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Midnight Special
2016 112 min United States of America, Greece PG-13 12+
★6.8
Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction
Director: Jeff Nichols
Trailers
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EN
Teaser
Teaser
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EN
EN
Description
A father and son go on the run after the dad learns his child possesses special powers.
Budget:
$18M
US Gross:
$3.71M
Worldwide:
$7.11M
Starring
Michael Shannon
Actor
Joel Edgerton
Actor
Kirsten Dunst
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 2017
— Best Science Fiction Film
Berlin International Film Festival 2016
— Golden Bear
Key opinion
Midnight Special is a polarizing sci-fi road movie that prioritizes atmospheric tension and mystery over narrative exposition. While many viewers appreciate its restrained, Spielberg-esque approach to character-driven storytelling, others find the lack of backstory and its slow, deliberate pacing to be frustratingly vague or pretentious.
| Acting | Michael Shannon delivers a compelling and resilient performance that serves as the film's emotional anchor. | |
| Score | The score and cinematography work in tandem to establish a consistent, suspenseful, and otherworldly atmosphere. | |
| Screenplay | The film intentionally withholds backstory and exposition, creating a divide between those who enjoy the ambiguity and those who find the narrative frustratingly incomplete. | |
| Pacing | The deliberate, slow-burn pacing satisfies viewers seeking a contemplative experience but feels sluggish and dull to those expecting a more traditional genre thriller. | |
| Ending | The ending is highly divisive, with some praising its visceral, original payoff while others criticize it as underwhelming or banal. |