11 cars on screen, including the 1966 Mercedes-Benz 200 W110 and the 1956 Mercedes-Benz Unimog-S 404.1 404.115.
-
1966 Mercedes-Benz 200 W110 Important role -
1956 Mercedes-Benz Unimog-S 404.1 404.115 Minor role -
1942 Willys MB 'Jeep' Minor role -
BMC-Austin TM-140 Background role
Midnight Express Also Known As
25 alternative titles, including “Fuga di mezzanotte” and “O Expresso da Meia-Noite”.
- Also known as
-
- Fuga di mezzanotte
- O Expresso da Meia-Noite
- El expreso de Medianoche
- Полуночный экспресс
- Expresso da Meia-Noite
- 12 Uhr nachts - Midnight Express
- 午夜快车
- มิดไนท์ เอ็กซ์เพรส
- 午夜快車
- Éjféli expressz
- Geceyarısı Ekspresi
- Το Εξπρές του Μεσονυχτίου
+13 more Show fewer
- Půlnoční expres
- אקספרס של חצות
- 미드나잇 익스프레스
- Опівнічний експрес
- Expreso de medianoche
- Среднощен експрес
- ミッドナイト・エクスプレス
- Vidurnakčio ekspresas
- Expresul de la miezul nopții
- L’Exprés de Mitjanit
- Tàu Tốc Hành Nửa Đêm
- Keskiyön pikajuna
- Ponoćni ekspres
Seen Midnight Express?
Movies Like Midnight Express
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Chinese Midnight Express, Past Midnight and 10 to Midnight.
Midnight Express FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of Midnight Express, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Midnight Express?
Midnight Express runs 2 hours 1 minute (121 minutes).
When was Midnight Express released?
Midnight Express was released on October 6, 1978.
Who directed Midnight Express?
Midnight Express was directed by Alan Parker.
More films by Alan Parker Who is in the cast of Midnight Express?
Midnight Express stars Brad Davis, Irene Miracle and Bo Hopkins, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Midnight Express make at the box office?
Midnight Express grossed $35 million worldwide on a budget of $2.3 million.
How is Midnight Express rated?
Midnight Express has 7.5/10 on IMDb, 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, 59 on Metacritic and 75% on TMDB.
Is Midnight Express based on a book?
Yes. Midnight Express is adapted from Midnight Express by Billy Hayes and William Hoffer.
What awards did Midnight Express win?
Midnight Express won 11 awards from 21 nominations, including Best Director at the Golden Globes 1979.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
