IMDb > Dark City (1998)
Dark City
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Dark City (1998) More at IMDbPro »

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Dark City (1998) -- A man struggles with memories of his past, including a wife he cannot remember, in a nightmarish world with no sun and run by beings with telekinetic powers who seek the souls of humans.
Dark City (1998) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   57,160 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Alex Proyas (story)
Alex Proyas (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for Dark City on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
27 February 1998 (USA) more
Tagline:
They built the city to see what makes us tick. Last night one of us went off. more
Plot:
A man struggles with memories of his past, including a wife he cannot remember, in a nightmarish world with no sun and run by beings with telekinetic powers who seek the souls of humans. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
6 wins & 7 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(151 articles)
Interview: James McTeigue, 'Ninja Assassin' (Part 1)
 (From Cinematical. 27 November 2009, 4:15 PM, PST)

Ninjas, Princesses and Old Dogs
 (From IFC. 23 November 2009, 7:30 AM, PST)

User Comments:
The Best Scifi of the Ninetees more (542 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Dark Empire (USA) (working title)
Dark World (USA) (working title)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for violent images and some sexuality.
Runtime:
100 min | 111 min (director's cut)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Iceland:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Spain:18 | South Korea:15 (original rating) | South Korea:18 (DVD rating) | USA:Not Rated (director's cut) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #34966)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The main character, John Murdoch, shares the name, and the quest, of a Scottish liberal in the 1870s and 1880s. The Scottish Murdoch led a major campaign for Scottish farmers to own their own land. more
Goofs:
Continuity: During the time Murdoch is attempting to remember his first name, the little "Be Back at" sign in the haberdasher's window reveals one shot is a mirror-flip image, causing the sign's text and clock to appear backwards. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Dr. Schreber: [voiceover] First there was darkness, then came the strangers.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Ryan vs. Dorkman (2003) (V) more
Soundtrack:
The Night Has 1000 Eyes more

FAQ

How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
How do I solve the "To Shell Beach..." game on the DVD?
How does Dr. Schreber remember the coming of the Strangers if he'd erased his own memories?
more
57 out of 80 people found the following comment useful.
The Best Scifi of the Ninetees, 29 July 2004
9/10
Author: Darnoc (conrad@krausche.org) from Amsoldingen, CH

This is probably the best Sci-Fi-Film of the Ninetees. Matrix is good, but this film is better. Both deal with the same question: What is reality? Not only was Dark City first, it also handles the subject much better and more adult than Matrix. Also its conclusion is far better than the one of Matrix.

Not only does this film deal with reality, it also deals with humanity, something which lacks Matrix. What makes us humans? To quote Dr. Schreber from the film "Are we more than just the sum of our Experiences?" This film is slowpaced, but not boring at all. And it deserves the title: Dark. The film is dark, "noir" and this gives the film a great atmosphere. The darkness and coldness of the strangers is in contrast to the bright light of the sun created by John Murdoch in the end.

This film is very philosophic, which I like. The best films are those which help us to think and this one clearly is such a film. Something which is needed in our society of marionettes and idiotic consumers who know more than anyone else before in history but who lack the ability to truly think.

The show down was a little weak, but the film made this up again at the very end with the last meeting between Murdoch and Mr. Hand. I remember Murdoch's words well and he speaks of a truth which is sometimes forgotten: What makes us human is not to be found in our heads, our brains and our minds.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Dark City (1998)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
movie title eludes. HELP! kuriantp
one question... rich-man82
Why was John the only one who questioned anything? Pete101
Protagonist's power ? onlsophisfilm
THE MATRIX?!??! benflashrock
OK... Lotus_Fly100
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