Midnight Express (1978)

Based On the Life of: Billy Hayes

Starring: Brad Davis

Movie Budget: $2.3 million

Star Salary: $100,000

BillyHayes, played by Brad Davis, was an American attempting to smuggle drugs out of Istanbul when he was caught by Turkish police. Hayes was sent to a Turkish prison for four years, and the movie Midnight Express depicted the abuse, starvation, and cruel treatment he endured there.

After a corrupt Turkish High Court unjustly added thirty years onto his sentence, he decided to attempt to escape. This thrilling flick depicts his attempt at freedom. Released in 1978, the screenplay was written by the great Oliver Stone. It won a Golden Globe for Best Picture.