Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Powerful, emotional sci-fi drama about love and sacrifice.
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Midnight Special
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
Based on 12 kid reviews
Kids say the movie features a confusing plot filled with a mix of violence and intriguing themes, leading to a polarized reception among viewers. While some appreciate its mysterious nature and strong performances, others criticize its disjointed storyline and slow pacing, with recommendations to choose other sci-fi films for a better experience.
- confusing plot
- mixed reviews
- strong performances
- violence noted
- slow pacing
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
An Amber Alert has been issued for a missing child, Alton (Jaeden Lieberher) -- but he's with his father, Roy (Michael Shannon), and Roy's childhood friend, Lucas (Joel Edgerton). It turns out that Alton has special powers. He can see things, read people's thoughts, and make things happen with his eyes. Roy and Lucas have taken the boy from a kind of religious compound, whose leader (Sam Shepard) very much wants him back. Roy's plan is to get Alton to a specific destination by a specific date. So, pursued by government agents, the fugitives -- aided by Alton's birth mother, Sarah (Kirsten Dunst) -- must travel by night to protect Alton from daylight, which harms him. But when Alton grows sicker and requests to see the sunlight, something unbelievable is revealed.
Is It Any Good?
Though talented indie filmmaker Jeff Nichols borrows from established sci-fi classics, this movie tells its story in a new way, rooted in characters and emotions, embracing uncertainty and loss. Nichols (Shotgun Stories, Take Shelter, Mud) has said that he made the movie to help him process becoming a father, and those ideas and feelings take precedence over the story details. It begins without exposition; the focus is on moods, lighting, silences, and a music score filled with wonder.
Sci-fi buffs may feel slighted that not every detail of this particular situation is explained in full, but that's not what MIDNIGHT SPECIAL is really about. Plus, if things were solidified, it would only draw concrete comparisons to Close Encounters, E.T., Starman, the Witch Mountain series, and many other similar stories. This Midnight is special because it's less about visual effects and more about connections, bonds that can't be broken, and the kind of fear, bravery, and acceptance that comes through them.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Midnight Special's violence. What purpose does it serve? Is it more upsetting/impactful when it involves the young boy? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
The filmmaker says he made the movie to deal with becoming a father. How did he achieve this? What ideas was he wrestling with? Do you think viewers who aren't parents can appreciate it?
How does Midnight Special compare to other sci-fi movies with similar stories? What's included, and what's left out? How are the characters different?
Are viewers intended to root for Alton to go back "home" or stay with his parents? How does the movie convince us?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 18, 2016
- On DVD or streaming : June 21, 2016
- Cast : Kirsten Dunst , Joel Edgerton , Michael Shannon
- Director : Jeff Nichols
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Run time : 111 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some violence and action
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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