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IMDbPro

Midnight Special

  • 20162016
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
81K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,234
3,527
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
17 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Mystery
  • Sci-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
81K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,234
3,527
  • Director
    • Jeff Nichols
  • Writer
    • Jeff Nichols
  • Stars
    • Michael Shannon
    • Joel Edgerton
    • Kirsten Dunst
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jeff Nichols
  • Writer
    • Jeff Nichols
  • Stars
    • Michael Shannon
    • Joel Edgerton
    • Kirsten Dunst
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 334User reviews
    • 346Critic reviews
    • 76Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 14 nominations

    Videos17

    Trailer #2
    Trailer 2:03
    Trailer #2
    U.S. Trailer #1
    Trailer 1:48
    U.S. Trailer #1
    International Teaser
    Trailer 1:43
    International Teaser
    He Will Do Anything
    Clip 0:56
    He Will Do Anything
    Gas Station
    Clip 1:10
    Gas Station
    The Deal
    Clip 0:48
    The Deal
    Jeff Nichols
    Interview 4:26
    Jeff Nichols
    Kirsten Dunst
    Interview 3:33
    Kirsten Dunst
    Joel Edgerton
    Interview 4:33
    Joel Edgerton
    Sarah Green
    Interview 4:05
    Sarah Green
    Michael Shannon
    Interview 3:20
    Michael Shannon
    Brian Kavanaugh Jones
    Interview 3:22
    Brian Kavanaugh Jones

    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
    • Royas Roy
    Joel Edgerton
    Joel Edgerton
    • Lucasas Lucas
    Kirsten Dunst
    Kirsten Dunst
    • Sarahas Sarah
    Adam Driver
    Adam Driver
    • Sevieras Sevier
    Jaeden Martell
    Jaeden Martell
    • Altonas Alton
    • (as Jaeden Lieberher)
    Bill Camp
    Bill Camp
    • Doakas Doak
    Scott Haze
    Scott Haze
    • Levias Levi
    Sam Shepard
    Sam Shepard
    • Calvin Meyeras Calvin Meyer
    Paul Sparks
    Paul Sparks
    • Agent Milleras Agent Miller
    David Jensen
    David Jensen
    • Eldenas Elden
    Sharon Landry
    Sharon Landry
    • Merrianne (Doak's Wife)as Merrianne (Doak's Wife)
    Dana Gourrier
    Dana Gourrier
    • Sharon Davison (Councelor)as Sharon Davison (Councelor)
    Sharon Garrison
    Sharon Garrison
    • Jane Adams (Sarah's Mother)as Jane Adams (Sarah's Mother)
    Allison Gabriel
    Allison Gabriel
    • Hannah (Ranch Member)as Hannah (Ranch Member)
    • (as Allison King)
    Sean Bridgers
    Sean Bridgers
    • Frederick (Ranch Member)as Frederick (Ranch Member)
    Lucy Faust
    Lucy Faust
    • Caroline (Ranch Member)as Caroline (Ranch Member)
    James Moses Black
    James Moses Black
    • Military Officeras Military Officer
    Yvonne Landry
    Yvonne Landry
    • Motel Clerkas Motel Clerk
    • Director
      • Jeff Nichols
    • Writer
      • Jeff Nichols
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details 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 reviews334

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    wish all indies were this good...
    and I can say with some certainty that Jeff Nichols has a heck of a career ahead of him.

    To be frank, after your first 1000 or so IMDb reviews, you get a bit cynical. You start to understand that, in spite of the hype, movies are not as good as they used to be -- more like production-line white-bread, all mapped out and pre-sold into the appropriate distribution channels before the first viewer ever even gets a look -- and that in the same time period, TV has come to surpass film in terms of quality and entertainment value.

    And then every now and then you get a film like Midnight Special and for a brief moment you start to think this medium might someday recapture its glory days.

    I am not going to tell the story or do anything which will diminish your experience, should you choose to see this film.

    I will simply say that, if you believe the primary goal of a movie is to hold your interest and entertain, this one does the job from the first frame to the closing credits.

    Boy is that refreshing!

    The actors -- not name actors -- were excellent.

    The special effects were mind-boggling, especially for an indie.

    The script breaks (or bends) some rules of conventional narrative but otherwise is so tight you could use it for a drum solo.

    Highly recommended.
    helpful•329
    119
    • A_Different_Drummer
    • Apr 22, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 21, 2016 (Greece)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Greece
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Untitled Jeff Nichols/Sci-Fi Project
    • 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
    • Budget
      • $18,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,712,282
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $190,012
      • Mar 20, 2016
    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,740,647
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • Datasat
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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