Midnight Run

Midnight Run
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Martin Brest
Written by	George Gallo
Produced by	Martin Brest
Starring	Robert De Niro Charles Grodin Yaphet Kotto John Ashton Dennis Farina Joe Pantoliano
Cinematography	Donald E. Thorin
Edited by	Chris Lebenzon Michael Tronick Billy Weber
Music by	Danny Elfman
Production company	City Light Films
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date	July 20, 1988 (1988-07-20)
Running time	126 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$30 million[1]
Box office	$81.6 million

Midnight Run is a 1988 American action comedy film directed by Martin Brest from a screenplay by George Gallo. It stars Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin, Yaphet Kotto, John Ashton, Dennis Farina and Joe Pantoliano. In the film, bounty hunter Jack Walsh (De Niro) attempts to flee New York City to Los Angeles after he captures accountant Jonathan Mardukas (Grodin), who is wanted by mob bosses and the FBI.

Midnight Run was initially developed by Gallo, who worked with Brest to revise the screenplay. De Niro was the first to be cast, seeking to star in a comedy and play against type from his crime and gangster film roles during the 1970s and 1980s. Paramount Pictures was set to act as Midnight Run's distributors but backed out after casting disagreements with Brest. Universal Pictures, which distributed Brest's previous film Beverly Hills Cop (1984), subsequently picked up the project. Principal photography took place in 1983, with filming locations including New York, Los Angeles, Arizona and New Zealand.

Midnight Run was theatrically released in the United States on July 20, 1988, by Universal Pictures. It grossed $81.6 million worldwide and received positive reviews from critics, with praise for its humor and the performances and chemistry between De Niro and Grodin. It was nominated for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actor (for De Niro) at the 46th Golden Globe Awards. Midnight Run inspired The Midnight Run Action Pack (1994) television film standalone sequels, which did not feature De Niro or Grodin.