Night Shift
A timid morgue attendant is swept into an outrageous after-hours business when his audacious coworker sees opportunity in the night shift.
Overview
A mild-mannered attendant discovers a wild side when the night shift turns into an unexpected business venture.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- raunchy
- irreverent
- lazy weekend
- 1980s movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film an entertaining comedy powered by Ron Howard's brisk direction and especially strong performances from Michael Keaton and Henry Winkler, despite an uneven second half.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Chuck and Bill use the morgue as an improvised base for a prostitution ring, transforming routine night work into escalating comic risk.
Mild-mannered morgue attendant Chuck is persuaded by Bill to cross professional and moral boundaries.
The prostitution operation, morgue setting, and bawdy schemes drive the film's comic register.
The night shift and New York neighborhood setting enable a hidden, after-hours enterprise.
Films like Night Shift, and why
Risky Business
shared workplace comedy, entrepreneurial misadventure, and raunchy 1980s humor
The Blues Brothers
shared adult comedy, criminal enterprise, and escalating comic complications
Beverly Hills Cop
shared buddy comedy, urban setting, and high-energy irreverent humor
Pretty Woman
shared prostitution theme, fish-out-of-water protagonist, and provocative comedy
Movie Details
- Director
- Ron Howard
- Release Date
- 1982-07-30
- Runtime
- 106 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (247)
Cast
- Henry Winkler
- Michael Keaton
- Shelley Long
- Gina Hecht
- Pat Corley
- Bobby Di Cicco
- Nita Talbot
- Basil Hoffman
- Tim Rossovich
- Clint Howard
Where to watch in United States
- 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 Night Shift about?
- A timid morgue attendant is swept into an outrageous after-hours business when his audacious coworker sees opportunity in the night shift.
- What is Night Shift like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Night Shift as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Night Shift violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Night Shift as mild.
- What did critics think of Night Shift?
- Critics broadly found the film an entertaining comedy powered by Ron Howard's brisk direction and especially strong performances from Michael Keaton and Henry Winkler, despite an uneven second half.
- Which films are like Night Shift?
- Films with a similar feel include Risky Business, The Blues Brothers, Beverly Hills Cop, and Pretty Woman.
- How long is Night Shift?
- Night Shift runs 106 minutes.
- Where can I watch Night Shift?
- In United States, Night Shift is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
