Midway (2019)
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A high-stakes naval epic depicts the pivotal moments leading up to and during the historic Battle of Midway in World War II.
The story
In December 1937, an American naval attaché in Japan is warned of impending conflict. The tension culminates on December 7, 1941, when a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor forces the United States into World War II. Following the attack, the U.S. and Japanese forces prepare for a massive naval confrontation. Amidst the chaos of the Pacific Theater, American intelligence teams work to intercept and decode Japanese communications to identify their next targets. As the Japanese fleet moves toward Midway Island, the American forces must prepare for a decisive naval engagement that will determine the course of the war in the Pacific.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Following the 1937 warnings and the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. and Japan move toward a confrontation at Midway. While the Japanese leadership initially rejects a plan to attack Midway, they eventually authorize it. American intelligence, led by figures like Layton and Rochefort, successfully decodes Japanese messages to confirm the target. On June 4, the Japanese launch an air raid on Midway. Despite initial failures by U.S. land-based aircraft and submarines, American carrier planes successfully strike the Japanese fleet, causing significant damage to carriers like the Akagi and Kaga. The battle results in the scuttling of the Hiryu and the death of Admiral Yamaguchi. Following the victory, Richard Best is discharged from the Navy due to lung problems and returns home to his family.
- First release year
- 2019
- Runtime (minutes)
- 138
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English; Japanese
- Directors
- Roland Emmerich
- Writers
- Wes Tooke · writer
- Cast and characters
- Ed Skrein · Richard "Dick" Best; Patrick Wilson; Luke Evans · Wade McClusky; Aaron Eckhart; Nick Jonas; Mandy Moore; Dennis Quaid; Tadanobu Asano; Darren Criss; Woody Harrelson
- Genres
- war; action
- Themes
- war; heroism; sacrifice; determination
- Tone and mood
- epic; serious
- Premise and plot tags
- war; historical; naval; military
- Source material / true-story basis
- It is a remake of the 1976 American film of the same title, Midway.
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the visuals but criticized the screenplay. It was considered a box-office bomb.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 47 · scale: 100 · review count: 28; CinemaScore · score: A · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 4 · scale: 5 · review count: 58% saying they would definitely recommend it
- Production trivia
- It is one of the most expensive independent films of all time.; The film was a passion project of Roland Emmerich.; The film was praised by some combat veterans and historians for being a more accurate portrayal of events than the 1976 film.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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