🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Scott Speer
- Genre: Drama, Romance
- Release year: 2018
- Runtime (length): 1h 31min
- IMDb rating: 6.6/10 (38K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 21%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
Girl allergic to the sun meets a boy who’s super into daytime activities, leading to a series of very dark dates and one spectacularly failed sunrise.
🍿 Midnight Sun: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Introduction to Katie’s World
Katie Price, a 17-year-old, suffers from Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP), a rare genetic disorder making sunlight deadly. She’s confined to her house during the day, homeschooled by her father, Jack, and has a close friendship with Morgan. Her days are spent watching the world go by from her window, harboring a secret crush on her neighbor, Charlie.

Nighttime Encounters and Budding Romance
Katie ventures out at night to play guitar at the local train station. One night, Charlie notices her, sparking a connection. They begin dating, but Katie hesitates to reveal her condition, leading to creative excuses for her nocturnal lifestyle. Their romance blossoms through shared experiences under the stars.

The Truth Revealed and Consequences Faced
During a romantic outing, Katie’s watch breaks, causing her to lose track of time and be exposed to the rising sun. This exposure forces her to reveal her XP to Charlie, who is devastated but determined to support her. However, the sun exposure worsens her condition, leading to neurological complications.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Katie Price (Bella Thorne): A 17-year-old girl with Xeroderma Pigmentosum, a rare disease that makes sunlight deadly, who experiences her first love at night.
- Charlie Reed (Patrick Schwarzenegger): Katie’s longtime crush and aspiring swimmer who falls in love with her, unaware of her life-threatening condition.
- Jack Price (Rob Riggle): Katie’s protective and loving single father who has dedicated his life to caring for her.
- Morgan (Quinn Shephard): Katie’s loyal and supportive best friend who helps her navigate her unique life and relationship with Charlie.
- Mark Reed (Ken Tremblett): Charlie’s father who provides support and guidance to his son as he navigates his relationship with Katie.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Katie: “I’m really busy during the day, but I can be free at night.” – Katie says this repeatedly to Charlie, hinting at her condition without explicitly revealing it.
- Katie: “I’ve been watching you for years.” – Katie confesses this to Charlie, revealing how she has secretly admired him from her window.
- Katie: “You’re my dream, Charlie.” – Katie expresses her feelings for Charlie before her health significantly declines.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $2.8M
- Domestic Gross: $9.5M
- Worldwide Gross: $27.3M
💥 Midnight Sun Reviews
Personal Review
Okay, I’ll admit, I teared up a bit. Maybe it was the Bella Thorne’s singing, maybe it was Rob Riggle actually acting serious, or maybe it was just the predictable-but-effective story. It’s definitely a movie I’d watch again on a rainy day when I need a good cry. Just grab a box of tissues first!
- Who would enjoy:
- “Teen romance fans”
- “Viewers who enjoy tear-jerker movies”
- “Fans of Bella Thorne and Patrick Schwarzenegger”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Themes of terminal illness and death”
- “Mild language”
- “Emotional scenes”
Professional Reviews
- Rotten Tomatoes: “While aiming for heart-wrenching romance, Midnight Sun mostly offers manipulative clichés and predictable plot points, wasting the talents of its cast in a story that feels recycled and emotionally hollow.
- Common Sense Media: “This romance about a girl with a sun allergy is super-sweet and a little sad. While some situations are unrealistic, the movie’s focus on family and living life to the fullest gives it depth.
Audience Reactions
The father-daughter relationship was really touching and believable.: Many viewers felt Rob Riggle delivered an unexpectedly poignant performance as Katie’s father.
Bella Thorne’s singing added a lot of emotional depth to the movie.: Viewers appreciated Bella Thorne’s musical talents and felt it enhanced the romance.
Overall Consensus: Midnight Sun is a saccharine romance that delivers exactly what you expect: teen angst, forbidden love, and a guaranteed tearjerker ending. It’s not groundbreaking, but it hits the emotional beats effectively for its target audience.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “Midnight Sun is based on the 2006 Japanese film A Song to the Sun (Taiyō no Uta).”
- “Bella Thorne, who plays Katie Price, also sings several songs in the movie, showcasing her musical talent.”
- “Rob Riggle took on a more serious, dramatic role as Katie’s father, diverging from his typical comedic performances.”
🖥️ How to Watch Midnight Sun?
Midnight Sun is available for streaming on various platforms including Hulu with a Live TV subscription. It is also available to rent or buy on demand through services like Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu. Check your local listings for availability.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed Midnight Sun, you might like these similar films:
- Everything, Everything (2017): A similar story of a teenage girl with a rare disease that confines her indoors, finding love and experiencing life to the fullest within her limitations.
- A Walk to Remember (2002): A teen romance where one of the protagonists has a terminal illness, leading to a bittersweet love story with themes of sacrifice and living in the moment.
- The Fault in Our Stars (2014): Deals with young love amidst serious illness, exploring themes of life, death, and finding joy in difficult circumstances.
🛒 Midnight Sun Related Products
- Midnight Sun (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack): Relive the movie’s most emotional moments with the official soundtrack, featuring Bella Thorne’s ‘Burn So Bright’ and other poignant tracks that perfectly capture the film’s atmosphere.
- Xeroderma Pigmentosum: A Patient’s Journey: Learn more about Xeroderma Pigmentosum with first-person patient accounts, which offer deep and helpful insights into managing the condition. Perfect for those who want to understand Katie’s condition.
- Bella Thorne Signed Poster: A limited-edition signed poster of ‘Midnight Sun’ featuring Bella Thorne. A rare collector’s item for die-hard fans of Bella Thorne and the movie.
- Train Station Wall Art: Bring the beauty of the train station to your home, where Charlie and Katie first meet. Makes a great gift to remind you of the beautiful scenes in the movie.
🎧 Soundtrack
Midnight Sun features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP) is a rare genetic disorder that makes individuals extremely sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight. Even minimal exposure can cause severe skin damage, neurological problems, and increased risk of skin cancer.
While Midnight Sun features a character with XP, the specific storyline is fictional. It is based on a Japanese film and novel titled “Taiyo no Uta” (Song to the Sun).
Midnight Sun was primarily filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Some scenes were also filmed in Seattle, Washington.
🔥 Bonus Content
the 5th Twilight book not enough people know about (and why you should read it)
Did you know there’s a fifth Twilight book from Edward’s perspective? This video dives into ‘Midnight Sun’ and tells you whether it’s actually worth reading. Honestly, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it!
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