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Romantic drama

Midnight Sun (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Midnight Sun (2018) movie poster

Midnight Sun is a 2018 romantic drama directed by Scott Speer, starring Bella Thorne as Katie Price, Rob Riggle and Patrick Schwarzenegger. It runs 1 hour 31 minutes and earned $27.4 million worldwide on a $2.8 million budget. Critics gave it 21% on Rotten Tomatoes and 38 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10.

IMDb rating
6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes
21%
worldwide gross
$27.4M
Echo Score
55
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Midnight Sun (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 31m (91 min)
Director
Scott Speer
Genres
Drama , Romance
Original language
English
Budget
$2.8M
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is Midnight Sun About?

The premise of Midnight Sun without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Katie Price, a 17-year-old, lives a secluded life due to a rare condition that makes daylight dangerous. As night falls, she ventures out, playing guitar and pursuing her dreams. Her world changes when she meets Charlie, and a secret romance begins. However, their budding relationship forces Katie to face a heartbreaking decision: to embrace the joy of love, or to protect herself and risk losing everything.

Midnight Sun Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • father daughter relationship
  • boyfriend girlfriend relationship
  • seattle washington
  • xeroderma pigmentosum
  • 18 year old
  • childhood flashback
  • rare disease
  • reference to the seattle supersonics
  • kissing in a car
  • remake of japanese film
  • best friend
  • dead mother
+38 more
  • rock concert
  • female singer
  • female guitarist
  • female musician
  • singer songwriter
  • recording studio
  • notebook
  • night swimming
  • female doctor
  • sailboat
  • teenage boy
  • online dating
  • chinese takeout
  • train ride
  • reference to the seattle seahawks
  • reference to the seattle mariners
  • photographer
  • childhood memory
  • wristwatch
  • acoustic guitar
  • ice cream parlor
  • home schooling
  • high school graduation
  • swimming
  • party
  • beer keg
  • ash scattering
  • scattering ashes
  • death of protagonist
  • death of girlfriend
  • death of daughter
  • death of best friend
  • guitarist
  • singer
  • musician
  • sunlight
  • fear of sunlight
  • killed by sunlight
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Cast & crew

Midnight Sun Cast & Characters

Bella Thorne leads the cast as Katie Price, with Rob Riggle as Jack Price and Patrick Schwarzenegger as Charlie Reed. Directed by Scott Speer; 12 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Midnight Sun

· 8 more
From the director

More from Scott Speer

More films directed by Scott Speer, best-rated first: I Still See You, Endless, Status Update and Realm.

Full filmography
Ratings

Midnight Sun Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Midnight Sun 21% on Rotten Tomatoes and 38 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 55/100, strongest in character & emotion (60) and weakest in story & flow (45).

55 /100

Midnight Sun Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Midnight Sun delivers a mixed reception with modest emotional impact counterbalanced by predictable plotting and uneven execution. While its earnest romance and engaging leads resonate with some viewers, the limp direction and contrived narrative twists limit its broader appeal. Critics highlight tonal inconsistencies and occasional stilted performances, even as users praise its tear-jerking moments and visual warmth. The film’s strengths in heartfelt sentiment are offset by narrative clichés and technical misfires. Ultimately, Midnight Sun remains intermittently engaging but seldom transcends its formulaic roots.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 50

    In terms of art and craft, Midnight Sun presents uneven technical execution that often undermines its visual ambitions. Direction is frequently described as limp and overly earnest, with pacing that vacillates between broad humor and treacle. Cinematography captures romantic settings but lacks distinctive visual cohesion, and editing misfires occasionally disrupt tonal flow. Overall, its craft foundation feels serviceable yet inconsistent.

  • Character & Emotion 60

    When it comes to character and emotion, the film finds occasional depth through its earnest leads yet suffers from uneven performances. Bella Thorne’s portrayal conveys genuine tenderness, while secondary roles sometimes overshadow a weaker central turn. Chemistry flares in heartfelt moments but variable acting quality and superficial development limit emotional resonance. As a result, character engagement remains intermittent and uneven.

  • Story & Flow 45

    In terms of story and flow, Midnight Sun follows a predictable romance that blends sincere emotion with familiar beats. Critics note its straightforward narrative and jarring tonal shifts between humor and sentiment, while viewers mention plot holes and a lack of originality. Although the core premise engages briefly, the film’s conventional structure reduces its overall narrative impact.

  • Sensory Experience 55

    When it comes to sensory experience, the soundtrack and visual style offer occasional warmth but lack cohesion. Some viewers praise the music’s emotive quality, while others point out misaligned songs and uneven sound design. Visually, romantic settings are appealing yet underscored by conventional lighting, leading to a muted and inconsistent sensory impression.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    In terms of rewatch factor, this film elicits divided responses regarding lasting appeal. Enthusiastic viewers appreciate its emotional beats and anticipate repeated viewings, while many critics note that predictable plotting and tonal unevenness diminish long-term engagement. The romantic visuals provide brief allure, but structural clichés and occasional misfires limit its replay value over time.

Plot

Midnight Sun Plot Summary

What happens in Midnight Sun from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The story unfolds around a young girl named Katie Price, who navigates life in a quaint house with her father in Washington State. Unfortunately, Katie suffers from Xeroderma Pigmentosum, a rare condition that requires her to avoid sunlight to protect her delicate skin. Local children, unaware of her condition, mockingly label her a vampire due to her reclusive nature. Adding to the narrative is a boy named Charlie who skates by, catching Katie’s admiration—a crush she harbors in silence.

As the plot develops, one of the local kids knocks on Katie’s door, but her father, Rob Riggle, denies her access to outdoor playtime, explaining that it’s daytime. This leads to the introduction of Morgan, a determined girl who insists on seeing Katie and eventually becomes her closest friend.

Full summary

The whole story of Midnight Sun, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Midnight Sun Box Office & Budget

Midnight Sun grossed $27.4 million worldwide on a $2.8 million budget, 9.8 times what it cost. $9.6 million came from the US and Canada and $17.8 million (65%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$27.4M

9.8× its budget

US & Canada
$9.6M
International
$17.8M
Budget
$2.8M
US & Canada 35% Rest of the world 65%
Videos

Midnight Sun Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 2 trailers.

Midnight Sun | Official Trailer | In Theaters March 23
  • Trailer Midnight Sun | Trailer 2 | Global Road Entertainment
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Midnight Sun?

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What rare condition does Katie suffer from?

Cars

Cars in Midnight Sun

7 cars on screen, including the 1976 Ford F-Series and the 1999 Ford Windstar.

All 7 cars
  • 1976 Ford F-Series in Midnight Sun 1976 Ford F-Series Important role
  • 1999 Ford Windstar in Midnight Sun 1999 Ford Windstar Important role
  • 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL R231 in Midnight Sun 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL R231 Minor role
  • 2009 Chevrolet Aveo5 in Midnight Sun 2009 Chevrolet Aveo5 Background role
Details

Midnight Sun Also Known As

29 alternative titles, including “미드나잇 선” and “Amor a Medianoche”.

Also known as
  • 미드나잇 선
  • Amor a Medianoche
  • Amar-te à Meia-Noite
  • ミッドナイト・サン タイヨウのうた
  • Sol da Meia-noite
  • Полночное солнце
  • נשיקה בחצות
  • Ο Ήλιος του Μεσονυχτίου
  • Опівнічне сонце
  • Éjjeli napfény
  • Слънце в полунощ
  • Midnight Sun - Alles für dich
+17 more
  • Il sole a mezzanotte - Midnight sun
  • W blasku nocy
  • Půlnoční láska
  • 真愛趁現在
  • 午夜阳光
  • Soleil de minuit
  • Amor de Medianoche
  • Ponoćno sunce
  • Vidurnakčio saulė
  • Polnočno sonce
  • 日出前讓戀愛開始
  • Pusnakts saule
  • Polnočná láska
  • Sub soarele nopții
  • หลบตะวัน ฉันรักเธอ
  • ミッドナイト・サン 〜タイヨウのうた〜
  • Mặt Trời Giữa Đêm, შუაღამის მზე

Seen Midnight Sun?

FAQ

Midnight Sun FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Midnight Sun, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Midnight Sun?

Midnight Sun runs 1 hour 31 minutes (91 minutes).

When was Midnight Sun released?

Midnight Sun was released on March 23, 2018.

Who directed Midnight Sun?

Midnight Sun was directed by Scott Speer.

More films by Scott Speer

Who is in the cast of Midnight Sun?

Midnight Sun stars Bella Thorne as Katie Price, Rob Riggle as Jack Price and Patrick Schwarzenegger as Charlie Reed, among 12 credited actors.

How much did Midnight Sun make at the box office?

Midnight Sun grossed $27.4 million worldwide ($9.6 million domestic, $17.8 million international) on a budget of $2.8 million.

How is Midnight Sun rated?

Midnight Sun has 6.6/10 on IMDb, 21% on Rotten Tomatoes, 38 on Metacritic and 78% on TMDB.

Does Midnight Sun have a post-credit scene?

Yes. Midnight Sun has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.

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