Midnight Express

If you want a crime drama that treats its mystery as more than a puzzle, Midnight Express is available in the US on fuboTV, and in the UK on BFI Player right now. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. With 1,910 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Brad Davis's performance alone is worth the time investment. Start it on fuboTV whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Midnight Express arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. At its heart, Midnight Express understands what makes crime drama work — character first, plot second. Billy Hayes is caught attempting to smuggle drugs out of a country. The courts decide to make an example of him, sentencing him to more than 30 years in prison. Hayes has two opportunities for release: the appeals made by his lawyer, his family, and the American government, or the "Midnight Express". Brad Davis and Irene Miracle lead a cast that never lets the mystery feel thin. It was released in 1978. What makes Midnight Express hold up is that the resolution matters less than how the characters get there. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Crime and mystery fans will find exactly what they are after in Midnight Express. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Brad Davis's performance is the kind that shows up on best-of lists years later. If you have been looking for something to fill the gap left by a recently finished story, this is a reliable answer.