Gleiberman, Owen (March 4, 1994). "Midnight Cowboy". Entertainment Weekly. Time. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018 . Retrieved July 16, 2018.

The Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa cited this movie as one of his 100 favorite films. [28] Box office [ edit ] Midnight Cowboy (1969)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Archived from the original on September 20, 2019 . Retrieved June 30, 2021. The musical score of Midnight Cowboy presented a new concept, widely used in the last decades, but not in the late sixties—a combination of songs and original music wisely developed into a perfect underscore. Renowned British composer John Barry, who had already won three Oscars in 1969, appeared under the credit of "Music Supervisor," but also composed a series of original cues and supervised the entire musical concept of the film, along with legendary American producer Phil Ramone. The musical score of MIDNIGHT COWBOY presented a new concept, widely used in the last decades, but not in the late sixties—a combination of songs and original music wisely developed into a perfect underscore. Renowned British composer John Barry, who had already won three Oscars in 1969, appeared under the credit of “Music Supervisor,” but also composed a series of original cues and supervised the entire musical concept of the film, along with legendary American producer Phil Ramone. The song "Everybody's Talkin'," written by Fred Neil in 1966, was selected as a main theme for the film, newly recorded with arrangements by George Tipton and performed by Harry Nilsson. It became an instant classic and ultimately a generational symbol.

Played during the scene when Joe boards a bus for New York, those lines seem ironic. After all, the cowboy is leaving the warm climes of Texas, dressed like a hired hand from a rodeo. It is only at the end of the movie that the song’s meaning becomes clear. a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrateded.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. Midnight Cowboy (1969)". IMDb. 25 May 1969. Archived from the original on March 16, 2014 . Retrieved March 14, 2014.

Complete National Film Registry Listing". National Film Registry. The Library of Congress. Archived from the original on October 31, 2016 . Retrieved January 24, 2017. Wear, Mike (October 8, 1969). "Sept. Totals Soar to High Plateau; 'Cowboy,' 'True Grit,' 'Easy Rider,' 'Daddy,' 'Oliver,' 'Curious' Leaders". Variety. p.7. The first song, “Everybody’s Talkin’,” almost didn't make it into the movie, had Bob Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay" been available. But Dylan was unable to write his tune in time therefore "Everybody's Talkin'" made the cut, and I think the movie is all the better for it. It was written by Fred Neil and sung by Harry Nilsson, at the time an up-and-coming performer—this song would make him a star. The song has a slow, relaxed feel about it but buried underneath lies a restlessness that can only be soothed by a change of scenery. a b c Balio, Tino (1987). United Artists: The Company That Changed the Film Industry. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press. p. 292. ISBN 9780299114404. Two exceptions to this rule come at the beginning of the movie, and during the pair’s desolate strolls through the city streets. In both cases, the music is turned up and the dialogue is kept to a minimum. The songs played during these scenes are “Everybody’s Talkin’” and the movie’s theme, “Midnight Cowboy.”Ditmore, Melissa Hope (2006). "Midnight Cowboy". Encyclopedia of Prostitution and Sex Work. Vol.1. Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group. pp.307–308. ISBN 9780313329685. The Birth of Dustin Hoffman". California Birth Records, 1905 Thru 1995. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014 . Retrieved February 14, 2015.