7.5
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
Drama, Crime • 1978 • 121 min • Adults (18+)
Midnight Express (1978)
Midnight Express (1978)
Overview
Billy Hayes is caught attempting to smuggle drugs out of a country. The courts decide to make an example of him, sentencing him to more than 30 years in prison. Hayes has two opportunities for release: the appeals made by his lawyer, his family, and the American government, or the "Midnight Express".
Starring Cast
Brad Davis • Irene Miracle • Bo Hopkins
Where to watch
Rating & Dimensions
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Traditional
Political: Leans Right
Diversity: Low
LGBTQ: Negative
Islam: Negative
Viewer Rating
7.5
Overview
Billy Hayes is caught attempting to smuggle drugs out of a country. The courts decide to make an example of him, sentencing him to more than 30 years in prison. Hayes has two opportunities for release: the appeals made by his lawyer, his family, and the American government, or the "Midnight Express".
Starring Cast
Brad Davis • Irene Miracle • Bo Hopkins
Where to watch
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Traditional
Primary
Political: Leans Right
Confidence: High
The film's dominant themes align with a right-leaning perspective due to its xenophobic portrayal of a foreign justice system as irredeemable and its championing of individual, violent escape as the sole solution, rather than advocating for systemic reform or international cooperation.
Diversity: Low
Confidence: High
The movie features traditional casting that aligns with its source material, focusing on a white male protagonist without intentional race or gender swaps for diversity. The narrative frames traditional identities neutrally or positively, concentrating on the protagonist's struggle within a foreign prison system rather than critiquing traditional identity themes.
Secondary
LGBTQ: Negative
Confidence: High
Midnight Express depicts a gay character, Max, within a brutal Turkish prison. While Max shows resilience, the film's pervasive themes of sexual violence and degradation among male prisoners contribute to a problematic portrayal. The narrative focuses on the unrelieved misery of the prison, where male sexuality is often linked to power dynamics and abuse, rather than affirming LGBTQ+ lives or relationships.
Islam: Negative
Confidence: High
The film portrays Turkish institutions and many characters, whose culture is deeply intertwined with Islam, as corrupt, cruel, and unjust. The narrative largely validates the protagonist's xenophobic frustrations and fears, offering little counterbalancing nuance or condemnation of his prejudice against the 'other'.
Trans: N/A
Confidence: High
The film "Midnight Express" focuses on the brutal realities of prison life for an American student in Turkey. It does not feature any identifiable transsexual characters or themes, nor does it explore gender identity in its narrative. Therefore, the film has no net impact on the portrayal of transsexual individuals.
Female Combat: N/R
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
Gender Swap: No
Confidence: High
Midnight Express is a biographical drama based on real events and individuals. All major characters, whether historical figures or fictionalized representations, maintain their established gender from the source material and historical record.
Race Swap: No
Confidence: High
The film is based on a true story, and the main character, Billy Hayes, is portrayed by an actor of the same race as the historical figure. No other significant characters are depicted as a different race than their established historical or canonical background.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
7.5
7.4
Critic Ratings
9.0
5.9
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