Brad Davis, Irene Miracle, Bo Hopkins

Forever embroiled in controversy, Midnight Express divides viewers into opposing camps: those who think it's one of the most intense real-life dramas ever made, and those who abhor its manipula...( read more  read more... )tive tactics and alteration of facts for the exploitative purpose of achieving a desired effect. That effect is powerfully achieved, regardless of how you may feel about director Alan Parker and Oscar®-winning screenwriter Oliver Stone's interpretation of the story of Billy Hayes. It was the American Hayes--played by the late Brad Davis in an unforgettable performance--who was caught smuggling two kilograms of hashish while attempting to board a flight from Istanbul, Turkey, in 1970. He was sentenced to four years in a hellish Turkish prison on a drug possession charge, but his sentence was later extended (though not by 30 years, as the film suggests), and Hayes endured unthinkable brutality and torture before his escape in 1975.

Unquestionably, this is a superbly crafted film, provoking a visceral response that's powerful enough to boil your blood. By the time Hayes erupts in an explosion of self-defensive violence, Parker and Stone have proven the power--and danger--of their skill. Their film is deeply manipulative, extremely xenophobic, and embellishes reality to heighten its calculated impact. Is that a crime? Not necessarily, and there's no doubt that Midnight Express is expertly directed and blessed with exceptional supporting performances (especially from John Hurt as a long-term prisoner). Still, it's obvious that strings are being pulled, and Parker, while applying his talent to a nefarious purpose, is a masterful puppeteer. --Jeff Shannon

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89% liked it

24,951 ratings

R, 122 min.

Directed by: Alan Parker

Release Date: September 20, 1978

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DVD Release Date: May 22, 2001

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Stats: 1,317 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,317)


  • September 29, 2009
    Unforgettable true story, written, acted and directed with brilliant craftsmanship. A classic.
  • July 18, 2009
    Another very harrowing real life tale, this time in a Turkish prison. This film is deeply depressing and very very harsh going.
    The brutality and corruption on show here is sky high, wether fully true is the question yet it works extremely well for the film and makes you happy y...( read more)ou weren't there. Davis is tremendous and shows the full scale of human emotion as he enters hell. Hurt and Quaid offer excellent support as do the rest of the realistic cast. The film is grim and dirty, you can almost smell the fear and sweat, its actually very unpleasant and makes you very uncomfortable, Stone succeeds 100%
    a real nightmare and true classic, but will upset you, be brave.
  • May 1, 2009
    Look, I know this is no Turkish travelogue and there are millions of bleeding hearts out there who feel that Billy Hayes got a raw deal, but if you ask my opinion I think that five years in a Turkish prison is getting off pretty light. For gosh sakes, the man was smuggling drugs...( read more)(!). This film, as controversial as it is, probably did as much damage to Turkey's illegal hashish trade as it did to it's international tourism.
  • November 20, 2008
    Wow, impressive realism of the brutality of life in prison, particularly in a prison where the rights we enjoy in America are valued so little. The main character comes so close to totally losing his sanity. I love, love, love the scene where he wonders to the basement where pr...( read more)isoners mindlessly shuffle around a central column totally given into conformity and lacking their humanity. The main character at first shuffles along with everyone else then begins going against the flow and finally climbs the stairs out of the basement regaining his sanity. So transcendent!!
  • October 19, 2008
    Makes you afraid to go out of the country even if you're not smuggling dope.
  • November 18, 2009
    intense and thoughtful
  • November 15, 2009
    Dude that sucks. Do Turkish prisons make everyone gay? Hmmm....
  • November 7, 2009
    Uno di quei film che angosciano e fanno soffrire follemente.
  • October 9, 2009
    Catchy description...even though it says nothing about what the movie is about...
  • October 2, 2009
    wow what a movie.......i have just seen this movie 4 the 1st time n think that this is a good movie 2 watch....its got a good cast of actors/actressess throughout this movie...i think that brad davis, irene miracle, bo hopkins, randy quaid, paul l smith, paolo bonacelli, mike kel...( read more)lin, john hurt, norbert weisser play good roles/parts throughout this movie.....i think that the director of this drama movie had done a good job of directing this movie because you never know what 2 expect throughout this movie....this is a great movie 2 watch n its a really enjoyable movie

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Midnight Express Trivia


  • Who composed the music for the movie 'Midnight Express'?  Answer »
  • What actor/actress was in ALL 3 of these movies? THE ELEPHANT MAN CONTACT MIDNIGHT EXPRESS  Answer »
  • In the movie, "Midnight Express", what country did the main character get arrested in?  Answer »
  • How does Brad Davis kill his prison guard when trying to escape in Midnight Express?   Answer »

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