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Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voight, Sylvia Miles, John McGiver, Brenda Vaccaro ... see more see more... , Barnard Hughes , Ruth White , Jennifer Salt , Gil Rankin , T. Tom Marlow , George Epperson , Al Scott , Linda Davis , J.T. Masters , Arlene Reeder , Georgann Johnson , Anthony Holland , Bob Balaban , Jan Tice , Paul Benjamin , Peter Scalia , Arthur Anderson , Tina Scala , Alma Felix , Richard Clarke , Ann Thomas , Al Stetson , Viva , Gastone Rossilli , Paul Jabara , International Velvet , Cecelia Lipson , Taylor Mead , Paul Morrissey , Gary Owens , Ultra Violet , M. Emmet Walsh , Joan Murphy , Paul Jasmin , Jonathan Kramer

Based on a James Leo Herlihy novel, British director John Schlesinger's first American film dramatized the small hopes, dashed dreams, and unlikely friendship of two late '60s lost souls. Dreaming of ... read more read more...an easy life as a fantasy cowboy stud, cheerful Texas rube Joe Buck (Jon Voight) heads to New York City to be a gigolo, but he quickly discovers that hustling isn't what he thought it would be after he winds up paying his first trick (Sylvia Miles). He gets swindled by gimpy tubercular grifter Rico "Ratso" Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman) but, when Joe falls in the direst of straits, Ratso takes Joe into his condemned apartment so that they can help each other survive. Things start to look up when Joe finally lands his first legit female customer (Brenda Vaccaro) at a Warhol-esque party; Ratso's health, however, fails. Joe turns a final trick to get the money for one selfless goal: taking Ratso out of New York to his dream life in Miami. One of the first major studio films given the newly minted X rating for its then-frank portrayal of New York decadence, Midnight Cowboy was critically praised for Schlesinger's insight into American lives, with the intercut mosaic of Joe's memories and Ratso's dreams lending their characters and actions greater psychological complexity. While they may have been drawn by the seamy content (tame by current standards), the young late '60s audience responded to Joe's and Ratso's confusion amidst turbulent times and to the connection they make with each other despite their alienation from the surrounding culture. Midnight Cowboy became one of the major financial and artistic hits of 1969, winning Oscars for Best Picture (the first for an X-rated film), Best Director, and former blacklistee Waldo Salt's screenplay. Though the one-two punch of Midnight Cowboy and The Graduate (1967) proved Hoffman's range and Voight's Joe Buck made him a star, both lost Best Actor to classical cowboy John Wayne for True Grit. The film was later re-rated R by the MPAA. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi

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50 critics

R, 1 hr. 53 min.

Directed by: John Schlesinger

Release Date: May 25, 1969

Keywords: rated

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DVD Release Date: January 1, 2000

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Flixster Reviews (2,351)

  • stevenecarrier
    May 30, 2011
    stevenecarrier
    John Schlesinger's "Midnight Cowboy" is a relic from the 60s. An important film for exemplifying the collision between French and American New Wave cinema. It's also one of the most controversial and daring choices for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. With strong performances ... read morefrom Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman and a series of obtuse and interesting flashbacks and montages, "Midnight Cowboy" is still very much worth a look, at least for it's historical context.
  • FrizzDrop
    April 14, 2011
    FrizzDrop
    With the historic implications, I believed this would be a film concerning sexual revolution in its purest form. Instead of romanticizing the role of prostitution, it directly shines a light on the naive nature of wandering youth, the value of education, the role of a flawed chil... read moredhood on workers in the sex industry, and poverty in what was modern day New York. Complete with interspersed flashbacks to Joe's time in Texas (but leaving much to be figured out by the watcher) and scenes between johns and the women he unsuccessfully bedded, this is an art house film years before its time. The use of graphic material was essential, as it helped weave in the bold emotions of Joe Buck and his compatriot, Ratso Rizzo. The two become dependent on one another, their dreams of Miami, or of being a kept man in New York City, twined together and yet crumbling around their feet.Poignant, and painful to watch, this is more than simple exploitation. It centers on what desires people have, and how they are fulfilled.
  • axadntpron
    February 28, 2011
    axadntpron
    A fantastic movie that really solidified the excellence of Dustin Hoffman. Even if you don't care for the story, Hoffman's performance alone is worth revisiting this film over and over and over again.
  • binky013
    February 15, 2011
    binky013
    This won Best Picture and Best Director for John Schlesinger in 1969. Interestingly, Both Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight were nominated for Best Actor. Hey, two out of five nomination slots ain't bad -- although I'm glad that doesn't happen often. Unfortunately, they were up ag... read moreainst John Wayne for his starring role in True Grit, and the rest, as they say, is history.

    Sylvia Miles as Cass was also nominated -- for Best Supporting Actress -- but Goldie Hawn took home the trophy for her work in Cactus Flower. Much as I love Hawn, if you read my recent comment about Catherine Burns in Last Summer, you'll know that I think Burns should have come out on top.

    Was this THE best film of 1969? I don't know. If I'd had a vote, I'd have to say . . . that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is quite a film; I can watch it over and over again. It's great entertainment. MIdnight Cowboy on the other hand is one tough watch to handle. I really have to be in the right frame of mind to take the mental beating it hands out. Maybe that does make it better? Who knows . . .
  • Tomassgringo
    December 29, 2010
    Tomassgringo
    A depressing movie filmed in a cutting edge style (for 1969) that shows even dreams with low expectations can have a high price.
  • ajv2688
    December 12, 2010
    ajv2688
    A brilliant drama, my favourite movie from 1969, and a classic. The story is great, the characters are well rounded and realistic and played by great actors. This is a classic movie, don't miss it.
  • fb619846742
    October 6, 2010
    fb619846742
    A truly special and monumental film concerning an inexperienced male gigolo (Jon Voight) and how he battles to live on the streets of NYC with a petty robber. This is certainly one of the best films of the 60's, thanks to two megawatt performances from both Voight (who you could ... read moreargue has never been better) and Hoffman (although "Rain Man" remains his ultimate turn, he's unbelievable here). This is the ultimate "drifter" movie, about two guys who struggle to find their place in the world and as a result, end up becoming close friends despite their mutual distaste for what one another partakes in. The ending is somewhat predictable but that doesn't make it any less devastating, it's certainly a movie drenched in darkness and depression, with a fair amount of Lynchian aspects (the party scene especially) thrown in for good measure. All in all, an utter masterpiece, and a must see.
  • yona71
    August 10, 2010
    yona71
    Brilliant piece of dramatic cinema which deservedly swept the 1969 Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay based on a 1965 novel of the same name.
    The film follows a young Texan named Joe Buck well portrayed by Jon Voight who's resemblance to ... read morehis daughter Angelina Jolie is quite evident in his breakthrough role as the dishwasher who quits his job, dresses himself as a rodeo cowboy, and heads to New York City in the hope of leading the life of a male hustler.
    The naive Texan is rather unsuccessful in his attempts to be hired by wealthy women until he finally makes his first deal with the help of a third-rate con man known as Enrico "Ratso" Rizzo(Dustin Hoffman). Joe ends up giving the broken down woman $20. Initially, Ratso cons Joe into giving him twenty dollars for introducing him to a well-known pimp who turns out to be nothing more than a religious fanatic. Of course, Ratso flees the scene as quickly as they arrived despite the fact that polio had crippled one of his legs.
    The following day, the failed hustler is locked out of his hotel room for not paying the bill, so he hits the streets where he couldn't be more out of his element in hopes of making some money hustling. He spots the unsuspecting Ratso at a lunch counter in which he shakes him down for for every penny he has which turns out to be sixty-four cents. As a result, Ratso offers Joe a place to stay which is in his dingy apartment in a condemned building.
    Ratso offers to help Joe by teaching him how to pickpocket as well as other methods of stealing, and to even help Joe get hired as a "stud".
    Ratso's dream has long been to get out of NYC and go to Miami, Florida where he would cease to be known as "Ratso", and live a better life. Joe and Ratso become good friends who really careabout one another and rely on each other in a world where they just can't seem to make ends meet.
    A very memorable scene from this film is of Ratso and Joe crossing the street where they are nearly run into by a taxi cab. An enraged Ratso says, "I'm walkin' here!" This was improvised by Dustin Hoffman who wanted to say, "We're filming a movie here!", but decided to stay in character and deliver the perfect line which is #27 on AFI's 100Years...100 Movie Quotes.
    Another interesting little fact about this film is that well-known character actor M. Emmet Walsh is an uncredited, pre-fame extra.
  • fernandorafael
    July 20, 2010
    fernandorafael
    Bold choice for a 'Best Picture' (1969) winner. The editing in MIDNIGHT COWBOY's flashback/imaginary sequences may make the film appear incredibly dated, but the performances by Jon Voight as naive "cowboy" Joe Buck and, especially, Dustin Hoffman's as pathetic and, at the same t... read moreime, endearing sleazeball Enrico 'Ratso' Rizzo make this film timeless.
  • JonathanHutchings
    March 30, 2010
    JonathanHutchings
    What is the biggest difference between the films of the American New Wave of the 60s/70s and today? The answer is rather simple: characters. Today, we no longer have interesting characters. We have special effects, CGI, sex symbols, or talking heads. But back then, we had real ch... read morearacters -- characters that are timeless and who're talked about even to this day. People like Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver, and back in 1969, Joe Buck (Jon Voight) and Ratso Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman) in Midnight Cowboy. Known as one of the major films that signified the shift from "Classical Hollywood" to "New Hollywood," this film has not only aged remarkably well, it does what all great films do: it stays with you for a long time after it's over. Director John Schlesinger wisely directed this film in an unobtrusive manner and simply let Hoffman and Voight put on an acting clinic as they communicate back and forth with each other in this beat down, raggedy, ugly, greasy apartment. The result is two of the loneliest people in the history of cinema. This film is unflinching and uncompromising in its depiction of the seedy and depressing byproduct of a capitalistic, class-stratified society. Loneliness, abandonment, and neglect are rarely shown with this much depth, this much realism (even more remarkable considering when it came out). It's a heart wrenching yet beautifully poignant film that is so unconventional, so unfamiliar, and so different, it simply cannot be ignored. Thankfully, films like this will always persevere, even as we continue to drift into more and more cinematic mediocrity. Thank God we had British Kitchen Sink directors like Schlesinger and Richardson, and auteurs like Coppola and Scorsese, who used the French New Wave as a model to make some of the greatest, most penetrating films Hollywood has ever seen. The late 60s/70s were truly the last golden years, and Midnight Cowboy is a big reason why.

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Critic Reviews

Owen Gleiberman
September 7, 2011
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Midnight Cowboy's peep-show vision of Manhattan lowlife may no longer be shocking, but what is shocking, in 1994, is to see a major studio film linger this lovingly on characters who have nothing to o... Full Review

Robert J. Landry
January 30, 2008
Robert J. Landry, Variety

In this film the scenery is lovely and only the human race is vile. Full Review

Dave Kehr
December 13, 2006
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

The acting, showy and instinctual, is most of the movie; the visual style is too forced and chicly distended to let the drama acquire much natural life of its own. Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

What has happened to Midnight Cowboy is that we've done our own editing job on it. We've forgotten the excesses and the detours, and remembered the purity of the central characters and the Voight and ... Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

It is ultimately a moving experience that captures the quality of a time and a place. It's not a movie for the ages, but, having seen it, you won't ever again feel detached as you walk down West 42nd ...

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

The performances by Hoffman and Voight are big. Full Review

Cole Smithey
December 9, 2011
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

"Midnight Cowboy" is an exquisite time capsule. The film is filled with dark social and political commentary. Only through his problematic friendship with Ratzo can Buck reclaim his humanity. Full Review

February 20, 2008
Empire Magazine

Superb performances and a compelling script have made this film a strange mix of Oscar-winner and Cult Classic. Full Review

Douglas Pratt
January 30, 2008
Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser

The movie is locked into a sixties stylistic approach that can feel dated, but Hoffman's performance can prevent one from ever tiring of the film.

Jon Fortgang
January 30, 2008
Jon Fortgang, Film4

An impressive and enduring evocation of time and place, this is a moving low-life drama built around Oscar-winning writing and performances. Full Review

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    • Enrico "Ratso" Rizzo: Load up on the salami.
    • Enrico "Ratso" Rizzo: I'm walking here! I'm walking here!
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Midnight Cowboy Trivia

  • What was the first and only film to be rated 'X' and go on to the Oscar for Best Picture as well as Best Director to John Schlesinger?  Answer »
  • A naive cowboy goes to New York to meet women and make money:  Answer »
  • Who played alongside Jon Voight in Midnight Cowboy?  Answer »
  • Lee Majors was considered for the role of Joe Buck in Midnight Cowboy  Answer »
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