Six Minutes to Midnight (2021): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
Six Minutes to Midnight is a 2021 drama thriller directed by Andy Goddard, starring Nigel Lindsay as Wheatley, Eddie Izzard and Carla Juri. It runs 1 hour 39 minutes and earned $2.9 million worldwide. Critics gave it 36% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.9/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 39m (99 min)
- Director
- Andy Goddard
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- IFC Films
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Six Minutes to Midnight About?
The premise of Six Minutes to Midnight without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
During a sweltering summer in 1939, an English finishing school takes in daughters of Nazi Germany's elite, preparing them for future roles as ambassadors. One teacher becomes suspicious of the sinister agenda unfolding beneath the school’s polite facade and attempts to raise the alarm. However, his concerns are dismissed, and he finds himself facing accusations and disbelief from those in power, forcing him to fight to expose the danger before it’s too late.
Six Minutes to Midnight Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- all girls school
- private girls school
- german girl
- british spy
- nazism
- nazi salute
- german in england
- british secret service
- seaside town
- german agent
- bus driver
- england
+38 more Show fewer
- title spoken by character
- nazi sympathizer
- framed for murder
- spitfire aircraft
- british secret agent
- awaiting repatriation
- outbreak of world war two
- year 1939
- scene before opening credits
- co written by cast member
- finding a dead body on a beach
- governess
- schoolmistress
- german undercover agent
- female undercover agent
- english teacher
- radio broadcast
- beach
- pevensey england
- castle ruins
- public bus
- spy camera
- reception
- lapel pin
- swastika lapel pin
- murder
- front page story
- micro film
- double agent
- bilingual
- handcuffed man
- band uniform
- man beaten
- flare
- attempted landing
- it's a long long way to tipperary
- secret agent as protagonist
- captain the military rank
Six Minutes to Midnight Cast & Characters
Nigel Lindsay leads the cast as Wheatley, with Eddie Izzard as Thomas Miller and Carla Juri as Ilse Keller. Directed by Andy Goddard; 15 actors are credited in all.
- Director Andy Goddard
- Nigel Lindsay as Wheatley
-
Eddie Izzard as Thomas Miller -
Carla Juri as Ilse Keller -
James D'Arcy as Captain Drey
Also Starring in Six Minutes to Midnight
· 11 more- Jim Broadbent Charlie
- Judi Dench Miss Rocholl
- Kevin Eldon Sergeant Simmons
- David Schofield
- Luisa-Céline Gaffron Sigrid
- Bianca Nawrath Paula
- Franziska Brandmeier Beatrix
- Daria Wolf Leta
- Joe Bone Jackie
- Rupert Holliday-Evans Band Leader
- Maria-Victoria Dragus
Six Minutes to Midnight Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Six Minutes to Midnight 36% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 54/100, strongest in art & craft (60) and weakest in story & flow (45).
Six Minutes to Midnight Echo Score Breakdown
Six Minutes to Midnight presents a blend of solid vintage atmosphere and underdeveloped storytelling that yields a mixed overall impact. Critics and viewers admire its faithful period design and occasional visual flair but lament the uneven directing choices and lack of narrative momentum. Performances are regarded as uneven, with moments of genuine emotional depth countered by wooden executions. Ultimately, the film’s modest achievements in style and intrigue are tempered by recurring issues in pacing and dramatic engagement.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 60
In terms of art and craft, the film delivers credible period production design and commendable shot compositions, especially in interior sequences. Critics noted an authentic recreation of 1939 Britain through set dressing and costume work, and one user highlighted stunning photographic framing. However, description of direction as ‘watery’ and occasional old-fashioned editing choices undercut some momentum. Overall, the visual craftsmanship serves its setting well but is tempered by restrained directorial execution.
- Character & Emotion 50
When it comes to character and emotion, the film features a strong central presence but inconsistent depth across the cast. Judi Dench’s restrained performance is widely praised for subtlety, while Eddie Izzard’s turn is seen as underpowered by several reviewers. The nagging script limitations further hinder emotional engagement, leading to a sense that supporting roles lack resonance. On balance, character moments achieve intermittent poignancy but fall short of sustained emotional immersion.
- Story & Flow 45
In terms of story and flow, Six Minutes to Midnight is frequently criticized for its thin narrative structure and reliance on familiar espionage tropes. Reviewers point to a paper-thin plot that evokes Hitchcock without matching the suspense or dramatic tension. A few users appreciated the historical basis and found the storyline interesting enough to carry to the end, yet pacing is often described as uneven and stakes as insufficiently developed. As a result, the narrative coherence feels undercut by its own ambitions.
- Sensory Experience 60
Regarding sensory experience, the film excels in visual style and atmosphere rooted in its period setting. Observers noted an understated color palette and measured lighting that evoke classic spy thrillers, while soundtrack and sound design support tension without overpowering. Although sound elements are seldom highlighted, the overall production values reinforce immersion. Consequently, viewers find the sensory palette engaging, even if it does not fully compensate for shortcomings in narrative vitality.
- Rewatch Factor 55
Concerning rewatch factor, the film offers modest replay value for aficionados of vintage espionage and period detail. Some users expressed willingness to revisit the film for its nostalgic nods and craftsmanship, likening it to classic noir entries. However, the limited dramatic stakes and intermittent pacing issues deter repeated viewings for a broader audience. Thus, replay appeal is chiefly confined to genre enthusiasts rather than serving as a universally compelling repeat experience.
-
IMDb 5.9 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 36% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 47%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 48 Metascore
User score 5.3
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 62% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.7 /5
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 4.6 /5
See on Movie Insider
Six Minutes to Midnight Plot Summary
What happens in Six Minutes to Midnight from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the picturesque coastal town of Bexhill-on-Sea, where the soft waves of the English Channel caress the sandy beach, a dark and sinister plan is quietly unfolding. At the heart of this intrigue lies the Augusta-Victoria College, an elite finishing school catering to the daughters of the Nazi hierarchy, and shrouded in a veil of secrecy as a calculated risk for the British government. Wheatley, a sly English teacher and undercover operative, faces a precarious situation as his cover gets compromised. His hurried escape to town without notifying his superior, Colonel Smith, puts him in grave danger.
Full summary
The whole story of Six Minutes to Midnight, scene by scene
Six Minutes to Midnight Box Office
Six Minutes to Midnight grossed $2.9 million worldwide. $132,500 came from the US and Canada and $2.8 million (95%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$2.9M
- US & Canada
- $132.5K
- International
- $2.8M
Six Minutes to Midnight Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Six Minutes to Midnight.
How Well Do You Know Six Minutes to Midnight?
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 is the name of the prestigious finishing school for the daughters of Nazi elite?
Six Minutes to Midnight Also Known As
27 alternative titles, including “6 минут до полуночи” and “午夜諜變”.
- Also known as
-
- 6 минут до полуночи
- 午夜諜變
- Las hijas del Reich
- Reiha meitas
- 6分钟到午夜
- Шесть минут до полуночи
- Sei minuti a mezzanotte
- 午夜密令
- Seis Minutos para Meia-Noite
- 6 Phút Đến Nửa Đêm
- Έξι λεπτά πριν τα Μεσάνυχτα
- Minuit moins six
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- Córki Rzeszy
- Gece Yarısına Altı Dakika
- Les filles del Reich
- שש דקות לחצות
- Sešas minūtes līdz pusnaktij
- Šešios minutės iki vidurnakčio
- Шест минути до полунощ
- Za pět dvanáct
- Hat perc éjfélig
- Za päť dvanásť
- Шість хвилин до півночі
- Șase minute până la miezul nopții
- 식스 미닛 투 미드나잇
- シックス・ミニッツ・トゥ・ミッドナイト
- Šest minut do polnoči
Seen Six Minutes to Midnight?
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Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Enigma, Midnight and The Hour Before the Dawn.
Six Minutes to Midnight FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Six Minutes to Midnight, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Six Minutes to Midnight?
Six Minutes to Midnight runs 1 hour 39 minutes (99 minutes).
When was Six Minutes to Midnight released?
Six Minutes to Midnight was released on March 26, 2021.
Who directed Six Minutes to Midnight?
Six Minutes to Midnight was directed by Andy Goddard.
More films by Andy Goddard Who is in the cast of Six Minutes to Midnight?
Six Minutes to Midnight stars Nigel Lindsay as Wheatley, Eddie Izzard as Thomas Miller and Carla Juri as Ilse Keller, among 15 credited actors.
How much did Six Minutes to Midnight make at the box office?
Six Minutes to Midnight grossed $2.9 million worldwide ($132,500 domestic, $2.8 million international).
How is Six Minutes to Midnight rated?
Six Minutes to Midnight has 5.9/10 on IMDb, 36% on Rotten Tomatoes, 48 on Metacritic and 62% on TMDB.
Does Six Minutes to Midnight have a post-credit scene?
No. Six Minutes to Midnight has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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