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Midnight Run
Midnight Run Image
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Metascore
78 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.9 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 16 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Starring: Charles Grodin, Robert De Niro
  • Summary: Bounty hunter Jack Walsh (De Niro) is offered $100,000 from a bail bondsman to capture fugitive accountant Jonathan "the Duke" Mardukas (Grodin) and bring him to Los Angeles in time for his trial date. Walsh must avoid a rival bounty hunter, the FBI, and the mob to earn his payday.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Mick LaSalle
    100
    Midnight Run has thrills, excellent performances, touching moments, slick plotting, lively dialogue, plenty of laughs, beautiful locations and finely detailed direction. It's an across-the-board success, the best new movie I've seen in years. [20 July 1988]
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  2. Variety
    Reviewed by: Staff (Not Credited)
    100
    One of the most entertaining, best executed, original road pictures ever.
  3. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Vincent Canby
    60
    Mr. De Niro and Mr. Grodin are lunatic delights, which is somewhat more than can be said for the movie, whose mechanics keep getting in the way of the performances. [20 July 1988, p.C15]
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See all 16 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. themacmeister
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is without a doubt one of the best buddie action/comedies ever put on celluloid. I missed the theatrical run in Australia (did it even have one?), but this became a staple VHS and DVD rental. The Danny Elfman music is not as subtle as it could be, but this is an action/chase film as well, so there is not much need for subtlety here. I catch myself (and my brother) belting out the closing riff, and it is very hard not to remember the wonderful music in the quiet moments too. DeNiro is in fine comedic form, and apparently spent three months with a real bounty hunter to research the role. His timing and delivery are sublime. Grodin isn't too far behind, with some fine moments on screen, but one or two moments, his deliver feels a little forced. The addition of Farina, Ashton and especially Pantoliano, makes this almost an ensemble comedy. The entire film from start to finish has an edgy realism, and many moments in the film feel like "fly-on-the-wall" documentary, as far as the dialogue and acting go. There is an honesty in this film that is sadly lacking in most. Martin Brest is at his best when it comes to the Mob, and crime. He has succeeded so well here, whereas other lesser directors may have destroyed the entire thing. There is a few tiny moments where this film feels a little "forced" or "scripted", but blink twice and you'll have missed them. Also, if the F-word is not to your liking, then you will not appreciate most of the dialogue in this film. I have seen the "cut for television" version, and it ran for about 20 minutes :-) Apart from those small gripes, I give this film 10/10, and it is easily the one film I would run into a burning house to save. My favourite of all time.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. Patrick
    10
    This is as well-written a movie (the fire-side chat between DeNiro and Grodin; the scene where DeNiro visits his ex-wife, Wendy Phillips; when Kotto interrogates Ashton; the scene at the airport between DeNiro and Dennis Farina) as I have ever seen. Add to that how well-cast (the aforementioned DeNiro, Grodin, Kotto, Farina, Pantoliano) it was, and i feel badly for anyone who doesn't give it an 8 out of 10. Probably those perves who liked the depth of "Sideways".… Expand
    • 1 of 1 users said yes
  3. NeilF
    10
    I will never tire of this. Grodin is sublime and De Niro proves he CAN do comedy.
    • 1 of 1 users said yes

See all 12 User Reviews

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