A Midnight Clear | Rotten Tomatoes

A Midnight Clear

R

1992

1 hr. 47 min.

War

History

Drama

List

88%

40 Reviews

Tomatometer

79%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

In the winter of 1944, American soldiers led by Will Knott (Ethan Hawke) are assigned to capture a small squad of German soldiers posted in France's Ardennes forest. Tired of war, the Americans have already lost half their division and discover that their German enemy is equally unwilling to fight. With Jewish soldier Stan Shutzer (Arye Gross) interpreting, the Germans and Americans agree on a plan that will let the former surrender without violence -- but then, tragedy strikes.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Feb 20

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Apple TV

Rent A Midnight Clear on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

Critics Consensus

Beautifully filmed and wonderfully acted, A Midnight Clear is a holiday war film in search of a wider audience.

Read Critics Reviews

Chicha Z

There has got to be millions of war stories we will Never hear. This movie is so good. Acting, and casting is great. Just tears me up though when trying to help the German army guys. Really touches you on how we become humans again even in war time.... It's not the soldiers who hate or want to fight... It's the men in goverment.... need a movie where if the goverments want war... Let them go fight and stop sending our sons, uncles, fathers, friends..,. I bet there wouldn't be anymore war. Good movie

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/06/23

Full Review

Janet

this is based on a fictional novel. the author says that it is based on his experience in the army in world war II but apparently it was all secretive and so therefore no one admitted to it being true other than him.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/18/22

Full Review

William M

One of the better war movies ever made, but in no way a typical war movie. WWII is nearly over, and a platoon of German soldiers wants to surrender to a platoon of American G.I.'s. What begins as a promising, surprisingly non-violent encounter well...to say more is to give it away. Very good performances, and quite well directed. I can definitely recommend this one, even if you don't particularly care for war films.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/20/22

Full Review

jon c

War is clear but not cut Based on the novel by William Wharton It's Europe December 1944 and WWII is almost at an end Several soldiers are on the battlefield; Ethan Hawke, Peter Berg, Kevin Dillon, Gary Sinese, Frank Whaley They are assigned to capture a small squad of German soldiers posted in France's Ardennes forest, the main narrator is Will Knot as he recalls his experience on duty Tired of war, the Americans have already lost half their division in a recon patrol and discover that their German enemy is equally unwilling to fight A Jewish soldier Stan Shutzer interpreting, the Germans and Americans agree on a plan that will let the former surrender without violence -- but then, tragedy strikes Each of these soldiers before they shipped out were tight friends, all of them had a flexible system in place whether it was partying, women, or just looking out for each other It's good they're not one of those snobby war obsessed hotheads as they put aside obscenity as best they can to even treating a grieving lady with the utmost compassion The setting is nice, the score is quite soothing and atmospheric making you feel like you're there with the soldiers, and all of them have great chemistry It's a shame the actual war scenes don't kick in until the 92 min mark This doesn't do much as it should when it comes to characters but the wonderful acting from all these men make it commendable This is still a holiday war film that'll find its audience Human folly and fragile hope exist within us all when it comes to ending a war or just simply surviving it Cathartic as well as gut wrenching that's to say

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It's a powerful, moving, yet frustrating little war story about the human condition and soldiers trying to come together to make peace during the holidays. It's wonderfully made with some great performances. And it keeps itself from being overly sentimental.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/13/21

Full Review

Audience Member

Every time the softly falling snow lulls you into thinking that the ice-cold midnight will soon give way to a warmer dawn, Kevin Dillon is there to remind Ethan Hawke to put the pin back into the live grenade he's holding in his hand.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Keith Gordon

Director

Ethan Hawke

Sgt. Will Knott

Peter Berg

Bud Miller

Kevin Dillon

Cpl. Mel Avakian

Arye Gross

Stan Shutzer

Gary Sinise

Vance `'Mother'` Wilkins

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

%

%

Fern Brady: Autistic Bikini Queen

%

%

Tiger

%

%

Tigers on the Rise

%

%

Hip-Hop and The White House

93%

%

Something You Said Last Night

%

92%

La Cha Cha

%

%

Max Beyond

%

%

City Hunter

TRAILER

for City Hunter

%

%

Holy Irresistible

%

%

Breathe

TRAILER

for Breathe

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Ethan Hawke’s 10 Best Movies

RT’s Top Seasonal Dramas — Christmas Countdown, Day Two

Comic-Con 2006: Kurt Russell Enters the Grind House

View more photos

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

A Midnight Clear is powerful without being overbearing.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 28, 2018

Full Review

Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

The sentiments aren`t fresh, but the skill of the writing and a superior ensemble American cast makes the drama memorable.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 30, 2015

Full Review

Michael Upchurch

Seattle Times

A Midnight Clear doesn't do as much as it might with its characters. But as a parable of human folly and fragile hope, it has considerable impact.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 4, 2013

Full Review

Malcolm Johnson

Hartford Courant

He infuses A Midnight Clear with a slightly skewed, surreal quality. About the only defect in Gordon's second feature is its tendency to drag in the middle.

Jun 8, 2018

Full Review

Joe Pollack

Tulsa World

A Midnight Clear is a beautifully written, directed and acted movie, but it is so gut-wrenching, so taut, that it is more catharsis than entertainment.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 30, 2015

Full Review

Ralph Novak

People Magazine

This film about a real incident that occurred near the end of World War II is involving, always focused and affectingly acted.

Dec 4, 2013

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

In the winter of 1944, American soldiers led by Will Knott (Ethan Hawke) are assigned to capture a small squad of German soldiers posted in France's Ardennes forest. Tired of war, the Americans have already lost half their division and discover that their German enemy is equally unwilling to fight. With Jewish soldier Stan Shutzer (Arye Gross) interpreting, the Germans and Americans agree on a plan that will let the former surrender without violence -- but then, tragedy strikes.

Director: Keith Gordon
Executive Producer: Marc Abraham, Armyan Bernstein, Tom Rosenberg
Screenwriter: Keith Gordon
Production Co: A&M Films, Beacon Pictures, Beacon Communications
Rating: R
Genre: War, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): May 22, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $580.9K
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

Most Popular at Home Now