Dark City
1998 · Movie · R · 101 min · ★ 7.3 · 72% critics
A man wakes up with missing memories, even of his wife, and quickly becomes tangled in a murder investigation. He finds himself trapped in a sunless, nightmarish city where powerful beings constantly remake reality and pursue human souls.
Also known as Dark Empire · Dark World
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Details
- Years
- 1998
- Release date
- 1998-02-27
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 72/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.3/10 (3,205 votes)
- Budget
- $27,000,000
About
If you want a dark, stylish sci-fi mystery that pushes big questions about identity and memory, Dark City is a great pick; Not for you if you dislike confusing stories, nonstop intensity, or slow-burn revelations—especially compared with The Matrix.
Pros: stylish sci-fi noir; mind-bending themes; bleak atmosphere | Cons: confusing story; exhausting pace; dark effects late
Themes
- beach
- amnesia
- experiment
- paranoia
- dystopia
- sleep
- manipulation
- mad scientist
- fugitive
- serial killer
- memory
- cyberpunk
- +29 more
Awards & recognition
- Saturn Award — Best Science Fiction Film · 1999
- Bram Stoker Award — Best Screenplay · 1998
- Hugo Award — Best Dramatic Presentation · 1999 · nominated
Cast & crew
Rufus Sewell
as John Murdoch
William Hurt
as Inspector Frank Bumstead
Kiefer Sutherland
as Dr. Daniel P. Schreber
Jennifer Connelly
as Emma Murdoch
Richard O'Brien
as Mr. Hand
Ian Richardson
as Mr. Book
Bruce Spence
as Mr. Wall
Colin Friels
as Det. Eddie Walenski
John Bluthal
as Karl Harris
Mitchell Butel
as Officer Husselbeck
Directed by Alex Proyas