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Dark City

Play trailer Poster for Dark City R Released Feb 20, 1998 1h 41m Fantasy Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
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77% Tomatometer 92 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) awakens alone in a strange hotel to find that he is wanted for a series of brutal murders. The problem is that he can't remember whether he committed the murders or not. For one brief moment, he is convinced that he has gone completely mad. Murdoch seeks to unravel the twisted riddle of his identity. As he edges closer to solving the mystery, he stumbles upon a fiendish underworld controlled by a group of ominous beings collectively known as the Strangers.
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Dark City

Dark City

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Critics Consensus

Stylishly gloomy, Dark City offers a polarizing whirl of arresting visuals and noirish action.

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Critics Reviews

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Jake Cole Slant Magazine Dark City is ultimately positive, recapitulating noir’s post-WWII social anomie as a quest for self-actualization over complacency. Jun 9, 2025 Full Review Bill Boisvert Chicago Reader Real humanists may have misgivings. Rated: 1/4 Jun 16, 2022 Full Review Mike Clark USA Today Dark City is fascinating, visionary filmmaking that captures the sensation of dreaming and being unable to wake up. Rated: 3/4 Jan 9, 2018 Full Review Frank J. Avella The Contending The cast boasts impressive turns by Kiefer Sutherland, William Hurt and Richard O’Brien, with Jennifer Connelly delivering yet another wooden performance. How did this actress ever win an Oscar? Key to the film’s success is (Rufus) Sewell... Rated: B Jun 16, 2025 Full Review David Reddish CBR The core of the film itself offers a meditation on human nature. Memories and personality do not define human beings; choices do. That haunting philosophy... makes Dark City live on as a classic; one of the most important sci-fi movies ever made. Rated: 4/4 May 5, 2025 Full Review Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson Dark City deftly creates a world both foreign and familiar at the same time to match the clouded tone of its story. Rated: 3/5 Apr 7, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Carlos Taiti Y Filme: Cidade das Sombras Assistido: 14/6/25 Elenco: @rufus_sewell @jennifer.connelly @kiefersutherland @Williamhurt Modelo: #ficção Duração: 1h 40m Ano: 1998 Minha opinião: Este filme é um mix de Matrix com Neo e Origem de Dicaprio. Este filme tem muito da Matrix, um mundo onde as pessoas são controladas e dadas a elas suas personalidades, em um mundo artificial, Onde a pessoa vive uma fantasia. E também tem de Origem, que tem a mudança a cada tempo, onde modifica a realidade. Temos também um pouco de Cubo, onde todos imaginam estar na Terra mas estão no espaço. E temos também o Neo aqui vivi do Rufus e aqui se chama de John Murdoch. Que como Neo descobre que é dotado de poderes e de acordo com o filme na sua alto descoberta vai ganhando mais poder. Temos Dr, Daniel (Kiefer) que é o cientista maluco que vai reprogramando as pessoas, onde uma hora tem uma vida e depois em outra diferente. Inspetor Frank (Hurt), que se torna parceiro Murdoch depois questionamentos que não pode responder e vai a procura da verdade. E a belíssima Emma (Connelly) por quem John se apaixona. E os Srs. “Smith” que na verdade aqui são extraterrestres que abduziram um número de terrestres para entender oque seria alma, e com isso faziam as experiência. Porem agora John tem o poder deles, e o poder para destrui-los. E construir um Mundo como ele imagina. Um filme que me surpreendeu como tem de MAtrix, mas vendo que foi lançado, apenas um ano após, fica a pergunta, será que idéias foram tiradas deste filme? Vale apena assistir? Em si um filme que surpreendeu, mas os efeitos especiais comparados com MAtrix da de 100 X 0. Mas gostei. Apesar de interpretações medianas, ressalva Hurt. Nota: 6,5 Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/18/25 Full Review Max W This is absolutely phenomenal and the similarities to The Matrix are enormous. I can't belive I didn't watch this sooner. What a hidden gem. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/16/25 Full Review Gendgi S Awesome classic, great story, great acting, a must watch for sci fi / mystery fans. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/23/25 Full Review Korra N Gripping, intense & thought-provoking, Alex Proyas' sci-fi thriller isn't just a genre classic but a classic period, with outstanding acting, breathtaking visuals, gorgeous cinematography & haunting sound/production design. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/10/25 Full Review Patrick R A perfect sociological metaphor of contemporary society... much more profoundly than The Matrix and with a unique perfect romantic visual style (it's no coincidence that he's the author of 'The Crow'), and good script ... this film throws in your face, in a very simple but spectacular and multiform way, the true meaning of: The dynamics that determine our anthropo-social reality are deeply hidden, hypercomplex, and extremely difficult to understand. Good science fiction... TRUE science fiction... that is, with a shocking and profound message Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/10/25 Full Review J H The theatrical version is great, but the Director's Cut is even better. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/09/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Dark City

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Movie Info

Synopsis John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) awakens alone in a strange hotel to find that he is wanted for a series of brutal murders. The problem is that he can't remember whether he committed the murders or not. For one brief moment, he is convinced that he has gone completely mad. Murdoch seeks to unravel the twisted riddle of his identity. As he edges closer to solving the mystery, he stumbles upon a fiendish underworld controlled by a group of ominous beings collectively known as the Strangers.
Director
Alex Proyas
Producer
Alex Proyas, Andrew Mason
Screenwriter
Alex Proyas, Alex Proyas, Lem Dobbs, David S. Goyer
Distributor
New Line Cinema
Production Co
New Line Cinema, Mystery Clock Cinema
Rating
R (Violent Images|Some Sexuality)
Genre
Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 20, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$14.3M
Runtime
1h 41m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, SDDS, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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