Midnight Runners

Ki-joon and Hee-yeol are best friends and students at the Korean National Police University. One night while out drinking in Gangnam, they witness the kidnapping of a young girl and consequently report it to the Gangnam police station. However, the station's Missing Persons Unit prioritizes a high-profile kidnapping of a business mogul's grandson over the case. Knowing they are in the critical hours after a kidnapping, the duo take matters into their own hands.

Through their amateur investigation, Ki-joon and Hee-yeol catch up with the kidnappers, who are running an unfertilized egg harvesting ring, and learn that many more girls are locked up in their hideout. Ki-joon and Hee-yeol try to save them, but are beaten and locked up. After escaping their captors, the duo later return to an empty hideout and a cold trail. As they are only students, their professor Yang Sung-il warns them against pursuing the case or risk facing expulsion.

Unable to wait, they once again embark on their own investigation. With the help of CCTV footage, they track the van to a fertility clinic. They undergo heavy physical training and "borrow" armor equipment from the University. Ki-joon and Hee-yeol go to the fertility clinic, where they subdue all the enforcers, including their boss Yang-choon. They call the police to arrest the kidnappers despite knowing they will get expelled for their actions.

Due to some of the disciplinary committee members in university believing that they had done the right thing morally, Ki-joon and Hee-yeol are instead held back a year in their studies and sentenced to 500 hours of community service, leaving the two satisfied with the outcome. While completing their community service, Yun-Jung visits Ki-joon and Hee-yeol and thanks them for rescuing her.

• Park Seo-joon as Park Ki-joon{{Cite news|url=http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201610131641341111909_2|title=Park Seo-jun to play police cadet in new film|access-date=5 March 2017|archive-date=5 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305201722/http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201610131641341111909_2|url-status=live}}

Ki-joon is a light-hearted, risk-taker who acts first and thinks later.{{Cite news|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20170717000756|title=Park Seo-joon, Kang Ha-neul play opposites in upcoming buddy movie 'Midnight Runners'|author=Rumy Doo|access-date=26 July 2017|date=17 July 2017|website=The Korea Herald|archive-date=23 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523025922/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20170717000756|url-status=live}}

• Kang Ha-neul as Kang Hee-yeol{{Cite news|url=http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2016/10/13/2016101300985.html|title=박서준X강하늘, 영화 '청년경찰' 투톱 캐스팅 '대세 모였다'|access-date=5 March 2017|language=ko|archive-date=18 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018020139/http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2016/10/13/2016101300985.html|url-status=live}}

Hee-yeol is the total opposite of Ki-joon. He is fairly nerdy and more of a thinker than a doer.{{Cite news|url=http://www.ibtimes.sg/kang-ha-neul-says-his-character-midnight-runners-like-sheldon-cooper-big-bang-theory-12701|title=Kang Ha Neul says his character in 'Midnight Runners' is like Sheldon Cooper in 'The Big Bang Theory'|author=Riddhiman Mukhopadhyay|access-date=26 July 2017|date=18 July 2017|website=International Business Times|archive-date=20 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720160917/http://www.ibtimes.sg/kang-ha-neul-says-his-character-midnight-runners-like-sheldon-cooper-big-bang-theory-12701|url-status=live}}

• Park Ha-sun as Lee Joo-hee / Medusa{{Cite news|url=http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201611101809411939279_2|title=Park Ha-seon to co-star with Park Seo-joon, Kang Ha-neul|access-date=5 March 2017|archive-date=5 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305201612/http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201611101809411939279_2|url-status=live}}
• Sung Dong-il as Professor Yang Sung-il
• Go Jun as Yang-choon
• Bae Yoo-ram as Jae-ho
• Lee Ho-jung as Lee Yoon-jung
• Lee Kyu-sung as Police academy student
• Lee Jun-hyuk as Professor Ha
• Seo Jeong-yeon as Ki-joon's mother
• Choi Hong-il as Hee-yeol's father
• Lee Eun-saem as Eun-sam
• Byeon Woo-seok as Club entertainer
• Jung Ye-ji as Dan-yeong, Police force student
• Ryu Kyung-soo as Police academy conscripted policeman
• Lee Se-hee as Club woman Se-hee

Midnight Runners marks Park Seo-joon's first time playing a lead role in a film.

Midnight Runners was sold to six countries at the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market. The rights to the film have been purchased by companies including Japan's The Klockworx, Taiwan's Long Shong, Hong Kong's Deltamac HK, the Philippines' Viva Comm and Singapore's Purple Plan.{{Cite news|url=http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201703221627119611965_2|title='Midnight Runners' sold to 6 countries|access-date=23 March 2017|archive-date=23 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323143421/http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201703221627119611965_2|url-status=live}}

Filming began on 21 November 2016 in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea and ended on 23 February 2017.{{Cite news|url=http://stoo.asiae.co.kr/news/view.htm?idxno=2016112907580599738|title=박서준-강하늘 '청년경찰' 크랭크인 '2017년 가장 젊고 빠른 영화될 것'|access-date=5 March 2017|language=ko|archive-date=5 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305195339/http://stoo.asiae.co.kr/news/view.htm?idxno=2016112907580599738|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201702261833449375309_2|title=Kang Ha-neul, Park Seo-joon wrap up filming for 'Young Cops'|access-date=5 March 2017|archive-date=5 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305201652/http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201702261833449375309_2|url-status=live}}

The film was released on 9 August 2017. It was screened across South Korea in 1,058 theatres.{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/south-korea-box-office-local-drama-a-taxi-driver-becomes-top-film-2017-1029154|title=South Korea Box Office: Local Drama 'A Taxi Driver' Becomes Top Film of 2017|date=14 August 2017|author=Lee Hyo-won|work=The Hollywood Reporter|accessdate=15 August 2017|archive-date=15 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815122630/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/south-korea-box-office-local-drama-a-taxi-driver-becomes-top-film-2017-1029154|url-status=live}} The film placed second at the box office on the opening day and earned US$1.97 million with a total of 308,303 ticket sales.

During the first five days of its release, the film attracted 1.9 million viewers{{cite web|url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/culturesports/2017/08/14/0701000000AEN20170814003500315.html|title='A Taxi Driver' wins second weekend|date=14 August 2017|author=Shim Sun-ah|publisher=Yonhap News Agency|accessdate=15 August 2017|archive-date=15 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815063235/http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/culturesports/2017/08/14/0701000000AEN20170814003500315.html|url-status=live}} and earned a total of {{USD|13.6 million}}.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/asia/korea-box-office-taxi-driver-faster-than-midnight-runners-1202526537/|title=Korea Box Office: 'Taxi Driver' Outpaces 'Midnight Runners'|date=13 August 2017|author=Sonia Kil|publisher=Variety|accessdate=15 August 2017|archive-date=15 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815101855/http://variety.com/2017/film/asia/korea-box-office-taxi-driver-faster-than-midnight-runners-1202526537/|url-status=live}}

Within the first eight days after its release, the movie garnered 2.73 million admissions, earning a total of US$18.9 million, which exceeded the production budget of US$6.13 million.{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.sg/midnight-runners-be-shown-singapore-11-other-countries-14060|title='Midnight Runners' to be shown in Singapore, 11 other countries|date=16 August 2017|author=Jon Maala|work=International Business Times|accessdate=17 August 2017|archive-date=17 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817120645/http://www.ibtimes.sg/midnight-runners-be-shown-singapore-11-other-countries-14060|url-status=live}}

By 20 August, less than two weeks after the movie was released, Midnight Runners had been watched by a total of 3,906,566 people.{{cite web|url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2017/08/21/0200000000AEN20170821003000315.html|title=Two Korean films sweep weekend box office|date=21 August 2017|author=Shim Sun-ah|publisher=Yonhap News Agency|accessdate=21 August 2017|archive-date=21 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821085609/http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2017/08/21/0200000000AEN20170821003000315.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3037417|title=[Korean Box Office] 'A Taxi Driver' speeds past 10 million ticket sales|date=22 August 2017|author=Jin Min-ji|publisher=Korea JoongAng Daily|accessdate=22 August 2017|archive-date=2 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402080005/http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3037417|url-status=live}} By 21 August, within 13 days after its premiere, the movie surpassed 4 million ticket sales.{{cite web|url=http://www.mydaily.co.kr/new_yk/html/read.php?newsid=201708212008868507&ext=na|title='청년경찰' 개봉 13일만에 400만 돌파, "관객 취향 저격"|language=ko|date=21 August 2017|author=Kwak Myung-dong|publisher=My Daily|accessdate=22 August 2017|archive-date=22 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822062827/http://www.mydaily.co.kr/new_yk/html/read.php?newsid=201708212008868507&ext=na|url-status=live}} As of 24 August, the film has grossed US$30 million with a total of 4.3 million ticket sales.{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.sg/v-i-p-tops-korean-box-office-second-straight-day-14498|title='V.I.P.' tops Korean box office for second straight day|date=25 August 2017|author=Jon Maala|work=International Business Times|accessdate=28 August 2017|archive-date=28 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828103051/http://www.ibtimes.sg/v-i-p-tops-korean-box-office-second-straight-day-14498|url-status=live}} The total number of admissions increased to 4.83 million by 27 August 19 days after the movie was released, and the film earned a gross income of US$34.04 million.{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.sg/park-seo-joon-song-kang-ho-top-latest-movie-actors-brand-values-14612|title=Park Seo Joon, Song Kang Ho top latest movie actors' brand values|date=28 August 2017|author=Jon Maala|work=International Business Times|accessdate=29 August 2017|archive-date=29 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829081546/http://www.ibtimes.sg/park-seo-joon-song-kang-ho-top-latest-movie-actors-brand-values-14612|url-status=live}} As of 14 September, five weeks after its release, the film reached 5.61 million admissions mark with US$39 million gross, making it the 7th highest-grossing South Korean film in 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.kobis.or.kr/kobis/business/stat/boxs/findDailyBoxOfficeList.do?loadEnd=0&searchType=search&sSearchFrom=2017-09-07&sSearchTo=2017-09-14&sMultiMovieYn=&sRepNationCd=&sWideAreaCd=|date=14 September 2017|author=|title=Box Office List|publisher=Korean Film Council|accessdate=14 September 2017|archive-date=2017-09-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919015827/http://www.kobis.or.kr/kobis/business/stat/boxs/findDailyBoxOfficeList.do?loadEnd=0&searchType=search&sSearchFrom=2017-09-07&sSearchTo=2017-09-14&sMultiMovieYn=&sRepNationCd=&sWideAreaCd=|url-status=live}}

Midnight Runners was screened in 12 countries. After the initial release in local cinemas, the film was released in Indonesia on 23 August, followed by North America on 25 August, Australia on 31 August then proceeded to be screened in New Zealand, Hong Kong, Britain, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines.{{cite web|url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/kwave/2017/08/16/3001000000AEN20170816001900315.html|title='Midnight Runners' to open in 12 foreign countries|date=16 August 2017|publisher=Yonhap News Agency|access-date=17 August 2017|archive-date=17 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817082034/http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/kwave/2017/08/16/3001000000AEN20170816001900315.html|url-status=live}}

The official Indian remake in Telugu language is titled Saakini Daakini, and was produced by Guru Films and Suresh Productions. It stars Regina Cassandra and Nivetha Thomas in the lead roles, and was directed by Sudheer Varma, where the film was released on 16 September 2022. In the Indian remake, the protagonists are female, while in the original film the protagonists are male.{{Cite web|last=Adivi|first=Sashidhar|date=2 February 2020|title=Prep for Telugu version Korean cop act begins|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/tollywood/020220/prep-for-telugu-version-korean-cop-act-begins.html|access-date=12 August 2020|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|archive-date=8 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008165741/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/tollywood/020220/prep-for-telugu-version-korean-cop-act-begins.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|title=Nivetha Thomas excited about her upcoming films - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/nivetha-thomas-excited-about-her-upcoming-films/articleshow/74476110.cms|access-date=12 August 2020|website=The Times of India|language=en|archive-date=25 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325135342/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/nivetha-thomas-excited-about-her-upcoming-films/articleshow/74476110.cms|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Shakini Dhakini, Telugu remake of Midnight Runners, resumes shoot|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2021/jul/26/shakini-dhakini-telugu-remake-of-midnight-runnersresumes-shoot-25694.html|access-date=18 August 2021|website=Cinema Express|date=26 July 2021 |language=en|archive-date=18 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818065129/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2021/jul/26/shakini-dhakini-telugu-remake-of-midnight-runnersresumes-shoot-25694.html|url-status=live}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• [http://movie.daum.net/moviedb/main?movieId=106993 Midnight Runners] at Daum (Korean)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20170628015606/http://movie.naver.com/movie/bi/mi/basic.nhn?code=153652 Midnight Runners] at Naver (Korean)
• [http://www.movist.com/movist3d/movie.asp?mid=49005 Midnight Runners] at Movist (Korean)

Category:2017 films

Category:2010s Korean-language films

Category:South Korean action comedy films

Category:2017 action thriller films

Category:South Korean films remade in other languages

Category:South Korean buddy films

Category:Films about kidnapping

Category:Police detective films

Category:2017 action comedy films

Category:2010s buddy cop films

Category:Films set in Seoul

Category:Films set in universities and colleges

Category:Films set in police academies

Category:Films shot in Seoul

Category:Films shot in Gyeonggi Province

Category:Lotte Entertainment films

Category:2017 comedy films

Category:2010s South Korean films