10 Movies That Unfold in Just One Night

As we come to the close of a worldwide Internet protest against the SOPA and PIPA anti-piracy bills, we’ve been thinking about the impact that just 24 hours can make. We’re taking a break from politics and making a detour into the cinematic universe to explore stories that use the fleeting nature of time to their advantage. These ten films that take place in just one night sometimes reveal enormous truths for their characters, while others allow strangers to forge fascinating, memorable relationships. There’s an urgency and immediacy to stories that unfold so quickly. With little time to lose, there’s often clarity of dialogue, action, or emotion that arises during dramatic situations. We’ve explored it all past the break. Tell us who you’d add to the list below.

 

Before Sunrise 

Observations on life, love, and longing abound in Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise. The movie stars memorable screen couple Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy when they meet as strangers on a train and join together for one night in Vienna. As the evening unfolds, each person lets their guard down, stories are shared, intimacy grows, and we become intoxicated by the promise of their chance meeting. Nothing is certain, and although time is short, we’re invited to grow lost in the subtle details and muse on the transitory nature of relationships and all their complexities.

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You got a joint? No. It'd be a lot cooler if you did. That's what I like about these high school girls; I get older, they stay the same age. Alriight alriight alriight.

Clue only had 3 scenarios, not 4.

dazed and confused is my absolute favourite

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is another good one.

Go After Hours is also my fave Scorcese movie of all time

Richard Linklater does one night (or day) movies well.

The Set-Up (d. Robert Wise, 1949). Robert Ryan is unforgettable in the real-time drama of down-and-out fighter Stoker Thompson. He enters the ring against an untested up-and-coming young fighter he's sure he can beat, but his cornermen have so little confidence in him that they haven't even told him that they've taken a payoff for him to throw the fight. It all plays out over one hot night in a crummy border town, as Thompson gives his opponent a boxing lesson, his wife walks the streets in despair, and his cornermen squirm while the gangster behind the set-up fumes and plots.

and Take me Home Tonight, Adventures in Babysitting and most of Can't Hardly Wait

True, it doesn't unfold at night, but High Noon's real-time plot makes it worth considering for this post. Plus, who could forget that wonderfully twangy theme song?

How could you forget Warriors? Warriooooors...come out and plaaay-aay!

@Gerry: thanks! i love ROPE, but for some stupid reason kept wondering if i was wrong about the time frame.

@nixskits: it's definitely underrated. @Jez: definitely belong on the list. thanks for sharing!

After Hours is hands down my favourite Scorsese film. After his dreams of making The Last Temptation Of Christ were put on hold, he came across Joseph Minion's script that Tim Burton was originally going to direct & Burton graciously stepped aside for Marty to shoot what would be in many ways his funniest & creepiest movie of all. Watch to see the strange magic of NYC at night in the pre-Giuliani era!

"Four Rooms" and "200 Cigarettes"--not only do both take place in one night, but the night in question is New Year's Eve.