Before Midnight (2013)

Kernel Score: 86% · 2,646 ratings · Rated R

Genres: Romance, Drama

Released: 2013-04-05

Runtime: 109 minutes

Is Before Midnight worth watching?

Must-watch. Jesse and Celine, now a couple with kids on a Greek holiday, argue and reveal how their relationship has aged. It's long conversations, sharp and honest, and it's the toughest and most grown-up of the trilogy.

Watch it if you

  • loved Before Sunrise and Before Sunset
  • enjoy dialogue-driven films
  • want an honest look at long relationships

Skip it if you

  • haven't seen the first two films
  • want plot or action

Best for: Couples' talky night

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch Before Midnight

  • Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
  • Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

It has been nine years since we last met Jesse and Celine, the French-American couple who once met on a train in Vienna. They now live in Paris with twin daughters but have spent a summer in Greece at the invitation of an author colleague of Jesse's. When the vacation is over and Jesse must send his teenage son off to the States, he begins to question his life decisions, and his relationship with Celine is at risk.

Before Midnight parents' guide: ages 13+

Parents need to know that this is a dialogue-driven romantic drama about a couple's marital strains, rated R.

  • Sex, romance & nudity: A little — Some adult relationship and intimacy themes are discussed but not graphically shown.
  • Language: Some — Adult conversational language is present consistent with the R rating.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Movies like Before Midnight

If you liked Before Midnight, these are the movies we'd watch next.

  • Before Sunrise (1995) — 89%: The first film in the trilogy, a young romance in Vienna.
  • Before Sunset (2004) — 87%: The second film, the reunion in Paris.
  • Boyhood (2014) — 84%: Linklater's patient, life-spanning portrait of growing up.
  • One Day (2011) — 83%: Love story that follows two people over many years.
  • Waking Life (2001) — 85%: Linklater's philosophical, conversation-driven film.
  • Dazed and Confused (1993) — 83%: Linklater's laid-back hangout movie.

Director

Richard Linklater

Cast

  • Ethan Hawke as Jesse
  • Julie Delpy as Céline
  • Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick as Hank
  • Jennifer Prior as Ella
  • Charlotte Prior as Nina
  • Xenia Kalogeropoulou as Natalia
  • Walter Lassally as Patrick
  • Ariane Labed as Anna
  • Yiannis Papadopoulos as Achilleas
  • Athina Rachel Tsangari as Ariadni

Before Midnight FAQ

Is Before Midnight worth watching?

Must-watch. Jesse and Celine, now a couple with kids on a Greek holiday, argue and reveal how their relationship has aged. It's long conversations, sharp and honest, and it's the toughest and most grown-up of the trilogy.

Where can I watch Before Midnight?

In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.

Is Before Midnight OK for kids?

Before Midnight is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 13+. Parents need to know that this is a dialogue-driven romantic drama about a couple's marital strains, rated R.

What movies are like Before Midnight?

If you liked Before Midnight, try Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Boyhood and One Day.