White Nights (1985): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
White Nights is a 1985 drama directed by Taylor Hackford, starring Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines. It runs 2 hours 16 minutes and earned $42.2 million worldwide. It won 1 Oscar, including Music (Original Song). Critics gave it 46 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 16m (136 min)
- Director
- Taylor Hackford
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Columbia Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is White Nights About?
The premise of White Nights without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Stranded in Siberia after a plane crash, a former ballet dancer finds himself trapped within Soviet territory. Pursued by the KGB, he relies on his wit and charm to evade capture. His chance for freedom arrives with an American expatriate and his pregnant wife, who risk everything to help him escape the frozen landscape and navigate a dangerous path toward liberty.
White Nights Themes & Keywords
· 46 tags- russia
- ballet
- kgb
- soviet union
- defector
- interracial relationship
- escape
- expatriate
- midnight sun
- cold war era
- emergency landing
- dance
+34 more Show fewer
- airplane accident
- cold war
- tap dancing
- russian american
- n word
- pregnant woman
- audio cassette
- audio tape
- dancer
- male dancer
- ballet dancer
- airplane crash
- airplane
- leningrad soviet union
- apartment
- prisoner exchange
- american
- man
- marriage
- manager
- diplomat
- u.s. embassy
- exchange of prisoners
- ghetto blaster
- surveillance
- leningrad
- ambassador
- kiss
- draft evasion
- two word title
- teenage girl in ballet suit
- hanbok
- helicopter
- title spoken by character
White Nights Cast
Mikhail Baryshnikov leads the cast, with Gregory Hines. Directed by Taylor Hackford.
-
Director Taylor Hackford
More from Taylor Hackford
More films directed by Taylor Hackford, best-rated first: Ray, An Officer and a Gentleman, Dolores Claiborne and The Idolmaker.
White Nights Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave White Nights 46 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 46 Metascore
User score 7.3
See on Metacritic
White Nights Plot Summary
What happens in White Nights from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Nikolai ‘Kolya’ Rodchenko, Mikhail Baryshnikov, is a renowned Russian ballet dancer who had previously defected from the Soviet Union. When a flight bound for Tokyo encounters electrical trouble and crash lands in Siberia, he is injured and identified by KGB officer Colonel Chaiko. Chaiko then brings in Raymond Greenwood, a tap dancer who has also defected to the Soviet Union, to escort Kolya and keep an eye on him, pulling in Gregory Hines to join the effort and whisk them both to Leningrad. Chaiko’s goal is clear: Kolya should perform at the season’s opening night at the Kirov, and Raymond should look after him during this pivotal moment.
Full summary
The whole story of White Nights, scene by scene
White Nights Box Office
White Nights grossed $42.2 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$42.2M
- US & Canada
- $42.2M
White Nights Awards & Nominations
White Nights won 1 Oscar, including Music (Original Song). Its biggest night was the Oscars 1986, with 1 win from 2 nominations.
1 win4 nominations2 ceremonies
-
Oscars 1986 1 win · 2 nominations- Won Music (Original Song)
- Nominated Music (Original Song)
-
Golden Globes 1986 2 nominations- Nominated Best Original Score
- Nominated Best Original Song
White Nights Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 teaser.
- Teaser White Nights 1985 TV trailer
How Well Do You Know White Nights?
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 kind of dancer is Nikolai 'Kolya' Rodchenko?
Cars in White Nights
12 cars on screen, including the 1980 GAZ 24 Volga and the 1959 GAZ M-13 Chaika.
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1980 GAZ 24 Volga Important role -
1959 GAZ M-13 Chaika Important role -
1972 Lada 1200 Combi 2102 Important role -
1976 Lada 1200 2101 Minor role
White Nights Also Known As
19 alternative titles, including “il Sole a Mezzanotte” and “白夜逃亡”.
- Also known as
-
- il Sole a Mezzanotte
- 白夜逃亡
- 白夜
- Bílé noci
- Soleil de nuit
- Noches de sol
- White Nights - Nacht der Entscheidung
- Vita nätter
- O Sol da Meia-Noite
- Белые ночи
- לילות לבנים
- Білі ночі
+7 more Show fewer
- Бели нощи
- 飞越苏联
- Halálbalett
- 백야
- ホワイトナイツ/白夜
- Nits de sol
- Białe noce
Seen White Nights?
Movies Like White Nights
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Farewell to White Nights, The Girl from Petrovka and Siberia.
White Nights FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of White Nights, each answered in a sentence.
How long is White Nights?
White Nights runs 2 hours 16 minutes (136 minutes).
When was White Nights released?
White Nights was released on November 22, 1985.
Who directed White Nights?
White Nights was directed by Taylor Hackford.
More films by Taylor Hackford Who is in the cast of White Nights?
White Nights stars Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines.
How much did White Nights make at the box office?
White Nights grossed $42.2 million worldwide.
How is White Nights rated?
White Nights has 46 on Metacritic.
What awards did White Nights win?
White Nights won 1 award from 4 nominations, including Music (Original Song) at the Oscars 1986.
Does White Nights have a post-credit scene?
No. White Nights has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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