Plot
An accountant is chased by bounty hunters, the FBI, and the Mafia after jumping bail.

Release Year: 1988

Rating: 7.5/10 (30,705 voted)

Critic's Score: 78/100

Director: Martin Brest

Stars: Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin, Yaphet Kotto

Storyline
Bounty hunter Jack Walsh is sent to find and return bail jumper and former Mafia accountant, Jonathan "The Duke" Mardukas. The FBI have had no success it locating The Duke, so when Jack finds him in next to no time, they are a little embarrassed. In order to collect his $100,000 fee, Jack must take The Duke from New York to Los Angeles. However, the Mafia and the FBI have other ideas, as does Marvin, a rival bounty hunter. On their long cross-country trip to LA, the two get to know each other and they build up a strange friendship.

Cast:
Robert De Niro - Jack Walsh
Charles Grodin - Jonathan Mardukas
Yaphet Kotto - Alonzo Mosely
John Ashton - Marvin Dorfler
Dennis Farina - Jimmy Serrano
Joe Pantoliano - Eddie Moscone
Richard Foronjy - Tony Darvo
Robert Miranda - Joey
Jack Kehoe - Jerry Geisler
Wendy Phillips - Gail
Philip Baker Hall - Sidney
Tom McCleister - Red Wood (as Thom McCleister)
Mary Gillis - Bus Ticket Clerk
John Toles-Bey - Monroe Bouchet
Thomas J. Hageboeck - Sergeant Gooch

Taglines: A tough bounty hunter. A sensitive criminal.

Release Date: 20 July 1988

Filming Locations: Cameron, Arizona, USA

Box Office Details

Budget: $30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend: $5,506,290 (USA) (20 July 1988) (1 Screen)

Gross: $38,413,606 (USA)

Runtime: 126 min

Trivia:
Charles Grodin changed a line in the screenplay from "As an accountant" to "As your accountant" to show the growing bond between Walsh and Mardukas.

Goofs:
Continuity: Mosely's arm on the back of his seat after Jack is put in the car.

Quotes:
[first lines]
[Jack trying to pick door lock. He drops one of his picks. When he bends over to pick it up, a gun shot is fired through the door, right where his head had been previously]
Jack Walsh: Shit!

Sheer Excellence

Rating: 10/10

They don't come any better than Midnight Run. It has everything except a few Academy Awards and that's a mystery in itself. Dialogue, action, comic timing, stunts and all around fabulous acting ability from everyone involved. If you haven't seen this film yet, dig up a copy from somewhere, get a few beers and prepare to be captivated from beginning to end. To think that only 10,000 or so have voted for this film on IMDb and it's not even in the top 250 is a complete travesty. I know, there are other films just as worthy that are not in the top 250 but this is the one that get's me riled up. There are no weak moments or poor scenes in the whole film and the ending is pure joy. Someone please explain why this didn't clean up when it was released because I can't see anything else that came out in '88 that comes close to Midnight Run.

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