City by the Sea

Play trailer

City by the Sea

R

Released Sep 6, 2002

1h 48m

Crime

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

48%

Tomatometer

143 Reviews

40%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

When a respected New York homicide detective (Robert De Niro) discovers the prime suspect in a murder case is his estranged son (James Franco), he is forced to return home to the decaying boardwalks of Long Beach, Long Island to confront the darkness of his past. During the course of the investigation, he realizes that his failures as a father - and his unresolved anguish about the painful estrangement - have deeply influenced his son's life.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Even though the movie is well acted, it sinks under an abundance of melodrama and cliches.

Read Critics Reviews

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Ambitious, improbable and very violent cop drama.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 22, 2010

Full Review

Empire Magazine

Rated: 3/5

Jun 22, 2003

Full Review

Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

It doesn't help that much of City by the Sea plays so precisely lock step in the same order as so many other policiers. It's difficult to muster up much excitement as the film lurches to its pre-ordained conclusion.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jun 19, 2003

Full Review

Micheal Compton

Bowling Green Daily News

It all adds up to a moving film that may not be unforgettable, but it is memorable nonetheless.

Nov 15, 2019

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: C

Jan 4, 2013

Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

It's a shame that the source material and filmmakers manage to waste all the talented actors in this project.

Apr 29, 2009

Full Review

Read all reviews

AD 3

I like Deniro but the rest of the movie is sort of corny and not executed well. It has big ideas but just isnt realistic, especislly the dialouge. Everybody harps on the father for running out on his family or whatever but then you consider this culture and it's hardly unique. Again, I get it but it just wasn't executed well nor were any hardcore details realistic. I kinda felt like the filmmaker was in over his head

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

12/11/24

Full Review

Tony M

I really like this lesser known DeNiro flick. I like the story and the acting. A good movie that's well worth a watch.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/31/23

Full Review

Jeffrey P

Not quite sure why this was so buried that I didn't hear about it until 2023. Main fault that comes to mind is that the son should have been the lead and not the father. Regardless, I felt it was a solid enough story with decent acting that mostly rings true before the dramatic flare ending.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/26/23

Full Review

Ashley H

City By The Sea is a disappointing film. It is about a respected New York homicide detective who discovers the prime suspect in a murder case is his estranged son. Robert de Niro and James Franco give horrible performances. The script is badly written. Michael Caton-Jones did a terrible directing this movie. I was not impressed with this motion picture.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/04/23

Full Review

Jelisije J

A movie that deals with the trial of fatherhood and abandonment.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Under the radar cop drama with a good, understated performance from De Niro.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Michael Caton-Jones

Director

Robert De Niro

Detective Vincent Lamarca

Frances McDormand

Michelle

James Franco

Joey LaMarca

Eliza Dushku

Gina

William Forsythe

Spyder

Homicide

88%

73%

Homicide

Watchlist

The Man Who Wasn't There

81%

85%

The Man Who Wasn't There

Watchlist

Knockaround Guys

21%

51%

Knockaround Guys

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Knockaround Guys

Empire

21%

62%

Empire

Watchlist

City of Ghosts

48%

46%

City of Ghosts

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

When a respected New York homicide detective (Robert De Niro) discovers the prime suspect in a murder case is his estranged son (James Franco), he is forced to return home to the decaying boardwalks of Long Beach, Long Island to confront the darkness of his past. During the course of the investigation, he realizes that his failures as a father - and his unresolved anguish about the painful estrangement - have deeply influenced his son's life.

Director: Michael Caton-Jones
Producer: Michael Caton-Jones, Brad Grey, Elie Samaha, Matthew Baer
Screenwriter: Ken Hixon, Michael Caton-Jones
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Franchise Pictures, Brillstein-Grey Entertainment, Sea Breeze Productions Inc.
Rating: R (Language|Drug Use|Some Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 6, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $22.4M
Runtime: 1h 48m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Most Popular at Home Now