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IMDb > Bright Lights, Big City (1988)
Bright Lights, Big City
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Bright Lights, Big City (1988) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
5.3/10   2,967 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 9% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
James Bridges
Writers (WGA):
Jay McInerney (novel)
Jay McInerney (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Bright Lights, Big City on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1 April 1988 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama more
Plot:
A disillusioned young writer living in New York City turns to drugs and drinking to block out the memories of his dead mother and estranged wife. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
Roberts Ended Writer's Marriage
 (From WENN. 12 July 2007)

User Comments:
Under-rated more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Michael J. Fox ... Jamie Conway

Kiefer Sutherland ... Tad Allagash

Phoebe Cates ... Amanda

Swoosie Kurtz ... Megan
Frances Sternhagen ... Clara
Tracy Pollan ... Vicky
John Houseman ... Mr. Vogel

Charlie Schlatter ... Michael
David Warrilow ... Rittenhouse

Dianne Wiest ... Mother

Alec Mapa ... Yasu Wade
William Hickey ... Ferret Man
Gina Belafonte ... Kathy

Sam Robards ... Rich Vanier
Bernard Zette ... Stevie (as Zette)
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
107 min
Country:
USA | Japan
Language:
English
Color:
Color (DuArt)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Certification:
Iceland:L | UK:15 (video re-rating) (2003) | UK:18 (video rating) (1989) | UK:18 (original rating) | Sweden:15 | Australia:R | France:-16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-16 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Norway:15
Filming Locations:
New York City, New York, USA

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The name of Michael J. Fox's character, Jamie Conway, is an anagram of author Jay McInerney's name. In the novel, the primary character's full name is never given, he is referred to as "Coach" by Tad, and in the second person ("you") in the narration. more
Goofs:
Continuity: During Jamie's story of his relationship with Amanda to Megan his wineglass goes from half-full to empty in less than two seconds, while he's speaking. more
Quotes:
Drunken Writer: [rambling on aimlessly to himself] ... Siamese fighting fish in the water cooler... the old crew in the golden days of this magazine would have thought of it. more
Soundtrack:
Bill more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
8 out of 10 people found the following comment useful:-
Under-rated, 11 October 2000
7/10
Author: Jay Stuler (stuler.1@osu.edu) from Ohio

This is a good, although not great, movie that often gets a lower rating than it deserves. All the actors fill their roles perfectly, especially Keifer Sutherland. The problem is it occasionally tries to be funny (or something?), which doesn't mesh with the rest of the film. Two guys getting attacked by a ferret is not very funny anyhow, unless they are Bill Murray and Jim Carrey. Ignore the parts that try to be funny and you will find this movie much more enjoyable.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Bright Lights, Big City (1988)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
who does he call at the end? universal21
David Hyde Pierce (i.e., Niles Crane) edub01
What's up with the low rating?? barrs6
I'm guessing we will see a remake someday.... jwjr33
New York Location at the very end GMC100
'He's a long way from Kansas' jamieleefan1
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