Midnight Special

Play trailer

1:02

Midnight Special

PG-13

2016

1h 51m

Sci-Fi

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

238 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

The government and a group of religious extremists pursue a man (Michael Shannon) and his son (Jaeden Lieberher), a young boy who possesses special powers.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Midnight Special's intriguing mysteries may not resolve themselves to every viewer's liking, but the journey is ambitious, entertaining, and terrifically acted.

Read Critics Reviews

Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

12/28/2016

2/5

The heavens keep splitting to deliver forked tinsel masquerading as sci-fi lightning.

Go to Full Review

Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

11/17/2016

Nichols does so many things so well, and all at once, that it sort of takes your breath away.

Go to Full Review

Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

08/11/2016

3.5/4

There is an adrenaline-fueled elasticity to events that is as smooth as it is exhilarating, all of it given extra potency thanks to the emotional complexities driving things to their conclusion.

Go to Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Jul 20

4/5

As one of the most striking, imposing, and spell-binding original science fiction films in recent memory, "special" is fitting trademark for "Midnight Special."

Go to Full Review

JD Duran

InSession Film

08/08/2024

As an allegory for parental sacrifice, words cannot begin to describe my experience with this film. Midnight Special moved me in ways that very few films ever have.

Go to Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

10/06/2023

Jeff Nichols, the writer and director, keeps [a] sense of mystery throughout Midnight Special, always raising more questions with each answer.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Maxsuel S

@Maxine191 Dec 27

Um bom filme para assistir,por mais que ele não tenha algo tão detalhado,tirando o fato do destino do garoto no final de tudo,sinto que esse filme tinha algo faltando,mais não deixa de ser algo interessante para ver,ainda mais quem gosta muito de filmes com coisas paranormais.

See more

erwin s

@RT90194871 Oct 4

cant recommend this movie. central questions remain completely unanswered. who is this boy? where did he come from? why does he have these powers? whats with goverment. not very satisfying.

See more

jeannie p

@RT40430395 Apr 25

Ohh, now i get why this movie gets mentioned so often. As a total wuss who won’t watch violent or disturbing movies, i cheated about halfway and checked the Wiki to see if watching to the end might be an option - big surprised grin seeing the synopsis for the second half, and it was every bit as enjoyable knowing what’s gonna happen. The general vibe of this film reminded me of Repo Man, eventually, getting increasing chuckles of glee out of me, and rapture that some people made a film on this kind of subject that I actually found satisfying, nothing grating, I don’t think I bitched at the TV a singl- no wait there was that One Bit where I scolded Kirsten Dunst for letting them make her do the stereotypical Female Does Suffering scene for a few seconds there, but the rest was A-ok, for Me : ) Loved the parenting style - treating small human as an equal, and with care.

See more

Webb V

@RT64625535 02/20/2025

Clear you mind and don't assume, question, or quibble, and just maybe the story will carry you away to a nice place. I don't often give out 5's but found nothing to keep me from doing so with one.

See more

Stoner J

@Stoner 01/07/2025

Great sci-fi drama with a thrilling end. Reminded me so much of the movie D.A.R.Y.L. I loved as a kid

See more

A J

@RT09090618 12/07/2024

Brilliant acting in the this sci-fi meets No Country for Old Men. Loved it!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Jeff Nichols

Director

Michael Shannon

Roy

Joel Edgerton

Lucas

Kirsten Dunst

Sarah

Jaeden Martell

Alton

Adam Driver

Sevier

The Signal

60%

39%

The Signal

Watchlist

Project Almanac

38%

45%

Project Almanac

Watchlist

Captive State

42%

40%

Captive State

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Captive State

Rememory

25%

43%

Rememory

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Rememory

Super 8

81%

75%

Super 8

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Super 8

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

How Family-Friendly are Independence Day: Resurgence and The Shallows?

On DVD This Week: Midnight Special, The Brothers Grimsby, and More

Parental Guidance: How Family-Friendly Are The Divergent Series: Allegiant and Brooklyn?

Midnight Special: International Trailer 1

1:02

Midnight Special: Trailer 2

2:01

Midnight Special: Trailer 1

1:45

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

The government and a group of religious extremists pursue a man (Michael Shannon) and his son (Jaeden Lieberher), a young boy who possesses special powers.

Director: Jeff Nichols
Producer: Sarah Green, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones
Screenwriter: Jeff Nichols
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Tri-State Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Some Violence|Action)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 8, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 7, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.7M
Runtime: 1h 51m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

Most Popular at Home Now