Midway (2019)

Kernel Score: 78% · 2,659 ratings · Rated PG-13

Genres: Action, War, History

Released: 2019-11-06

Runtime: 138 minutes

Is Midway worth watching?

Worth watching. Roland Emmerich tells the Battle of Midway with big aerial combat and a huge cast. The action is the point, and it plays like a standard war epic, with thin characters and some clichés.

Watch it if you

  • like large-scale WWII action
  • enjoy aerial and naval battles
  • want a straightforward history lesson

Skip it if you

  • want deep characters or subtlety
  • dislike patriotic war movies

Best for: War movie night

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

Where to watch Midway

  • Stream: Angel Studios
  • Free with ads: YouTube Free
  • Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
  • Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

The story of the Battle of Midway, and the leaders and soldiers who used their instincts, fortitude and bravery to overcome massive odds.

Midway parents' guide: ages 11+

Parents need to know that Midway is a PG-13 war drama depicting the Battle of Midway with combat violence.

  • Violence & scariness: Moderate — Depicts WWII naval battle combat, explosions, and wartime peril based on true events.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Movies like Midway

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

  • Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) — 80%: Another big retelling of a pivotal Pacific War event.
  • Greyhound (2020) — 86%: Tense naval war thriller, much tighter.
  • Dunkirk (2017) — 85%: Immersive, intense WWII spectacle.
  • The Longest Day (1962) — 87%: Classic epic recreation of a major WWII day.
  • Pearl Harbor (2001) — 75%: Same Pacific War setting, more romance and spectacle.
  • Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) — 85%: Serious Pacific War drama told with care.

Director

Roland Emmerich

Cast

  • Ed Skrein as Lieutenant Richard 'Dick' Best
  • Patrick Wilson as Rear Admiral Edwin T. Layton
  • Woody Harrelson as Admiral Chester W. Nimitz
  • Luke Evans as Commander Wade McClusky
  • Mandy Moore as Anne Best
  • Luke Kleintank as Lieutenant Clarence Earle Dickinson
  • Dennis Quaid as Vice Admiral William 'Bull' Halsey
  • Aaron Eckhart as Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle
  • Keean Johnson as Chief Aviation Radioman James Murray
  • Nick Jonas as Bruno Gaido

Midway FAQ

Is Midway worth watching?

Worth watching. Roland Emmerich tells the Battle of Midway with big aerial combat and a huge cast. The action is the point, and it plays like a standard war epic, with thin characters and some clichés.

Where can I watch Midway?

In the US you can stream Midway on Angel Studios, watch it free with ads on YouTube Free and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.

Is Midway OK for kids?

Midway is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Midway is a PG-13 war drama depicting the Battle of Midway with combat violence.

What movies are like Midway?

If you liked Midway, try Tora! Tora! Tora!, Greyhound, Dunkirk and The Longest Day.