A bounty hunter pursues a former Mafia accountant who is also being chased by a rival bounty hunter, the F.B.I., and his old mob boss after jumping bail.A bounty hunter pursues a former Mafia accountant who is also being chased by a rival bounty hunter, the F.B.I., and his old mob boss after jumping bail.A bounty hunter pursues a former Mafia accountant who is also being chased by a rival bounty hunter, the F.B.I., and his old mob boss after jumping bail.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 5 nominations total
Tom McCleister
- Red Wood
- (as Thom McCleister)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
Oh yeah! THE film of the 80's. Together with HEAT, one of De Niro's best!
Totally professional film-making. This is a comedy that succeeds on every level. The central characters of reluctant and burnt-out Bounty Hunter De Niro and Grodin as ex mafia accountant on-the-run "The Duke," just meld flawlessly. The script is wicked with ramped up profanities that somehow are absolutely integral to the unfolding plot. De Niro has just hours to get Grodin back to bail-bondsman Pantoliano while his ex-boss Dennis Farina (COULD anyone look more mafioso?) wants him back for reasons of extreme revenge....Perhaps on account of the fact that The Duke has put his funds to better use a la Robin Hood style of redistribution of wealth.
This is really laugh-out-loud brilliant stuff. Catch it.
Totally professional film-making. This is a comedy that succeeds on every level. The central characters of reluctant and burnt-out Bounty Hunter De Niro and Grodin as ex mafia accountant on-the-run "The Duke," just meld flawlessly. The script is wicked with ramped up profanities that somehow are absolutely integral to the unfolding plot. De Niro has just hours to get Grodin back to bail-bondsman Pantoliano while his ex-boss Dennis Farina (COULD anyone look more mafioso?) wants him back for reasons of extreme revenge....Perhaps on account of the fact that The Duke has put his funds to better use a la Robin Hood style of redistribution of wealth.
This is really laugh-out-loud brilliant stuff. Catch it.
Pleasantly surprised by this one. I had heard people refer to this one, but hadn't seen it for myself until recently. One of the better buddy-action movies I've seen, due to a very tight script. Superior writing by George Gallo. The story is what drives this movie from beginning to end, and doesn't need to depend solely on the cast to keep the audience interested for the full 2 hours. DeNiro and Grodin are excellent together, with a great supporting cast. I would keep this movie in my personal collection. I would also consider it a fine example for other buddy action movies to follow, even today. Highly recommended for great comedic writing, directing and acting.
Here is a movie of my favourite sort regardless of the genre - you feel you would neither add nor substract anything from it. Excellent cast, beautiful script, professional director's work. The main strength of the movie can be found in its unpretentiousness. It primarily aims at providing fun and entertainment, and fulfills it in an efficient way. You have your comedy and action galore.
We are usually willing to suspend our disbelief when watching comedies. No such need when it comes to this movie - the plot, the relations between characters, their motives, everything works like a flawless machinery. It is as credible as life itself.
The movie is brimming with memorable scenes. I have seen it twice - first when it appeared more than 15 years ago, and then again yesterday. I was delighted to find that the movie had lost nothing of its freshness and endured all time traps. I highly recommend it.
9/10 !
We are usually willing to suspend our disbelief when watching comedies. No such need when it comes to this movie - the plot, the relations between characters, their motives, everything works like a flawless machinery. It is as credible as life itself.
The movie is brimming with memorable scenes. I have seen it twice - first when it appeared more than 15 years ago, and then again yesterday. I was delighted to find that the movie had lost nothing of its freshness and endured all time traps. I highly recommend it.
9/10 !
Midnight Run is enjoyable from start to finish. Full of action, humour and entertainment. The pace is so fast and eventful. It doesn't slow down. It is about fight the clock and the audience also experience the rush and thrill. An unlikely and amusing alliance forms between De Niro and his runaway. It also had a nice feel good ending.
The first time I watched this movie, I immediately started it again after the credits rolled. Loved it just as much the 2nd time, and over the years, I can honestly say that almost anytime I watch Midnight Run, I usually end up watching it a 2nd (and sometimes 3rd) time within the next few days.
I'm fairly certain the reason for this is that it's evokes such a feeling, creates such a time and place, that I'm practically nostalgic for watching it the minute it ends. Part of that has to do with Danny Elfman's score, and part of it has to do with DeNiro's and Grodin's performances, but more than anything, it's the fact that they just don't make movies like this anymore.
Midnight Run is without a question a perfect movie, but more importantly, it's a time vessel back to an era where you could tell this kind of story, and make a movie like this, and everyone comes out on top.
I love this movie like I love my childhood.
I'm fairly certain the reason for this is that it's evokes such a feeling, creates such a time and place, that I'm practically nostalgic for watching it the minute it ends. Part of that has to do with Danny Elfman's score, and part of it has to do with DeNiro's and Grodin's performances, but more than anything, it's the fact that they just don't make movies like this anymore.
Midnight Run is without a question a perfect movie, but more importantly, it's a time vessel back to an era where you could tell this kind of story, and make a movie like this, and everyone comes out on top.
I love this movie like I love my childhood.
Did you know
- TriviaThe boxcar scene--where Jack Walsh (Robert De Niro) and John Mardukas (Charles Grodin) discuss whether or not they could ever be friends--was almost entirely improvised on-set. Regarding Grodin's famous line, "You ever had sex with an animal, Jack?": he was told by director Martin Brest to come up with something that was guaranteed to make even Robert De Niro laugh.
- GoofsThe action in the movie takes them through Amarillo, Texas in the Texas panhandle. Mountains are visible between the buildings in the background. The topography of the panhandle is a flat, treeless plain.
- Quotes
Jimmy Serrano: Is this moron number one? Put moron number two on the phone.
- Crazy creditsIn the opening credits, Robert De Niro's name is spelled Robert DeNiro.
- Alternate versionsTwo cuts to remove lock-picking details were made to the UK video version, which was also upgraded from a 15 cinema certificate to an 18 on video. The British DVD release in 2000 restored the cuts made to previous UK versions.
- ConnectionsEdited into Laser Optics II (1989)
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $35,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $38,413,606
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $5,506,290
- Jul 24, 1988
- Gross worldwide
- $81,613,606
- Runtime
- 2h 6m(126 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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