Midnight Run (1988)

Midnight Run (1988) is a fast-paced action-comedy road movie about jack-of-all-trades bounty hunter Jack Walsh (Robert De Niro), who’s hired to track down and bring back Jonathan “The Duke” Mardukas (Charles Grodin), a mild-mannered former Mafia accountant who skipped bail after embezzling millions. Tasked with delivering him from New York to Los Angeles within days to collect a huge fee, Jack’s simple job turns into a wild cross-country chase: the FBI wants the Duke to flip on his boss, the mob wants him dead for betrayal, and a rival bounty hunter (John Ashton) is hot on their trail. As they travel by car, plane, train and whatever else they can scrape together, constant pursuers, double-crosses and tense set pieces keep the stakes high. Viewing Midnight Run feels like riding shotgun with two very different men forced into an uneasy partnership. Expect sharp, character-driven comedy from the clash between De Niro’s gruff, world-weary tough guy and Grodin’s neurotic, exquisitely timed deadpan; physical action and chase sequences that punctuate the humor; and quieter moments of surprising warmth and character growth. It’s equal parts buddy comedy, crime thriller and road movie—tense and funny, with strong performances and brisk pacing that make it both entertaining and emotionally satisfying without overstaying its welcome.

Actors: Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin, Yaphet Kotto

Director: Martin Brest

Runtime: 126 min

Genres: Action, Comedy, Crime

6.6 /10 78 /100 7.5 /10 7.3 /10