Midnight Express
“Walk into the incredible true experience of Billy Hayes. And bring all the courage you can.”
Synopsis
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".
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Midnight Express (1978) - Original Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2010-09-13
Top Cast
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Brad Davis
Billy Hayes
Irene Miracle
Susan
Bo Hopkins
Tex
Paolo Bonacelli
Rifki
Paul L. Smith
Hamidou
Randy Quaid
Jimmy Booth
Norbert Weisser
Erich
John Hurt
Max
Mike Kellin
Mr. Hayes
Franco Diogene
Yesil
Michael Ensign
Stanley Daniels
Gigi Ballista
Chief Judge
Kevork Malikyan
Prosecutor
Peter Jeffrey
Ahmet
Joe Zammit Cordina
Airport Customs Officer
Yashaw Adem
Airport Police Chief
Raad Rawi
Airport Security Chief
Tony Boyd
Aslan
Release History & Theatrical Window
Toronto International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
October 6, 1978
Wide Cinema Exhibition
September 23, 2021
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$2.3M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$35M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
15.22x
+$32.7M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Alan Parker
- Screenplay & Story
- Oliver Stone
- Original Score
- Giorgio Moroder
- Original Title
- Midnight Express
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom, United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, French, Maltese, Turkish
- Runtime
- 2h 1m
- Production Budget
- $2.3M
- Worldwide Gross
- $35M
- Production Studios
- Columbia Pictures, Casablanca Filmworks
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Alan Parker
Oliver Stone, Billy Hayes, William Hoffer
Giorgio Moroder
Michael Seresin
Gerry Hambling
Alan Marshall, Peter Guber, David Puttnam
Department Leadership Roster
Oliver Stone
Screenplay
Alan Marshall
Producer
Alan Parker
Director
Giorgio Moroder
Original Music Composer
Michael Seresin
Director of Photography
David Puttnam
Producer
Gerry Hambling
Editor
Geoffrey Kirkland
Production Design
Milena Canonero
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Interdit aux moins de 16 ans — 16+ only.
Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Midnight Express.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Midnight Express.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Midnight Express
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Midnight Express about?
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".
Who directed Midnight Express?
Midnight Express was directed by Alan Parker.
Who stars in Midnight Express?
The principal cast of Midnight Express includes Brad Davis, Irene Miracle, Bo Hopkins, Paolo Bonacelli, Paul L. Smith.
When was Midnight Express released and how long is it?
Midnight Express was released in 1978 with a total runtime of 2h 1m.
What was the box office and production budget of Midnight Express?
Midnight Express had a reported production budget of $2.3M and grossed $35M at the worldwide box office (15.22 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Midnight Express?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Midnight Express was composed by Giorgio Moroder.
Is Midnight Express based on a book or true story?
Midnight Express is adapted from the following source material: Book: "Billy Hayes", Book: "William Hoffer".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Midnight Express?
Midnight Express holds official age classifications: AU: R 18+; CA: 18A; DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); FR: 16 (Interdit aux moins de 16 ans — 16+ only.); GB: 18 (Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).