Before Midnight

If you want romantic drama that respects your intelligence, Before Midnight is available on Starz Amazon Channel and Crave Amazon Channel right now. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. You will have strong feelings about it by the finale. Available now on Starz Amazon Channel — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Before Midnight is worth clearing space for. The chemistry between the leads is the engine that drives everything, and Before Midnight makes sure it fires. It has been nine years since we last met Jesse and Celine, the French-American couple who once met on a train in Vienna. They now live in Paris with twin daughters but have spent a summer in Greece at the invitation of an author colleague of Jesse's. When the vacation is over and Jesse must send his teenage son off to the States, he begins to question his life decisions, and his relationship with Celine is at risk. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy lead a cast whose chemistry carries the emotional beats. It was released in 2013. Before Midnight understands that tension needs a believable reason to exist, not just narrative convenience. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

For anyone who wants romantic drama that respects their intelligence, Before Midnight is a strong recommendation. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. The chemistry Ethan Hawke brings to it is the engine that drives everything. A rarer quality than it sounds — earning the romantic beats rather than assuming them.