Permanent Midnight

19981998
RR
1h 28min

Elizabeth Hurley and Ben Stiller in Permanent Midnight (1998)

Home Video Trailer from Artisan

Play trailer2:11

Biography Drama Romance

A comedy writer struggles to overcome his addiction to heroin.A comedy writer struggles to overcome his addiction to heroin.A comedy writer struggles to overcome his addiction to heroin.

Director
- David Veloz
Writers
- Jerry Stahl(book)
- David Veloz(screenplay)
Stars

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 nomination

Videos1

Permanent Midnight

Permanent Midnight

Elizabeth Hurley, Ben Stiller, and Owen Wilson in Permanent Midnight (1998)

Permanent Midnight (1998)

Ben Stiller in Permanent Midnight (1998)

Permanent Midnight (1998)

Permanent Midnight (1998)

Elizabeth Hurley, Ben Stiller, and Maria Bello in Permanent Midnight (1998)

Elizabeth Hurley and Ben Stiller in Permanent Midnight (1998)

Permanent Midnight (1998)

Elizabeth Hurley and Ben Stiller in Permanent Midnight (1998)

Permanent Midnight (1998)

Elizabeth Hurley and Ben Stiller in Permanent Midnight (1998)

Ben Stiller in Permanent Midnight (1998)

The Minus Man

6.1

The Grand

6.0

Zero Effect

6.9

Love Liza

6.9

Your Friends and Neighbors

6.3

Your Friends and Neighbors

Best Seller

6.5

Trees Lounge

7.1

Shrink

6.6

Keeping the Faith

6.4

Keeping the Faith

Spun

6.8

2 Days in the Valley

6.5

2 Days in the Valley

A Thousand Junkies

6.1

A Thousand Junkies

Comedy writer Jerry Stahl, whose $6000-a-week heroin habit had him taking his infant daughter along on his drug runs and doing smack during TV script conferences. Departing detox, Stahl explores memories with survivor Kitty, who listens patiently to Stahl's flashback. Other women in Stahl's life are his British wife Sandra and his agent Vola. For the TV series "Mr. Chompers" (inspired by ALF), Stahl meets with sitcom exec Craig Ziffer and puppeteer Allen. For freaky freebasing, Stahl hangs with mumbler Nicky and druggie Gus. —Anonymous

heroin addiction reference to ethel merman based on autobiography kissing while having sex sex scene 136 more

Genres
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
- Rated R for pervasive graphic drug use, strong sexuality and language
Parents guide

Trivia
The fictional television show "Mr. Chompers" was based on author Jerry Stahl's experience writing for ALF (1986). The other television series was based on Stahl's experiences on Twin Peaks (1990) and Moonlighting (1985), and its star was apparently based on Cybill Shepherd.

Goofs
After Jerry picks up his daughter from Sandra to babysit her (at approximately [1:01:40]), he can be seen driving down the road sitting on the right hand side of the car. This is not consistent with other scenes in the movie and furthermore, the driver is clearly not Ben Stiller.

Quotes
Jerry Stahl: [Narrating] People always ask, "What's the worst thing heroin drove you to do?". I always answer, "showing up on Maury."

Alternate versions
The DVD features 3 deleted scenes:
A wasted Jerry hitting on Owen Wilson's character's girlfriend and being thrown out.
A long haired Jerry working for Hustler magazine.
A stoned Jerry buying a muffin and being beaten with a baseball bat by the store clerk.

Connections
Featured in At the Movies: One True Thing/Rush Hour/A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries/Permanent Midnight/Touch of Evil/Chicago Cab (1998)

Soundtracks
Overwhelming
Performed and Written by Art Alexakis
Produced by Art Alexakis (as A.P. Alexakis) and Paul Fox
Recorded at A&M
Published by Irving Music, Inc./Evergleam Music (BMI)
Courtesy of Capitol Records, Inc.
Under license from EMI Music Special Markets

Top review

8/10

My 2 hits... I mean cents

Probably one of the best movies about drugs that I've ever seen. An excellent performance by Ben Stiller in one of his most serious roles. If you want to see a movie that portrays the life-style associated with drugs accurately, watch this movie.

helpful•11

1

awayfromthesun
Oct 6, 2002

Release date
- April 23, 1999 (Iceland)
Country of origin
- United States
Language
- English
Also known as
- Вічна північ
Filming locations
- Seattle, Washington, USA
Production company
- JD Productions
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Gross US & Canada
- $1,171,001
Opening weekend US & Canada
- $260,562
- Sep 20, 1998
Gross worldwide
- $1,171,001

See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

Runtime
- 1h 28min
Color
- Color
Sound mix
- Dolby Digital
- SDDS
Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1

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Elizabeth Hurley and Ben Stiller in Permanent Midnight (1998)

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