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IMDbPro

Midnight Special

  • 20162016
  • PGPG
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
82K
YOUR RATING
Jaeden Martell in Midnight Special (2016)
A father goes on the run to protect his young son, Alton, and uncover the truth behind the boy's special powers. What starts as a race from religious extremists and local law enforcement quickly escalates to a nationwide manhunt involving the highest levels of the Federal Government. Ultimately his father risks everything to protect Alton and help fulfill a destiny that could change the world forever, in this genre -- defying film as supernatural as it is intimately human.
Play trailer2:03
29 Videos
99+ Photos
DramaMysterySci-Fi
A father and son go on the run, pursued by the government and a cult drawn to the child's special powers.A father and son go on the run, pursued by the government and a cult drawn to the child's special powers.A father and son go on the run, pursued by the government and a cult drawn to the child's special powers.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
82K
YOUR RATING
    • Jeff Nichols
    • Jeff Nichols
  • Stars
    • Michael Shannon
    • Joel Edgerton
    • Kirsten Dunst
    • Jeff Nichols
    • Jeff Nichols
  • Stars
    • Michael Shannon
    • Joel Edgerton
    • Kirsten Dunst
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 336User reviews
    • 348Critic reviews
    • 76Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos29

    Trailer #2
    Trailer 2:03
    Watch Trailer #2
    U.S. Trailer #1
    Trailer 1:48
    Watch U.S. Trailer #1
    International Teaser
    Trailer 1:43
    Watch International Teaser
    He Will Do Anything
    Clip 0:56
    Watch He Will Do Anything
    Gas Station
    Clip 1:10
    Watch Gas Station
    The Deal
    Clip 0:48
    Watch The Deal
    Midnight Special: Gas Station
    Clip 1:05
    Watch Midnight Special: Gas Station
    Midnight Special: He Will Do Anything
    Clip 0:51
    Watch Midnight Special: He Will Do Anything
    Midnight Special: The Deal
    Clip 0:44
    Watch Midnight Special: The Deal
    Midnight Special: Sarah Green On First Hearing About The Project From Jeff Nichols
    Featurette 0:56
    Watch Midnight Special: Sarah Green On First Hearing About The Project From Jeff Nichols
    Midnight Special: Joel Edgerton On His Character
    Featurette 0:40
    Watch Midnight Special: Joel Edgerton On His Character
    Midnight Special: Jeff Nichols On His Writing Process
    Featurette 1:10
    Watch Midnight Special: Jeff Nichols On His Writing Process

    Photos298

    Jaeden Martell in Midnight Special (2016)
    Jaeden Martell in Midnight Special (2016)
    Jaeden Martell in Midnight Special (2016)
    Kirsten Dunst and Michael Shannon at an event for Midnight Special (2016)
    Jesse Plemons at an event for Midnight Special (2016)
    Joel Edgerton at an event for Midnight Special (2016)
    Kirsten Dunst and Michael Shannon at an event for Midnight Special (2016)
    Midnight Special (2016)
    Midnight Special (2016)
    Midnight Special (2016)
    Kirsten Dunst, Sam Shepard, David Jensen, Bill Camp, Joel Edgerton, Michael Shannon, Paul Sparks, Scott Haze, Adam Driver, and Jaeden Martell in Midnight Special (2016)
    Kirsten Dunst, Sam Shepard, David Jensen, Bill Camp, Joel Edgerton, Michael Shannon, Paul Sparks, Scott Haze, Adam Driver, and Jaeden Martell in Midnight Special (2016)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michael Shannon
    Michael Shannon
    • Roy
    Joel Edgerton
    Joel Edgerton
    • Lucas
    Kirsten Dunst
    Kirsten Dunst
    • Sarah
    Adam Driver
    Adam Driver
    • Sevier
    Jaeden Martell
    Jaeden Martell
    • Alton
    • (as Jaeden Lieberher)
    Bill Camp
    Bill Camp
    • Doak
    Scott Haze
    Scott Haze
    • Levi
    Sam Shepard
    Sam Shepard
    • Calvin Meyer
    Paul Sparks
    Paul Sparks
    • Agent Miller
    David Jensen
    David Jensen
    • Elden
    Sharon Landry
    Sharon Landry
    • Merrianne (Doak's Wife)
    Dana Gourrier
    Dana Gourrier
    • Sharon Davison (Councelor)
    Sharon Garrison
    Sharon Garrison
    • Jane Adams (Sarah's Mother)
    Allison Gabriel
    Allison Gabriel
    • Hannah (Ranch Member)
    • (as Allison King)
    Sean Bridgers
    Sean Bridgers
    • Frederick (Ranch Member)
    Lucy Faust
    Lucy Faust
    • Caroline (Ranch Member)
    James Moses Black
    James Moses Black
    • Military Officer
    Yvonne Landry
    Yvonne Landry
    • Motel Clerk
      • Jeff Nichols
      • Jeff Nichols
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Because he wanted final cut, Jeff Nichols originally considered making the film with an independent film studio, rather than at Warner Bros Pictures. It wasn't until his last meeting with Warner Bros that he informed them of this requirement. However, the producers at the company still agreed to make the film, due to its relatively small budget.
    • Goofs
      The characters are told to go to the geographic coordinates of 29.4.31N 82.41.48W, which is about 25 miles north of Tampa, FL, and 4 miles from the Gulf. However, the movie at least twice shows them using a map aimed for the Florida panhandle near Apalachicola. Later "explosions" of energy are shown radiating from that area. They have missed by roughly 150 miles.
    • Quotes

      Alton Meyer: Dad?

      Roy: Yeah?

      Alton Meyer: Are you scared?

      Roy: Yes.

      Alton Meyer: You don't have to worry about me.

      Roy: I like worrying about you.

      Alton Meyer: You don't have to anymore.

      Roy: I'll always worry about you Alton. That's the deal.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Graham Norton Show: Chris Hemsworth/Jessica Chastain/Kirsten Dunst/Stephen Mangan/Raleigh Ritchie (2016)
    • Soundtracks
      Sunrise Mass
      Written by Ola Gjeilo

      Performed by Majorstua Chamber Choir / Kammerkoret Nova with String Orchestra

      Conducted by Tore Erik Mohn

      Courtesy of GIA Publications, Inc.

    User reviews336

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Unearthly Drama with an Emotional Punch
    This film really came out of nowhere for me, as a comment by a stranger I overheard in a bar drew me to this, and thank you nameless stranger with impeccable taste! This is one of those sci-fi flicks that comes along every once in a while that actually has something to say without overuse of CGI and genre tropes.

    I knew almost nothing about Midnight Special going in other than said comment, and I highly recommend you try to do the same. Therefore I will be as brief as possible to avoid spoilers.

    Roy (Michael Shannon) is on the run with his 8 year old son Alden (Jaeden Lieberher) from a religious cult that worships the boy as some sort of messiah. Also in pursuit are the FBI and NSA, who are investigating several strange phenomena connected with the child. Roy enlists childhood friend Lucas (Joel Edgerton) to help them get to a specific location on a specific date, the reasons for which are unclear but may involve some sort of otherworldly or cataclysmic event.

    The comparisons with Starman (1984) and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) are apt, but this is very definitely a different movie altogether.

    The actors are uniformly excellent, especially Michael Shannon, who gives another intense and believable performance as a man who would do anything for his son.

    A bit has been made out of how the movie ends, but personally I found it a powerful emotional pay-off that I could feel in my chest, possibly due to the nostalgic feeling this film evokes.

    In conclusion, go see it. A thought provoking sci-fi drama with a story to tell. A good one at that.
    helpful•141
    64
    • Skruffbagg
    • Apr 21, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 21, 2016 (Greece)
      • United States
      • Greece
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, St. Marks, Florida, USA
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros.
      • RatPac-Dune Entertainment
      • Faliro House Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 52 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Digital
      • Datasat

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