In Search of a Midnight Kiss (2008)
85%RT Audience Score: 79%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins
Funny, quirky, and bittersweet, In Search of a Midnight Kiss is a romantic comedy with a heart and a brain — and stands as a sharp debut for director Alex Holdridge
In Search of a Midnight Kiss is like a New Year’s Eve party, but without the awkward small talk and the pressure to find someone to kiss at midnight. It’s a sweet and funny indie movie that will make you fall in love with the characters and their journey to find love. Sure, it may not be the most original movie out there, but it’s definitely worth watching if you’re in the mood for a romantic comedy that’s not too cheesy. Plus, it’s a great reminder that sometimes the best things in life happen when you least expect them.
Production Company(ies)
Selznick International Pictures,,
Distributor
IFC First Take
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Austin, Texas, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2008
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Stereo
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 37m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 1, 2008 Limited
Genre(s)
Comedy/Romance
Keyword(s)
starring Scoot McNairy, Sara Simmonds, Brian Matthew McGuire, Kathleen Luong, Bret Roberts, Twink Caplan, directed by Alex Holdridge, written by Alex Holdridge, produced by Seth Caplan, Scoot McNairy, Comedy, Romance, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Kevin Craft, Dave Calhoun, Ben Kenigsberg, Noel Murray, Peter Bradshaw, Josh Rosenblatt, MPAA rating, Craigslist personal ad, New Year’s Eve, Los Angeles, aspiring actress, midnight kiss, loneliness, heartbreak, relationship, black and white shots, old Los Angeles, theatre district
Worldwide gross: $1,294,176
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,782,678
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,444
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 194,403
US/Canada gross: $172,605
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $237,757
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,510
US/Canada opening weekend: $13,385
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $18,437
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,539
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $25,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $34,437
Production budget ranking: 2,153
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $18,544
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $1,729,697
ROI to date (est.): 3,265%
ROI ranking: 31
Sara Simmonds – Vivian
Brian Matthew McGuire – Jacob
Kathleen Luong – Min
Bret Roberts – Bui
Twink Caplan – Wilson’s Mother
Director(s)
Alex Holdridge
Writer(s)
Alex Holdridge
Producer(s)
Seth Caplan, Scoot McNairy
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
4 wins
Academy Awards
All Critics (65) | Top Critics (32) | Fresh (55) | Rotten (10)
The film never finds an original voice or qualifies its tagline (It’s not just another kiss), but it is more enjoyable than most New Year’s Eve celebrations.
April 6, 2015 | Rating: 2.5/4
Kevin Craft
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
November 18, 2011 | Rating: 5/5
Dave Calhoun
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Ben Kenigsberg
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
In Search Of A Midnight Kiss shows enough flashes of brightness that its more conventional business is all the more dispiriting.
October 18, 2008 | Rating: B-
Noel Murray
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
Alex Holdridge has written and directed a sweet, funny little indie movie.
October 18, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Holdridge is clever enough to keep his characters from slipping into outright narcissism, or when they do, he’s familiar enough with the art of mainstream moviemaking to balance the exhausted with the ecstatic.
October 18, 2008 | Rating: 3.5/5
Josh Rosenblatt
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
There’s enough wit and tenderness here to put many a bloated Hollywood movie to shame.
November 13, 2020
Jason Best
What’s On TV
It’s Mr. Holdridge’s third film, though, and an experienced filmmaker should offer us more than just brief glimpses of talent.
December 13, 2018 | Rating: 2/4
Kelly Jane Torrance
Washington Times
In Search of a Midnight Kiss oozes charm.
August 21, 2017
Annie Wagner
The Stranger (Seattle, WA)
It’s a great feeling, isn’t it, falling in love with a movie about falling in love?
November 26, 2008 | Rating: 3.5/4
Matt Brunson
Creative Loafing
October 18, 2008 | Rating: 8/10
Paul Gallagher
Future Movies UK
October 18, 2008 | Rating: B+
James Verniere
Boston Herald…
Plot
On New Year’s Eve, Wilson, a twenty-nine-year old guy has just had the worst year of his life. He emigrated to Los Angeles, has no date, no concrete plans and every intention of locking the doors and forgetting the last year ever happened. That is until his best friend, Jacob, browbeats him into posting a personal ad on Craig’s List. When Vivian, a strong-willed woman hell bent on being with the right guy at the stroke of midnight responds, a chaotic, sometimes hilarious, sometimes touching journey through the black and white streets of L.A. begins. In the waning hours of the year, emotional vulnerability and bitterly honest humor seem to be waiting around every corner.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t provide any goofy or funny comments about “In Search of a Midnight Kiss.”
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