Midnight Cowboy (1969)

★ 7.5 1h 53m 1,575 votes IMDb
Sign in to rate this film

Joe Buck is a wide-eyed hustler from Texas hoping to score big with wealthy New York City women; he finds a companion in Enrico "Ratso" Rizzo, an ailing swindler with a bum leg and a quixotic fantasy of escaping to Florida.

Midnight Cowboy

Where to Watch

Netflix Netflix Watch
Amazon Prime Video Amazon Prime Video Watch
Disney Plus Disney Plus Watch
Max Max Watch
Hulu Hulu Watch
Paramount Plus Paramount Plus Watch
Apple TV Plus Apple TV Plus Watch
Peacock Peacock Watch
Crunchyroll Crunchyroll Watch
Tubi TV Tubi TV Free
Pluto TV Pluto TV Watch
Plex Plex Watch

Rent / Buy

Rent

Apple TV Apple TV Rent
Google Play Movies Google Play Movies Rent
Amazon Video Amazon Video Rent
YouTube YouTube Rent
Vudu Vudu Rent
Fandango at Home Fandango at Home Rent

Buy

Apple TV Apple TV Buy
Google Play Movies Google Play Movies Buy
Amazon Video Amazon Video Buy
YouTube YouTube Buy
Vudu Vudu Buy
Fandango at Home Fandango at Home Buy

Cast

Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Hoffman as Ratso Age 88 · Los Angeles, California, USA Dustin Lee Hoffman (born August 8, 1937) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is known for his versatile portrayals of antiheroes and emotionally vulnerable characters. Actor Robert De Niro describe...
Jon Voight
Jon Voight as Joe Buck Age 87 · Yonkers, New York, USA Jonathan Vincent "Jon" Voight (born December 29, 1938) is an American actor. He has received an Academy Award (out of four nominations) and three Golden Globe Awards (out of nine). Voight came to pro...
Sylvia Miles
Sylvia Miles as Cass Died 2019 · New York City, New York, USA Sylvia Miles (September 9, 1924 – June 12, 2019) was an American actress. She was twice nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performances in Midnight Cowboy (1969) and F...
John McGiver
John McGiver as Mr. O'Daniel Died 1975 · New York City, New York, USA From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia John Irwin McGiver (November 5, 1913 – September 9, 1975) was a character actor who made more than a hundred appearances in television and motion pictures over a...
Brenda Vaccaro
Brenda Vaccaro as Shirley Age 86 · Brooklyn, New York, USA Brenda Buell Vaccaro (born November 18, 1939) is an American stage, television and film actress..
Barnard Hughes
Barnard Hughes as Towny Died 2006 · Bedford Hills, New York, USA From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Bernard Aloysius Kiernan “Barnard” Hughes (July 16, 1915 – July 11, 2006) was an American actor of theater and film. Hughes became famous for a variety of roles;...

Audience Reviews

Potential Kermode 8/10 Feb 25, 2017
**"I'm walking here! I'm walking here!" Shuffling, perhaps.**


One can always count on Hoffman and his ability to absorb the character he is portraying with such ease. He has a knack at portraying that deep, bronchial coughing schtick. When watching, I had to wear a surgical mask - just in case.

Voight, as usual, is magnificent as the innocent amongst the scum. Watching this wide eyed lone ranger slowly losing the tassels from his jacket is a deeply moving experience.

A word of warning, you may want to use antibacterial wipes on your tv screen after watching Hoffman here. One cannot be too careful.


- Potential Kermode
CinemaSerf 7/10 Jun 03, 2023
This is certainly my favourite role from Dustin Hoffman as he turns in an outstanding performance as "Ratso". He hooks up with the dapper, but out of his depth cowboy "Buck" who arrives in New York all set to be a hustler, but ends up paying his first client for the sex she's supposed to pay him for! Initially, "Ratso" fleeces this gullible guy too, but gradually the two start to depend on one and other - which is as well for "Ratso" who is clearly not long for this world. His persistent cough is being worsened by the squalid conditions in which he, and latterly, "Buck" have to live and by their poverty row existence. This is a great story and John Schlesinger tells it with some panache. The relationship between the two men is honest and decent, even though that attribute could hardly be said to apply to either of them when it comes to anyone else: "Ratso" would probably have hustled his own grandmother given the chance. Their bond feels real, plausible - unsentimental and convincing; and the Waldo Salt screenplay ensures that the dialogue - though frequently quite sparing - is both poignant and humorous.
r96sk 9/10 Jul 06, 2025
<em>'Midnight Cowboy'</em> is a beauty. It's one I've seen mentioned positively online many times down the years, especially on those four favourites videos that Letterboxd do with well known folk. Despite that I knew nothing coming in, which - as always - is the best way to view a flick.

Dustin Hoffman's involvement was all that I did know heading into it, I wasn't even sure it was Jon Voight as the main guy until he started scowling his face - a distinctive look! I actually only know of him in film terms from 2003's <em>'Holes'</em>, he is memorable in that classic.

In this, Voight is just as excelllent as Hoffman. They make for a fantastic pairing, I did thoroughly enjoy seeing their friendship build and build; even if it made the obvious, overhanging conclusion more and more saddening. Credit is due for the bit part actors in this, as well.

Music-wise this is top notch too, even if that recognisable Harry Nilsson track is a touch overused. Away from that, I didn't actually know the "I'm walkin' here" quote came from this movie (I'm terrible with film quotes, clearly), though of course pretty cool to see it pop up unexpectedly.

Similar Movies