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Dark City

  • 1998
  • R
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
224K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,239
155
Rufus Sewell in Dark City (1998)
Trailer for Dark City
Play trailer2:14
2 Videos
99+ Photos
CyberpunkFantasyMysterySci-FiThriller

A man struggles with memories of his past, which include a wife he cannot remember and a nightmarish world no one else ever seems to wake up from.A man struggles with memories of his past, which include a wife he cannot remember and a nightmarish world no one else ever seems to wake up from.A man struggles with memories of his past, which include a wife he cannot remember and a nightmarish world no one else ever seems to wake up from.

  • Director
    • Alex Proyas
  • Writers
    • Alex Proyas
    • Lem Dobbs
    • David S. Goyer
  • Stars
    • Rufus Sewell
    • Kiefer Sutherland
    • Jennifer Connelly
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    224K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,239
    155
    • Director
      • Alex Proyas
    • Writers
      • Alex Proyas
      • Lem Dobbs
      • David S. Goyer
    • Stars
      • Rufus Sewell
      • Kiefer Sutherland
      • Jennifer Connelly
    • 789User reviews
    • 205Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 12 wins & 19 nominations total

    Videos2

    Dark City
    Trailer 2:14
    Dark City
    Dark City
    Trailer 0:31
    Dark City
    Dark City
    Trailer 0:31
    Dark City

    Photos200

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    Top Cast57

    Edit
    Rufus Sewell
    Rufus Sewell
    • John Murdoch
    Kiefer Sutherland
    Kiefer Sutherland
    • Dr Daniel Schreber
    Jennifer Connelly
    Jennifer Connelly
    • Emma Murdoch
    William Hurt
    William Hurt
    • Inspector Frank Bumstead
    Richard O'Brien
    Richard O'Brien
    • Mr Hand
    Ian Richardson
    Ian Richardson
    • Mr Book
    Bruce Spence
    Bruce Spence
    • Mr Wall
    Colin Friels
    Colin Friels
    • Walenski
    John Bluthal
    John Bluthal
    • Karl Harris
    Mitchell Butel
    Mitchell Butel
    • Husselbeck
    Melissa George
    Melissa George
    • May
    Frank Gallacher
    • Stromboli
    Ritchie Singer
    Ritchie Singer
    • Hotel Manager…
    Justin Monjo
    • Taxi Driver
    Nicholas Bell
    Nicholas Bell
    • Mr Rain
    Satya Gumbert
    • Mr Sleep
    Noah Gumbert
    • Mr Sleep Filming Double
    Frederick Miragliotta
    Frederick Miragliotta
    • Mr Quick
    • Director
      • Alex Proyas
    • Writers
      • Alex Proyas
      • Lem Dobbs
      • David S. Goyer
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews789

    7.6223.5K
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    Featured reviews

    8LinkinParkEnjoyer

    Must see for sci-fi lovers

    Dark City has an interesting philosophical premise executed very well. I love how you can question your world while watching Dark City, it is something like Matrix. Kiefer Sutherland always plays supporting roles and doesn't get much attetion but he really deserves praise because he's a terrific actor. The special effects were good for that time but ofcourse today they are not that great. I would love to watch prequel to this film.
    9mutlu_bahar

    One of the best science fictions ever made...

    Dark City is the best film of Alex Proyas. He uses the Gothic and claustrophobic themes commonly and dark colors prevail during the film like "The Crow" .The story doesn't follow a certain order of rule, instead there is some mind games and puzzles in the film, that causes watchers to be active in each minute and motivate to the movie..

    The topic is about a man who loses his past and first finds himself in a bath tub, doesn^t know about himself and his life, but he has one ability that no one has, he can be alive when the evil forces stops the time and reshapes the world according to their own demand. The story is so fantastic and Proyas' nightmare world come true in that movie.

    I can basically say that it's one of the best science fiction movies ever made, it opens doors to different dimensions and force human brains' capability....

    "Mutlu Bahar"
    8Misss25

    Speechless

    I don't have words to say, its amazing. Totally unpredictable. I haven't read even the synopsis. It came out giving me heart attack at the end.

    It's absolutely worth watching.
    7Xstal

    Mind Craft...

    A presence down below seeks to affect, the lives of those above to cause effect, and observe the interactions, of various transactions, to ascertain, to verify and to collect. It's a process that's repeated every night, if you knew why, it might just cause a fright, as emotions are arranged, past lives remixed and estranged, try as you might, you just can't fight, or see the light. Then there's John Murdoch who's a mystery and a puzzle, his mind resists being altered and reshuffled, an ability to craft, to change, reflect, and cast, causing tremors down below, a big kerfuffle.

    A far from unoriginal take on a simulated world we may or may not live in.
    8Barry_Delaney

    Confusing at first but ultimately fantastic

    John Mudoch (Rufus Sewell) awakes in a bathtub completely naked, with blood dripping down his forehead, unaware of what is happening, he remembers nothing. In the next room he finds a dead body and a blood stained knife. What follows is john trying to piece together what is happening to him and what he unravels is one of the greatest science fiction stories ever put to film. There is a group called the strangers who have an ability to physically change surroundings of them and the people living in the city, they call this ability "tuning". They soon discover that john also has this ability, which is impossible as it would take a normal human a few lifetimes to gain the ability to "tune". Thats the most i can tell without giving away major plot points.

    The movie is set in a 1940ish looking city where detectives are hunting John, along with the mysterious strangers. The tall buildings and the knowledge that the strangers could be anywhere in the city gives a menacing ambiance, heightening the tension in the movie and giving off a great effect on the viewer. The special effects in Dark City are stunning and realistic, especially when certain characters use "tuning".

    Rufus Sewell gives a good performance as John Murdoch, though i could'nt help feeling he was holding back somewhat. I could think of a few other actors who could have gave a much better performance but he was generally good.

    Kiefer Sunderland as Dr. Daniel Schreber was very good and seemed to have put all of his effort into his character, its quite an unusual role for Sunderland but he pulls it off pretty well.

    Another performance worth mentioning is Richard O'Brien as Mr Hand, he gives a genuinely creepy performance as one of the main strangers, i thought i would see him and think crystal maze through all of his scenes but he does a pretty good job of playing a convincing character.

    Overall the movie leaves a few unanswered questions, leaving the viewer to conduct their own theories about the outcome of events. I have a good grasp of the story as a whole but some people will find bits and pieces confusing. A great film anyways, i gave it an 8 because it tends to drag in some spots, but the end makes up for all doubts.

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    Related interests

    Ryan Gosling and Ana de Armas in Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
    Cyberpunk
    Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
    Fantasy
    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery
    James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Sci-Fi
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A number of pieces of the set, including those used for the rooftop chase, were sold to the production of The Matrix (1999) at the end of shooting.
    • Goofs
      (at around 60 mins) After John Murdoch opens the door and almost falls from the building, as he hangs by his hands the door is on his left, except when shown from above, when it is on his right.
    • Quotes

      John Murdoch: When was the last time you remember doing something during the day?

      Inspector Frank Bumstead: What do you mean?

      John Murdoch: I just mean during the day. Daylight. When was the last time you remember seeing it? And I'm not talking about some distant, half-forgotten childhood memory, I mean like yesterday. Last week. Can you come up with a single memory? You can't, can you? You know something, I don't think the sun even... exists... in this place. 'Cause I've been up for hours, and hours, and hours, and the night never ends here.

    • Crazy credits
      There are two different Panavision credits used: the "Camera Equipment: Panavision" credit, and after that, the "Filmed in Panavision" credit with "Lenses & Cameras by" above it, despite being shot in Super 35.
    • Alternate versions
      The director's cut omits the opening monologue.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Palmetto/Senseless/Dangerous Beauty/Mrs. Dalloway/Nil by Mouth/Live Flesh (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Le Chale Bleu
      Written by François Perchat (as Francois Perchat)

      Sung by Anita Kelsey

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    FAQ27

    • How long is Dark City?Powered by Alexa
    • Is 'Dark City' based on a book?
    • What Roman mythological elements are found in the film?
    • How do I solve the "To Shell Beach..." game on the DVD?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 27, 1998 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Australia
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Facebook
      • WarnerBros.com
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ciudad en tinieblas
    • Filming locations
      • Museum Underground Station, Hyde Park, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
    • Production companies
      • New Line Cinema
      • Time Warner
      • New Line Cinema
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $27,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $14,378,331
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,576,953
      • Mar 1, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $27,201,335
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 40m(100 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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