--- title: "Midnight Run: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/midnight-run/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/midnight-run" critics_score: 85 critics_reviews: 11 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Midnight Run (1988): what the critics said Critics' score 85 from 11 reviews: 11 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative. The reviews are unanimous in their approval, and they land in the same place: this is a familiar chase comedy made to look fresh by the two men at the centre of it. Critics praise De Niro’s exasperated bounty hunter and Grodin’s fussy, unflappable accountant as an odd couple whose bickering carries the film, and several credit Martin Brest for keeping the shoot-outs and the jokes in balance. The script and the supporting cast get approving mentions too. The spread is narrow, and nobody dislikes it. Where reservations appear, they concern the action rather than the comedy: Time Out finds Brest falling back on car chases, and Vulture thinks some scenes and set pieces are overstuffed, with the leads’ rapport doing the work of keeping the viewer engaged. The AV Club goes furthest the other way, ranking it above all of De Niro’s other comic work, while Roger Ebert is alone in singling out the emotional weight of the finale. ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 4/4. 20 July 1988. The critic praises the strong chemistry and performances of De Niro and Grodin as the mismatched pair on the run, noting how the film elevates its formulaic chase structure through quirky character work and emotional depth in the finale. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/midnight-run-1988) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 24 May 2015. The film is a minor classic that approaches perfection as a combination of buddy movie, odd-couple picture and road movie. The critic singles out the wonderful chemistry between De Niro and Grodin for praise. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/may/24/midnight-run-review-comedy-thriller-minor-classic-robert-de-niro-martin-brest) ## The Times — Sean Macaulay Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 10 August 2006. Midnight Run is one of the finest examples of a grown-up genre picture that executes all the expected beats in a fresh, lively way. The critic singles out the deadpan odd-couple friction between De Niro and Grodin for praise. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/north-america-travel/us-travel/california/sean-macaulays-tv-film-of-the-week-gh5srs2989g) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1987. The review lauds De Niro's comic turn paired with Grodin, resulting in one of the most entertaining and original road pictures, thanks to a terrifically developed script with inventive twists and strong supporting characters. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1987/film/reviews/midnight-run-1200427529/) ## Los Angeles Times — Michael Wilmington Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 20 July 1988. The critic calls it an expert, murderously funny chase comedy redeemed by brilliant execution, talent (especially De Niro), and human moments of interplay between the leads rather than mere action set pieces. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-07-20-ca-5813-story.html) ## Slant Magazine — Odie Henderson Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 16 July 2013. Midnight Run stands as one of 1988’s best movies thanks to its exciting, funny tone and fine ensemble performances that balance action and road-comedy bonding between De Niro’s bounty hunter and Grodin’s accountant. Brest’s mastery of tone and the pre-CGI stunt work make it a welcome relic of its era. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/summer-of-88-midnight-run-bob-the-bounty-hunter/) ## The AV Club — Nick Schager Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 1 July 2013. The critic praises Martin Brest’s 1988 film as one of the all-time great bickering-buddy comedies and the finest comedic work of Robert De Niro’s career. They single out the perfect match between De Niro’s exasperated performance and Charles Grodin’s calm fussiness, along with the episodic road-trip story and strong supporting cast. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/robert-de-niro-and-charles-grodin-take-a-brilliantly-bi-1798238998) ## Empire — Ian Nathan Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2015. The critic praises the sparkling chemistry between Robert De Niro's bounty hunter and Charles Grodin's embezzler as they evade mobsters, FBI agents and rivals. Director Martin Brest is commended for blending car chases and shoot-outs with quick-witted comedy in an expert reworking of the odd-couple formula. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/midnight-run-review/) ## The New York Times — Janet Maslin Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 20 July 1988. The review highlights the inspired casting of De Niro and Grodin, whose performances elevate the otherwise standard action-comedy premise into something memorable and gold-worthy amid the cross-country chase. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1988/07/20/movies/review-film-de-niro-and-grodin-in-cross-country-chase.html) ## Vulture — Glenn Kenny Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 29 July 2014. The film marked a key point in making Robert De Niro bankable as a mainstream star through its buddy comedy setup with Charles Grodin as the accountant on the run. The inspired rapport between the leads keeps viewers engaged despite some overstuffed scenes and action sequences added by director Martin Brest. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2014/07/movie-that-made-robert-de-niro-bankable-midnight-run.html) ## Time Out — BC Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2012. The familiar handcuffed-captor-and-captive formula is revitalized by the lead performances. Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin improvise routines that elevate the odd-couple pairing, though the director occasionally resorts to car chases. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/midnight-run) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/midnight-run.md