The world is divided into two very different groups of people: the early birds and the night owls. Some people try to seize the day by getting up early and filling their hours with activities, so they can wrap up their routine by getting into bed at dusk, while others enjoy the peace and quiet hours after the sun goes down. Nighttime is, undeniably, a truly magical time of the day that inspires many people, including filmmakers.
Throughout the history of cinema, hundreds of films have depicted different types of nightlife, making the night a crucial character in stories that generate a unique atmosphere. While many movies that take place at night are oftenrelated to partyingand being out of control, this is certainly not the only way in which nightlife has been depicted in cinema: it is also presented as a romantic venue, the perfect setting for an artist in need of inspiration, a time in which anything can happen, and even the backdrop for dangerous situations that no one would ever want to live through. Check out some of the best nightlife movies in the history of cinema.
20New Year’s Eve
Garry Marshall is a highly renowned filmmaker in the rom-com genre for having directed productions such asPretty WomanandRunaway Bride. In 2011, he helmedNew Year’s Eve, a movie that depicts one of the most special nights of the year. Featuring an ensemble cast made up of Hollywood’s biggest stars, such as Halle Berry, Robert De Niro, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Michelle Pfeiffer,New Year’s Evefollows different people in New York City whose stories intertwine as they await for a new year to come. This movie is part of a trilogy that is completed withValentine’s DayandMother’s Day, released in 2010 and 2016, respectively.
19Spring Breakers
Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine, and James Franco star inSpring Breakers, a 2012 film that became a box office hit on a pretty low budget. Helmed by Harmony Korine, it follows Candy, Brit, Cotty and Faith, four college students who embark on a wild spring break vacation that ultimately results in them going to jail and collaborating with a drug dealer who bails them out only to exploit them to his advantage.
18Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist
The 2008 filmNick and Norah’s Infinite Playlistintroduces Nick, a broken-hearted teenager who has just been dumped by his girlfriend. While hanging out at a bar he runs into Norah, a young lady who requests him to pretend to be her boyfriend for a few minutes. Upon realizing their shared musical tastes, these two strangers set out to attend the secret show that their favorite indie band is giving that night, while romance blossoms between them.
Michael Cera andKat Dennings starin this acclaimed production by Peter Sollett loosely based on Rachel Cohn and David Levithan’s novel of the same name. Besides a strong performance at the box office, the film earned nominations at the Satellite Awards, GLAAD Media Awards, and MTV Movie Awards.
17Last Night in Soho
Last Night in Sohois a 2021 film that, despite not performing well at the box office, was met with very good reviews and even earned a few accolades. It is directed by Edgar Wright and stars Thomasin McKenzie, Anya Taylor-Joy, Matt Smith, Michael Ajao, and Terence Stamp.
The film follows Eloise, a young aspiring fashion designer who, in her dreams, is taken back to the 1960s as she follows the ups and downs in the life of Sandie, an aspiring singer with a background that is far less glamorous than it seems.
16Saturday Night Fever
The 1977 dance drama filmSaturday Night Feverhad a huge impact on popular culture worldwide and served to catapult John Travolta to stardom. In this John Badham production, the actor plays Tony Manero, a young Italian-American man from Brooklyn, New York City who escapes from his mundane existence by dancing at the local nightclub. When he hears about an upcoming dance competition, he finds a partner and, amidst endless practice, new feelings arise between the two.
15The Hangover
Todd Phillips’The Hangoveris the epitome ofa night outthat is taken to the extreme. In this 2009 production, Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, and Justin Bartha star as a group of friends on a trip to Las Vegas to celebrate the bachelor party of one of them. But, just after one wild night, three of these guys wake up with no recollection of what happened the night before, and no clue as to where the groom-to-be is.
The overwhelming popularity ofThe Hangoverprompted the production of two sequels that, in spite of turning into box-office hits, failed to achieve the same acclaim as the original one.
14Midnight Special
2016 marked the premiere ofMidnight Special, a sci-fi film directed by Jeff Nichols and starring Michael Shannon, Jaeden Martell, Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst, and Adam Driver. In it, Shannon plays Roy, a man who goes on the run with his young son in an attempt to keep him safe from the government and a religious group after the boy develops special abilities that could utterly change the world we know.
13Blade Runner
1982 witnessed the release ofBlade Runner, a Ridley Scott film that polarized critics, but eventually emerged as one of the most popular productions in the science fiction genre, enjoying a cult following that continues to this day. It stars Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard, an ex-cop who must resume his job as a Replicant Hunter after some of these humanoid creatures return to Earth illegally.
Joining Ford in the cast are Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, and M. Emmet Walsh. The popularity ofBlade Runnerkicked off a franchise that remains active to this day.
12Collateral
On a night like any other, cab driver Max Durocher is cruising around Los Angeles looking for customers. He is suddenly approached by Vincent, a man who offers him a huge amount of money for driving him to several locations, not revealing that he is in fact a hit man on a mission to eliminate witnesses to a crime.
When the cab driver uncovers the truth, he must go to great lengths to avoid turning into his next victim. That’s the plot ofCollateral, the actionmovie by Michael Mannthat became a box-office and critical hit. Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx lead the cast of this 2004 production, joined by Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark Ruffalo, Peter Berg, and Javier Bardem.
11The Batman
The night has always been a major focus in the films featuring this DC superhero, and 2022’sThe Batmanis no exception. This Matt Reeves movie served as a reboot of theBatmanfranchise, and has Robert Pattinson in the lead role, joined by Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Andy Serkis and Colin Farrell.
It follows Batman’s beginnings in his crime fighting days as he confronts a mysterious serial killer who appears to be targeting the city’s most corrupt personalities.The Batmanbecame a box office hit that prompted the development of two upcoming sequels and a number of spin-off shows.
