Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

R 1997 2h 35m Drama LGBTQ+ List
50% Tomatometer 38 Reviews 65% Audience Score 25,000+ Ratings
In this adaptation of John Berendt's book, a young journalist, John Kelso (John Cusack), travels to Savannah, Ga., to cover the city's Christmas celebration amid a backdrop of eccentric characters. He becomes intrigued by a sultry singer, Mandy (Alison Eastwood), and engrossed by a murder trial. Wealthy society figure Jim Williams (Kevin Spacey) is accused of shooting his male lover, and the question is whether it was in self-defense as he claims. Read More Read Less
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Fandango at Home Prime Video Apple TV

Rent Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Clint Eastwood's spare directorial style proves an ill fit for this Southern potboiler, which dutifully trudges through its mystery while remaining disinterested in the cultural flourishes that gave its source material its sense of intrigue.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (38) Critics Reviews
David Ansen Newsweek The one crucial miscasting is Eastwood as director. He approaches the story like a tourist. Mar 5, 2018 Full Review Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: C+ Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Globe and Mail Rated: 2.5/4 Apr 12, 2002 Full Review Dan DiNicola The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY) No dominant sense of style, no evocation of classic Southern charm or presence of a Gothic sensibility. This one meanders for more than two hours and we emerge tired and unfulfilled. Rated: C Jan 10, 2023 Full Review Cory Woodroof 615 Film Not quite among Eastwood’s best, but a very entertaining and well-made courtroom drama with some unexpected personality. Jun 9, 2022 Full Review Yael Shuv Total Film Crisp characterisations make Midnight a pleasant pastime, although when it's over, you're not really sure what it was all about. Rated: 3/5 Jun 1, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews
Eye C Didn’t like it. Too slow and not so interesting. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 04/19/24 Full Review David W This film is a funny court drama that derives its strength by giving equal weight to what occurs outside the courtroom. I would definitely watch this again! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/24/24 Full Review David F While this movie version doesn't hold a candle to the excellent book upon which it is based, it was nice to see the actual locations from the book being used as filming locations. The movie took a lot of liberties with the story, and didn't really capture what made the book so fantastic, but you do get to at least see the Mercer House and Savannah, so that was nice. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/04/23 Full Review colin m Man on a criminal charge of murdering a younger guy he involved himself with. Overlong movie with an unclear ending. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Jelisije J Surprisingly this film was made by Clint Eastwood and is based on a true story. Overall this film would've been a lot more digestible if they cut the run time down by 40 minutes..... Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review jgr j Great book. Lousy movie. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

More Like This

View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
This Boy's Life 76% 80% This Boy's Life My Own Private Idaho 80% 80% My Own Private Idaho TRAILER for My Own Private Idaho High Art 76% 77% High Art The Deep End 82% 59% The Deep End The Sum of Us 63% 80% The Sum of Us Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil photos

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997) Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997) Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In this adaptation of John Berendt's book, a young journalist, John Kelso (John Cusack), travels to Savannah, Ga., to cover the city's Christmas celebration amid a backdrop of eccentric characters. He becomes intrigued by a sultry singer, Mandy (Alison Eastwood), and engrossed by a murder trial. Wealthy society figure Jim Williams (Kevin Spacey) is accused of shooting his male lover, and the question is whether it was in self-defense as he claims.
Director
Clint Eastwood
Producer
Clint Eastwood, Arnold Stiefel
Screenwriter
John Lee Hancock
Production Co
Silver Pictures, Warner Bros.
Rating
R
Genre
Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 31, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$25.1M
Runtime
2h 35m
Sound Mix
Surround
Most Popular at Home Now