World War II · Film · 2019
Midway
From the smoke of Pearl Harbor to the decisive carrier battle six months later, codebreakers and dive-bomber pilots try to turn the tide of the Pacific war.
Where it happened
Follow the story across 5 places.
Stop 1: Tokyo
At a reception, naval attaché Edwin Layton is warned by Yamamoto that cutting off Japan's oil would force it into war.
Stop 2: Pearl Harbor
The Enterprise returns to a burning harbour, and Layton and Rochefort's codebreakers set to work in a basement beneath the base.
Stop 3: Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands
Dick Best and the Enterprise dive bombers make their first raid on Japanese ships and airfields in the Marshalls.
Stop 4: Zhejiang, occupied China
After bombing Tokyo, Jimmy Doolittle bails out over China and is sheltered by villagers while Japanese troops hunt the crews.
Stop 5: Midway Atoll
Key location
After a morning of failed attacks, American dive bombers finally find the Japanese carriers with their decks full of planes.
What really happened
After Pearl Harbor the US Navy had only its carriers left. It raided Japanese bases in the Marshall Islands in February 1942, launched the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo in April and fought the Battle of the Coral Sea in May, while Commander Joseph Rochefort's Station HYPO in Hawaii worked to read the Japanese naval code JN-25.
By tricking Japan into reporting that 'AF' was short of water, the codebreakers confirmed that Midway was the target. On 4 June 1942 American dive bombers sank the carriers Akagi, Kaga and Soryu within minutes, and Hiryu later that day; the US lost the Yorktown. About 3,000 Japanese and just over 300 Americans died. The film follows real people such as Dick Best and Edwin Layton, compressing months of events.
Where to watch
Checking streaming services…
Full details
- Original title
- Midway
- Directed by
- Roland Emmerich
- Countries
- United States, Canada, China
- Languages
- English, Japanese
- Released
- 2019
- Period
- –
- Theaters of war
- Pacific
- Themes
- Naval
- Air war
- True story
