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Midnight Cowboy

Play trailer Poster for Midnight Cowboy R 1969 1h 53m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 114 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Convinced of his irresistible appeal to women, Texas dishwasher Joe Buck (Jon Voight) quits his job and heads for New York City, thinking he'll latch on to some rich dowager. New York, however, is not as hospitable as he imagined, and Joe soon finds himself living in an abandoned building with a Dickensian layabout named Enrico Ratso Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman). The two form a rough alliance, and together they kick-start Joe's hustling career just as Ratso's health begins to deteriorate.
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Midnight Cowboy

Midnight Cowboy

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Critics Consensus

John Schlesinger's gritty, unrelentingly bleak look at the seedy underbelly of urban American life is undeniably disturbing, but Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight's performances make it difficult to turn away.

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Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael The New Yorker 07/29/2022
[John Schlesinger's] spray of venom is just about overpowering, yet the two actors and the simple Of Mice and Men kind of relationship at the heart of the story save the picture. Go to Full Review Sophie Monks Kaufman Time Out 03/14/2022
5/5
Director John Schlesinger and screenwriter Waldo Salt pump so much emotion into it that it becomes a moving epitaph both to its two striving characters and the American dream itself. Go to Full Review Marjory Adams Boston Globe 03/14/2022
Midnight Cowboy is America's challenge to any film from foreign shores... From now on, it is going to be difficult for the cinema snob to declare tritely that films in this country are made for immature audiences. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Nov 11
4/4
It only takes a movie like Midnight Cowboy to point out the limitations of a critical rating system: How can a measly four stars convey the magnificence of this acknowledged classic? Go to Full Review Mark Johnson Awards Daily 06/08/2023
Gritty, grimy, and groundbreaking for its time, few films have been more avant-garde in approach, nor more perpetually relevant than Midnight Cowboy. Go to Full Review Michael Talbot-Haynes Film Threat 03/25/2022
10/10
The characters’ dreams and memories intermingle with their daily actions, sometimes combining in surreal ways. The camerawork is amazing, capturing vistas of glory and grime from the dawn of 1970s New York. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Pete W @Pete-W Dec 25 A masterpiece. If you saw in in 1969, watch it again to appreciate just how magnificent this movie is. See more Hannah W. @love4movies Dec 24 I didn’t know the movie was going to break my heart. But it did. A beautiful real movie. See more Jack F @MovieFan111 Nov 20 Was it really rated X for a time? Dang that's crazy. I don't even remember there being any nudity in it. Good iconic performances. Pretty old movie as well. See more Gary K Nov 13 Brilliantly sad and harrowing, Midnight Cowboy is a masterpiece of empathy, friendship, and love. The final scene and mournful harmonica, never fails to bring tears to my eyes. Beautiful and very poignant. See more Peter W Sep 17 Midnight Cowboy is a remarkable film that genuinely surprises on first viewing with its unpredictable direction and the depth of its dramatic themes. Dustin Hoffman delivers a stunning, memorable performance as Ratso, flawlessly capturing the character’s nuances. The costuming and film score are equally impressive, enhancing the atmosphere and storytelling. While some elements of the main characters’ backstories are vague and the film’s early pace is slightly slow, the narrative remains compelling and emotionally resonant, culminating in a heartfelt conclusion. This is a film well worth watching. See more Demi D Sep 8 This is my favorite movie. The acting, the characters, the relationship, the journey, the story, the city. I've seen it a number of times. It's a brilliant masterpiece. It is a novel that was written in 1965 and I think I will have to read it. See more Read all reviews
Midnight Cowboy

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Cast & Crew

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John Schlesinger

Director

Dustin Hoffman

Enrico Salvatore "Ratso" Rizzo

Jon Voight

Joe Buck

Sylvia Miles

Cass

John McGiver

Mr. O'Daniel

Brenda Vaccaro

Shirley

Movie Clips

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Midnight Cowboy

Midnight Cowboy: Official Clip - Come on Now Don't Hit Me Midnight Cowboy: Official Clip - Come on Now Don't Hit Me 1:56 Midnight Cowboy: Official Clip - That's a Funny Thing You Mentioning Money Midnight Cowboy: Official Clip - That's a Funny Thing You Mentioning Money 2:03 Midnight Cowboy: Official Clip - I'm Walkin' Here Midnight Cowboy: Official Clip - I'm Walkin' Here 2:05 Midnight Cowboy: Official Clip - Miami Dreaming Midnight Cowboy: Official Clip - Miami Dreaming 2:11 Midnight Cowboy: Official Clip - Ratso Gets Joe a Real Job Midnight Cowboy: Official Clip - Ratso Gets Joe a Real Job 2:03 Midnight Cowboy: Official Clip - Ratso's Dying Wish Midnight Cowboy: Official Clip - Ratso's Dying Wish 2:14 Midnight Cowboy: Official Clip - Ratso and Joe Trade Insults Midnight Cowboy: Official Clip - Ratso and Joe Trade Insults 2:09 Midnight Cowboy: Official Clip - Ratso and Joe Lose Their Home Midnight Cowboy: Official Clip - Ratso and Joe Lose Their Home 1:55 Midnight Cowboy: Official Clip - Ratso Dies on the Bus to Miami Midnight Cowboy: Official Clip - Ratso Dies on the Bus to Miami 2:09 Midnight Cowboy: Official Clip - I'm Fallin' Apart Here Midnight Cowboy: Official Clip - I'm Fallin' Apart Here 1:30 View more videos

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Midnight Cowboy

A scene from the film MIDNIGHT COWBOY. A scene from the film MIDNIGHT COWBOY. A scene from the film MIDNIGHT COWBOY. A scene from the film MIDNIGHT COWBOY. A scene from the film MIDNIGHT COWBOY. A scene from the film MIDNIGHT COWBOY. A scene from the film MIDNIGHT COWBOY. A scene from the film MIDNIGHT COWBOY. Midnight Cowboy (1969) Midnight Cowboy (1969) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Convinced of his irresistible appeal to women, Texas dishwasher Joe Buck (Jon Voight) quits his job and heads for New York City, thinking he'll latch on to some rich dowager. New York, however, is not as hospitable as he imagined, and Joe soon finds himself living in an abandoned building with a Dickensian layabout named Enrico Ratso Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman). The two form a rough alliance, and together they kick-start Joe's hustling career just as Ratso's health begins to deteriorate.
Director
John Schlesinger
Producer
Jerome Hellman
Screenwriter
James Leo Herlihy, Waldo Salt
Distributor
Criterion Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Florin Productions, Jerome Hellman Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 25, 1969, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$201.0K
Runtime
1h 53m
Sound Mix
Stereo
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