Is Midnight Special Worth Watching?
Answer: Yes, Midnight Special is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Adventure movies.
It features a runtime of 112 minutes and offers a standard storyline that appeals to general audiences.

Verdict:Midnight Special is a confirmed FLOP based on our analysis of audience ratings and box office momentum.
With a rating of 6.3/10, it has delivered a mixed experience for fans of the Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction genre.
Answer: Yes, Midnight Special is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Adventure movies.
It features a runtime of 112 minutes and offers a standard storyline that appeals to general audiences.
Last updated: January 18, 2026
Released in the dynamic cinematic landscape of 2016, Midnight Special emerges as a significant entry in the Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction domain. The narrative core of the film focuses on a sophisticated exploration of A father and son go on the run after the dad learns his child possesses special powers. Unlike standard genre fare, Midnight Special attempts to deconstruct traditional tropes, offering a conventional take on its central themes.
The success of any Adventure is often anchored by its ensemble, and Midnight Special features a noteworthy lineup led by Michael Shannon . Supported by the likes of Jaeden Martell and Joel Edgerton , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
In summary, our editorial assessment of Midnight Special (2016) is mixed. With an audience rating of 6.3/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Quick Plot Summary: Midnight Special is a Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction film that presents a compelling narrative that engages viewers from start to finish. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
The film presents its narrative with careful attention to pacing and character development. A father and son go on the run after the dad learns his child possesses special powers. The story unfolds naturally, allowing viewers to become invested in the outcome while maintaining engagement throughout.
Ending Breakdown: Midnight Special concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to adventure resolution.
The emotional climax centers on character transformation, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
The final moments of Midnight Special reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Worth Watching If You:
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $18.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $7.1M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
The estimated production budget for Midnight Special is $18.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.










Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video with AdsAnalyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 6.3/10, and global collection metrics, Midnight Special stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 2016 cinematic year.
Midnight Special has received mixed reviews with a 6.3/10 rating, making it a moderate success with the audience.
Midnight Special is a mixed bag. It might be worth watching if you're a fan of Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction movies, but read reviews first.
Midnight Special is currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video. You can also check for it on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads depending on your region.
> A secret road adventure during the dark hours! So the Jeff Nichols and Micahel Shannon saga continues. This is theirs 4th film together in the last nine years and all of them were well accepted. Now they are into sci-fi for this, which is kind of a road movie that resembles hundreds of other films. Only thematically, but in parts it looks different, especially for being too realistic as what the director is famous for. Finally, something is not a comedy or a full of CGI, yet still it is a wonderful sci-fi-drama with some thrill moments. It opened like the midway of the story. We obviously have to wait for a proper explanation to know what's going on, who is the child and where they're taking him. So it all begins with two armed men driving a young kid on the dark hours. Only we know is that they are protecting the boy from the government people, but the film took some time to give a clear picture of the condition. In the meantime, I started my prediction game, but I expected the film to clarify how it all began. It never cared about that part, only moved forward and that's how we're going to get some answers where a few might feel its a let down. The negative of the film is you won't fully understand it, but it is not an incomplete story, just designed that way that leaves for the viewer to add their own perspectives to where the writer left blank spaces. Like I said the people are comparing it with the similar films and I did not care about that, but I disappointed with the conclusion. It was neatly folded, I actually liked it, but it was not fresh, especially it totally mirrors 'Tomorrowland'. Now I know why Warner Bros moved it from last year to this year's release. It might be a coincident because the director who is also the writer has a good reputation, so I believe it is definitely not a steal, just a common creative that we've already seen many films like that. Overall, this film is worth, but might not satisfy the Jeff Nichols fans, because like I said plenty of times before in my reviews, now it the sci-fi era and every filmmaker and film-star want to board on that plane. So it did not spare Jeff Nichols as well. 7/10
It's like _Donnie Darko_ and _Looper_ had a baby. A less talented baby, but still, pretty impressive. _Final rating:★★★½ - I strongly recommend you make the time._
Midnight Special is an entertaining Sci-fi flick that ultimately never reaches it's full potential. The father son on the run story is griping and well played with the talent of Michael Shannon who is believable as a father who will do anything to get his gifted son to where he needs to be. Dunst and Edgerton do some fairly solid work also as Altons mother and I believe step father. The dialogue is believable, the action and Sci-fi elements are all well put together. The concept almost ET like is interesting. The CGI is acceptable if not spectacular. The music well scored if not memorable. I personally found this movie felt long at 1h52mins and for some reason I felt the movie should of been set in an earlier time period like the 70s or 80's. These are small personal gripes and you may ask why it does not achieve it's full potential. The answer is simply the way it ends, it felt small or empty. These characters had done so much, for this child and somehow the movie had left me with zero emotional connection to how the story played out. The father and son connection was the strongest element in the movie and this I felt needed a bigger part in the ending of this film, but for some reason they chose to pull back on this right at the buzzer. I would recommend this to anyone who likes Science fiction as a worthy watch. My final score 3.5 stars.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.