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Midnight Cowboy

  • 19691969
  • XX
  • 1h 53min
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
107K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,062
229
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight in Midnight Cowboy (1969)
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of 'Midnight Cowboy,' we take a look back at John Schlesinger's three-time Oscar-winning film, starring Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman.
Play clip1:16
'Midnight Cowboy' | Anniversary Mashup
1 Video
99+ Photos
Drama

A naive hustler travels from Texas to New York City to seek personal fortune, finding a new friend in the process.A naive hustler travels from Texas to New York City to seek personal fortune, finding a new friend in the process.A naive hustler travels from Texas to New York City to seek personal fortune, finding a new friend in the process.

IMDb RATING
7.8/10
107K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,062
229
  • Director
    • John Schlesinger
  • Writers
    • Waldo Salt(screenplay)
    • James Leo Herlihy(based on the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Dustin Hoffman
    • Jon Voight
    • Sylvia Miles
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Schlesinger
  • Writers
    • Waldo Salt(screenplay)
    • James Leo Herlihy(based on the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Dustin Hoffman
    • Jon Voight
    • Sylvia Miles
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 413User reviews
    • 135Critic reviews
    • 79Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 3 Oscars
      • 28 wins & 16 nominations total

    Videos1

    'Midnight Cowboy' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:16
    'Midnight Cowboy' | Anniversary Mashup

    Photos183

    Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight in Midnight Cowboy (1969)
    Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voight, and Peter Scalia in Midnight Cowboy (1969)
    Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight in Midnight Cowboy (1969)
    Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight in Midnight Cowboy (1969)
    Dustin Hoffman in Midnight Cowboy (1969)
    Jon Voight and Brenda Vaccaro in Midnight Cowboy (1969)
    Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight in Midnight Cowboy (1969)
    Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight in Midnight Cowboy (1969)
    Jon Voight in Midnight Cowboy (1969)
    Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight in Midnight Cowboy (1969)
    Sylvia Miles at an event for Midnight Cowboy (1969)
    Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight in Midnight Cowboy (1969)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dustin Hoffman
    Dustin Hoffman
    • Ratsoas Ratso
    Jon Voight
    Jon Voight
    • Joe Buckas Joe Buck
    Sylvia Miles
    Sylvia Miles
    • Cassas Cass
    John McGiver
    John McGiver
    • Mr. O'Danielas Mr. O'Daniel
    Brenda Vaccaro
    Brenda Vaccaro
    • Shirleyas Shirley
    Barnard Hughes
    Barnard Hughes
    • Townyas Towny
    Ruth White
    Ruth White
    • Sally Buck - Texasas Sally Buck - Texas
    Jennifer Salt
    Jennifer Salt
    • Annie - Texasas Annie - Texas
    Gilman Rankin
    Gilman Rankin
    • Woodsy Niles - Texasas Woodsy Niles - Texas
    • (as Gil Rankin)
    Gary Owens
    • Little Joe - Texasas Little Joe - Texas
    T. Tom Marlow
    • Little Joe - Texasas Little Joe - Texas
    George Eppersen
    George Eppersen
    • Ralph - Texasas Ralph - Texas
    Al Scott
    • Cafeteria Manager - Texasas Cafeteria Manager - Texas
    Linda Davis
    • Mother on the Bus - Texasas Mother on the Bus - Texas
    J.T. Masters
    • Old Cow-Hand - Texasas Old Cow-Hand - Texas
    Arlene Reeder
    • The Old Lady - Texasas The Old Lady - Texas
    Georgann Johnson
    Georgann Johnson
    • Rich Lady - New Yorkas Rich Lady - New York
    Jonathan Kramer
    • Jackie - New Yorkas Jackie - New York
    • Director
      • John Schlesinger
    • Writers
      • Waldo Salt(screenplay)
      • James Leo Herlihy(based on the novel by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Texas greenhorn Joe Buck arrives in New York City for the first time. Preening himself as a real "hustler", he finds that he is the one getting "hustled" until he teams up with down-and-out but resilient outcast Ratso Rizzo. The initial "country cousin meets city cousin" relationship deepens. In their efforts to bilk a hostile world rebuffing them at every turn, this unlikely pair progress from partners in shady business to comrades. Each has found his first real friend. —alfiehitchie
    new york cityhustlergigolocowboyhomosexual268 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Whatever you hear about Midnight Cowboy is true.
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • X
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Before Dustin Hoffman auditioned for this film, he knew that his all-American image could easily cost him the job. To prove he could do it, he asked the auditioning film executive to meet him on a street corner in Manhattan, and in the meantime, dressed himself in filthy rags. The executive arrived at the appointed corner and waited, barely noticing the "beggar" less than ten feet away who was accosting people for spare change. At last, the beggar walked up to him and revealed his true identity.
    • Goofs
      When Joe Buck is hungry and destitute, he stops in a diner and sits with a weird mother and son. The son looks at the tracking camera not once, but twice, before dialog resumes. Easily edited, but left in, maybe on purpose.
    • Quotes

      Ratso Rizzo: I'm walking here! I'm walking here!

    • Alternate versions
      ABC edited 25 minutes from this film for its 1974 network television premiere.
    • Connections
      Featured in V.I.P.-Schaukel: Episode #2.2 (1972)
    • Soundtracks
      Everybody's Talkin'
      Words and Music by Fred Neil
      Arranged and Conducted by George Aliceson Tipton (as George Tipton)
      Sung by Harry Nilsson (as Nilsson)

    User reviews413

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Truly brilliant
    Watching Midnight Cowboy is like taking a masterclass in acting/ directing/ cinematography/ editing/ writing. I was too young to watch it when it was originally released, and only saw it for the first time a couple of years ago, but it has absolutely stood the test of time, and I have watched it several times since.

    Everything about this film is brilliant, from the poignant performances from Voight and Hoffman (even though I know this movie well, I still find myself welling up every time Voight flashes one of his innocently pained looks, or Hoffman coughs in his sickly and ominous way) to the stunning cinematography and superbly edited dream sequences.

    It's a shame that more of our contemporary filmmakers aren't prepared to take a risk on making movies that are as visually and aurally interesting as this one. Midnight cowboy should be required viewing at all film schools.

    10/10
    helpful•129
    26
    • KooksMonkey
    • Jul 16, 2004

    FAQ7

    • What is 'Midnight Cowboy' about?
    • Is 'Midnight Cowboy' based on a book?
    • What was wrong with Ratso?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 25, 1969 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • MGM
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Asphalt-Cowboy
    • Filming locations
      • Interstate 20 & Weaver Road, Big Spring, Texas, USA
    • Production companies
      • Jerome Hellman Productions
      • Florin Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,600,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $44,785,053
    • Gross worldwide
      • $44,801,177
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 53min
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

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