Night Shift (1982)

95% of critics liked it
(19 reviews)
55% of users liked it
(8,003 ratings)

Straight-laced Henry Winkler takes a night-shift job as a morgue attendant. Winkler falls under the spell of wheeler-dealer coworker Michael Keaton, whose catchphrase "Is this a great country or what?" is the clarion call for his many get-rich-quick schemes. His latest plan is to turn the morgue… More Straight-laced Henry Winkler takes a night-shift job as a morgue attendant. Winkler falls under the spell of wheeler-dealer coworker Michael Keaton, whose catchphrase "Is this a great country or what?" is the clarion call for his many get-rich-quick schemes. His latest plan is to turn the morgue into a nocturnal brothel, for the benefit of anything-goes hooker Shelley Long-and incidentally, to line their own pockets. Director Ron Howard and his frequent scripters Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel turn the potentially lurid story material of Night Shift into an endearing comedy, with winning performances from its three often miscast stars. Keep an eye out during one of the party sequences for Kevin Costner as a carousing college boy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Ron Howard
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 30, 1982 Wide
On DVD: Jun 5, 2001
Studio: Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

Janet Maslin, New York Times
This is a halfway funny movie, one that's got loads of good gags in its first half and nothing but trouble in its second.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
This isn't as snappily directed or as caustically conceived as the subsequent Risky Business, which has a similar theme, but it's arguably just as sexy and almost as funny.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Oft fun comedy noted for its boost to Michael Keaton's career; early Ron Howard direction.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Winkler turns in the best performance of his career, and Keaton is wonderful.
Tom Milne, Time Out
Likeable.
Pete Vonder Haar, Film Threat
'Love brokers!' Still Michael Keaton's best role.
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily
This early Ron Howard comedy has no shortage of laugh-out-loud moments thanks to Michael Keaton's unforgettable screen debut as manic wildman Bill Blazejowski.
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
Keaton's first major role marked him for stardom; and also added to Howard's newly forming directorial stature.
Eric Lurio, Greenwich Village Gazette
Howard's first great film. Should have made Winkler a movie star, but alas....
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
When Michael Keaton's onscreen it's wildly entertaining.
JoBlo, JoBlo's Movie Emporium
Dated comedy offers very little in the chuckle department, with even less in narrative obstruction, but remains interesting only for the early work of now-famed director Ron Howard.

Read all 11 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Alexis N

Picture Risky Business in a morgue. Night Shift is funny and has the best message, everyone is their own pimp.
AJ V

A very funny movie with an interesting cast, I really liked it.
Anthony L

I loved this film when I was little and I still do. Mr. Winkler should be in more films instead of doing pantomime in Wimbledom!
Dean M

Good-natured comedy as well as Henry Winkler and director Ron Howard reteam again since TV's Happy Days.
Christopher O

One of comedy's best angles is a unsuspecting person who finds themselves in extraordinary circumstances and the hilarity ensues. Such is the case for Henry Winkler who breaks his Fonzie personna as a morgue worker put on the night shift and meets up with Michael Keaton and his… More
One of comedy's best angles is a unsuspecting person who finds themselves in extraordinary circumstances and the hilarity ensues. Such is the case for Henry Winkler who breaks his Fonzie personna as a morgue worker put on the night shift and meets up with Michael Keaton and his life changes maybe even for the better. Ron Howard shows real promise as a director and Winkler and Keaton have great chemistry as does Shelly Long as Winkler's love interest. A raunchy film but one still with heart.
Wu C

I watched this one tons as a kid. This movie also introduced us to Micheal Keaton and made him a star.
Leo L

Hilarious!

Read all 7 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Henry Winkler as Chuck Lumley

            Michael Keaton as Bill Blazejowski

            Shelley Long as Belinda Keaton

            Gina Hecht as Charlotte Koogle

            Pat Corley as Edward Koogle

            Bobby Di Cicco as Leonard

            Nita Talbot as Vivian

            Basil Hoffman as Drollhauser

            Tim Rossovich as Luke

            Clint Howard as Jefferey

            Joe Spinell as Manetti

            Richard Belzer as Pig

            Beau Billingslea as Donny

            Grand L. Bush as Mustafa

            Cheryl Carter as Tanya

            Brett Baxter Clark as Paradise Doorman

            Corki Corman as Sylvia

            Kevin Costner as Frat Boy

            Ashley Cox as Jenny Lynn

            Reid Cruickshanks as Sgt. Averbach

            Badja Djola as Cleon

            Shannen Doherty as Bluebird

            Dawn Dunlap as Maxine

            Charles Fleischer as Prisoner

            Monique Gabrielle as Tessie

            Cassandra Gava as J.J.

            Becky Gonzalez as Lupe

            Jim Greenleaf as Frat Boy #4

            Ildiko Jaid as Joyce

            Jeremy Lawrence as Frat Boy

            Ava Lazar as Sharon

            Julius Le Flore as Franklin

            Floyd Levine as Sal Carboni

            Horace Long as Turkey Man

            Jeanne Mori as Marsha

            Jack Perkins as Tuttle

            James Ritz as Morgue Worker

            Jim Staahl as Red

            Leonard Termo
            
            K.C. Winkler as Cheryl

            John Boyle as Leopard Boy

            Vincent Schiavelli as Carl

            Elizabeth Carder as Dolores

            Mimi Lieber as Linda

            Ola Ray as Dawn

            Kevin Rodney Sullivan
            
            Robbin Young as Nancy

            Marc Flanagan as Steve

            Jane Jenkins
            
            Russell Forte as Frat Boy #3

            Hugo Napier as Blind Man

            Tom Mahoney as Judge
See full cast

Night Shift (1982)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Alexis N

AJ V

Anthony L

Dean M

Christopher O

Wu C

Leo L

Cast

Trailers & Clips