History YMMV / NightCrossing

* HilariousInHindsight: Creator/JohnHurt plays a resident of an oppressive regime who manages to escape in a truly ingenious manner. His later films would have him as [[Film/NineteenEightyFour a victim of an oppressive regime]] and [[Film/VForVendetta a leader of an oppressive regime]].

* CrazyAwesome: Let's repeat... two families built a hot air balloon out of scraps, including wedding dresses and curtains and sewn together in their attic, with a basket made of plywood with some ropes to keep them from falling off, and ''used it to fly out of East Germany.'' While there was some ArtisticLicense, the meat of this movie is very accurate. To get an idea of how risky this was, and [[FridgeHorror how desperate the families were to get out of the country]], go watch the episode of ''Series/WhiteRabbitProject'' where Tory Belleci builds a replica of the balloon, using the original specs and photographs of the balloon the families made. The final product was ''very'' close to the actual balloon. (While the balloon in the movie shows tell-tale signs it was professionally built, [[AcceptableBreaksFromReality since it had to be practical and reasonably safe to fly,]] it's still pretty accurate to the real thing.) The FAA ''forbade Tory to fly the balloon untethered;'' it was just too dangerous. The fact that the two families took this risk, and succeeded, is impressive to say the least.

* HilariousInHindsight: John Hurt plays a resident of an oppressive regime who manages to escape in a truly ingenious manner. His later films would have him as [[Film/NineteenEightyFour a victim of an oppressive regime]] and [[Film/VForVendetta a leader of an oppressive regime]].

* CrazyAwesome: Let's repeat... two families built a hot air balloon out of scraps, including wedding dresses and curtains and sewn together in their attic, with a basket made of plywood with some ropes to keep them from falling off, and ''used it to fly out of East Germany.'' While there was some ArtisticLicense, the meat of this movie is very accurate. To get an idea of how risky this was, and [[FridgeHorror how desperate the families were to get out of the country]], go watch the episode of ''Series/WhiteRabbitProject'' where Tory Belleci builds a replica of the balloon, using the original specs and photographs of the balloon the families made. The final product was ''very'' close the the actual balloon. (While the balloon in the movie shows tell-tale signs it was professionally built, [[AcceptableBreaksFromReality since it had to be practical and reasonably safe to fly,]] it's still pretty accurate to the real thing.) The FAA ''forbade Tory to fly the balloon untethered;'' it was just too dangerous. The fact that the two families took this risk, and succeeded, is impressive to say the least.

* CrazyAwesome: Let's repeat... two families built a hot air balloon out of scraps, including wedding dresses and curtains and sewn together in their attic, with a basket made of plywood with some ropes to keep them from falling off, and ''used it to fly out of East Germany.'' While there was some ArtisticLicense, the meat of this movie is very accurate. To get an idea of how risky this was, and [[FridgeHorror how desperate the families were to get out of the country]], go watch the episode of Series/WhiteRabbitProject where Tory Belleci builds a replica of the balloon, using the original specs and photographs of the balloon the families made. The final product was ''very'' close the the actual balloon. (While the balloon in the movie shows tell-tale signs it was professionally built, [[AcceptableBreaksFromReality since it had to be practical and reasonably safe to fly,]] it's still pretty accurate to the real thing.) The FAA ''forbade Tory to fly the balloon untethered;'' it was just too dangerous. The fact that the two families took this risk, and succeeded, is impressive to say the least.

* TearJerker: Lukas getting shot and left for dead by the border guards. The lieutenant is very cold as he tells his men to focus on more important things: repairing the damage to the border fences. It's also NightmareFuel: when Lukas is shot, we ''see the bullets going into him,'' then see his shocked face before he goes down. Worse yet, yes, this is TruthInTelevision. Shooting defectors and leaving them to bleed out was indeed done by the Stasi.

* AwesomeMusic: Composed by Music/JerryGoldsmith, no less.

* CrowningMomentOfFunny: Peter and Günter claiming that their absurdly large request for fabric is for a camping club.

* CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming: As a Disney movie, these are to be expected.
** Frank and Fitscher Strelzyk presenting their dad with flight scarves after their unsuccessful first escape attempt.
** The families celebrating the success of their journey at the end.

* HilariousInHindsight: John Hurt plays a resident of an oppressive regime and manages to escape in a truly ingenious manner. His later films would have him as [[Film/NineteenEightyFour a victim of an oppressive regime]] and [[Film/VForVendetta a leader of an oppressive regime]].

* HarsherInHindsight: The uplifting ending loses some of its impact if you know that Peter and Günter ceased contact not long after the escape, as Peter was taking too much of the credit and marginalizing Günter's role in the escape. Peter died in 2017 and the two never reconciled.

* HarsherInHindsight: The uplifting ending loses some of its impact if you know that Peter and Günter ceased contact not long after the escape, Peter was taking too much of the credit and marginalizing Günter's role in the escape. Peter died in 2017 and the two never reconciled.

* HarsherInHindsight: The uplifting ending loses some of its impact if you know that Peter and Günter ceased contact not long after the escape, as Günter felt that Peter was taking too much of the credit. Peter died in 2017 and the two never reconciled.

* HarsherInHindsight: The uplifting ending loses some of its impact if you know that Peter and Günter ceased contact not long after the escape, as Günter felt that Peter was taking too much of the credit.

* TearJerker: Lukas getting shot and left for dead by the border guards. The lieutenant is very cold as he tells his men to focus on more important things: repairing the damage to the border fences.

* HarsherInHindsight: The uplifting ending loses some of its impact if you know that Peter and Günter ceased contact not long after the escape, mostly because Günter accused him of taking too much of the credit.

* HarsherInHindsight: The uplifting ending loses some of its impact if you know that Peter and Günter ceased contact not long after the escape.

* CrowningMomentOfFunny: Peter and Günther claiming that their absurdly large request for fabric is for a camping club.

-->'''Günther:''' It is, with big tents.

* HarsherInHindsight: The uplifting ending loses some of its impact if you know that Peter and Günther ceased contact not long after the escape.

* NightmareFuel: The Strelzyks trying to get out of the border zone after their failed attempt.

* NightmareFuel: The Strelzyks trying to get out of the border zone after their failed attempt.

* CrazyAwesome: Let's repeat... two families built a hot air balloon out of scraps, including wedding dresses and curtains, with a basket made of plywood with some ropes to keep them from falling off, and ''used it to fly out of East Germany.'' While there was some ArtisticLicense, the meat of this movie is very accurate. To get an idea of how risky this was, and [[FridgeHorror how desperate the families were to get out of the country]], go watch the episode of Series/WhiteRabbitProject where Tory Belleci builds a replica of the balloon, using the original specs and photographs of the balloon the families made. The final product was ''very'' close the the actual balloon. (While the balloon in the movie shows tell-tale signs it was professionally built, [[AcceptableBreaksFromReality since it had to be practical and reasonably safe to fly,]] it's still pretty accurate to the real thing.) The FAA ''forbade Tory to fly the balloon untethered;'' it was just too dangerous. The fact that the two families took this risk, and succeeded, is impressive to say the least.
* CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming: The families celebrating the success of their journey at the end.

* CrazyAwesome: Let's repeat... two families built a hot air balloon out of scraps, including wedding dresses and curtains, with a basket made of plywood with some ropes to keep them from falling off, and ''used it to fly out of East Germany.'' While there was some ArtisticLicense, the meat of this movie is very accurate. To get an idea of how risky this was (and [[FridgeHorror how desperate the families were to get out of the country]], go watch the episode of Series/WhiteRabbitProject where Tory Belleci builds a replica of the balloon, using the original specs and photographs of the balloon the families made. The final product was ''very'' close the the actual balloon. (While the balloon in the movie shows tell-tale signs it was professionally built, [[AcceptableBreaksFromReality since it had to be practical and reasonably safe to fly,]] it's still pretty accurate to the real thing.) The FAA ''forbade Tory to fly the balloon untethered;'' it was just too dangerous. The fact that the two families took this risk, and succeeded, is impressive to say the least.

* CrazyAwesome: Let's repeat... two families built a hot air balloon out of scraps, including wedding dresses and curtains, with a basket made of plywood with some ropes to keep them from falling off, and ''used it to fly out of East Germany.'' While there was some ArtisticLicense, the meat of this movie is very accurate. To get an idea of how risky this was (and [[FridgeHorror how desperate the families were to get out of the country]], go watch the episode of WhiteRabbitProject where Tory Belleci builds a replica of the balloon, using the original specs and photographs of the balloon the families made. The final product was ''very'' close the the actual balloon. (While the balloon in the movie shows tell-tale signs it was professionally built, [[AcceptableBreaksFromReality since it had to be practical and reasonably safe to fly,]] it's still pretty accurate to the real thing.) The FAA ''forbade Tory to fly the balloon untethered;'' it was just too dangerous. The fact that the two families took this risk, and succeeded, is impressive to say the least.

* CrazyAwesome: Let's repeat... two families built a hot air balloon out of scraps, including wedding dresses and curtains, with a basket made of plywood with some ropes to keep them from falling off, and ''used it to fly out of East Germany.'' While there was some ArtisticLicense, the meat of this movie is very accurate. To get an idea of how risky this was (and [[FridgeHorror how desperate the families were to get out of the country]], go watch the episode of WhiteRabbitProject where Tory Belleci builds a replica of the balloon, using the original specs and photographs of the balloon the families made. The final product was ''very'' close the the actual balloon. (While the balloon in the movie shows tell-tale signs it was professionally built, [[AcceptableBreaksFromReality since it had to be practical and reasonably safe to fly,]] it's still pretty accurate to the real thing.) The FAA ''forbade Tory to fly the balloon untethered;'' it was just too dangerous. The fact that the two families took this risk, and succeeded, is impressive to say the least.

CrazyAwesome: Let's repeat... two families built a hot air balloon out of scraps, including wedding dresses and curtains, with a basket made of plywood with some ropes to keep them from falling off, and ''used it to fly out of East Germany.'' While there was some ArtisticLicense, the meat of this movie is very accurate. To get an idea of how risky this was (and [[FridgeHorror how desperate the families were to get out of the country]], go watch the episode of WhiteRabbitProject where Tory Belleci builds a replica of the balloon, using the original specs and photographs of the balloon the families made. The final product was ''very'' close the the actual balloon. (While the balloon in the movie shows tell-tale signs it was professionally built, [[AcceptableBreaksFromReality since it had to be practical and reasonably safe to fly,]] it's still pretty accurate to the real thing.) The FAA ''forbade Tory to fly the balloon untethered;'' it was just too dangerous. The fact that the two families took this risk, and succeeded, is impressive to say the least.