Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- patriotic
- tense
- spectacle driven
- classic war movie night
- military history viewing
What critics said
Critics found the film commercially effective and intermittently exciting as spectacle, but confused in its battle storytelling, clichéd in its personal drama, and weakly characterized.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Midway battle is presented through bomb blasts, crashing aircraft, Sensurround effects, and extensive action footage, while critics described the result as a theme-park extravaganza.
U.S. Navy codebreakers intercept Japanese messages and partially crack the encryption, giving American commanders forewarning of the attack on Midway.
The cast includes Nimitz, Spruance, Rochefort, Halsey, Garth, and other military figures whose perspectives collectively build the battle narrative.
The film incorporates familiar old newsreel footage alongside recreated battle scenes, a recurring feature noted in critical reception.
Films like Midway, and why
Tora! Tora! Tora!
large-scale world war ii naval spectacle with ensemble military command and combat aviation
Pearl Harbor
pacific theater war drama built around carrier warfare, historical events, and strategic command
The Battle of Britain
true-event combat epic combining naval operations, aviation spectacle, and personal subplots
The Longest Day
historical war spectacle focused on military planning, sacrifice, and large-scale battle set pieces
Movie Details
- Director
- Jack Smight
- Release Date
- 1976-06-18
- Runtime
- 132 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (342)
Cast
- Charlton Heston
- Henry Fonda
- James Coburn
- Glenn Ford
- Hal Holbrook
- Robert Mitchum
- Toshirō Mifune
- Cliff Robertson
- Robert Wagner
- Robert Webber
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Midway about?
- An all-star 1970s war epic turns the Battle of Midway into a codebreaking-driven clash of carriers, aircraft, and command decisions.
- What is Midway like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Midway as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Midway violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Midway as moderate.
- What did critics think of Midway?
- Critics found the film commercially effective and intermittently exciting as spectacle, but confused in its battle storytelling, clichéd in its personal drama, and weakly characterized.
- Which films are like Midway?
- Films with a similar feel include Tora! Tora! Tora!, Pearl Harbor, The Battle of Britain, and The Longest Day.
- How long is Midway?
- Midway runs 132 minutes.
- Where can I watch Midway?
- In United States, Midway streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
