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Dark City poster

Dark City(1998)

TMDB7.3
76%
MysteryScience Fiction

Rufus Sewell wakes in a city that reshapes itself at midnight

Runtime1h 41min
FormatFeature film
PremiereFeb 1998
CountryAustralia

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.

At a Glance

CountryAustralia
DirectorAlex Proyas
Based onOriginal screenplay
Release1998

Why Dark City is worth watching

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.

John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) wakes in a bathtub with no memory and blood on his hands. Strangers insist they know him; a wife he cannot recall insists he is a killer. Outside, the city never sees daylight.

Inspector Bumstead (William Hurt) closes in while Dr. Schreber (Kiefer Sutherland) whispers that Murdoch may be the only human who can resist the Strangers — pale beings who rewrite reality while the city sleeps.

Alex Proyas's Dark City is noir nightmare fuel: a labyrinth of shifting architecture, stolen identities, and one man fight to remember who he really is.

Rufus Sewell wakes in a city that reshapes itself at midnight

Alex Proyas directed Dark City before

Alex Proyas directed Dark City before The Crow and I, Robot.

Roger Ebert named it one of the best

Roger Ebert named it one of the best films of 1998.

The Strangers were inspired by German

The Strangers were inspired by German Expressionist cinema.

A director's cut released in 2008

A director's cut released in 2008 restored Proyas's original vision.

Story

Rufus Sewell wakes in a city that reshapes itself at midnight

01
A city with no sun

A city with no sun

Proyas builds a perpetual-night metropolis where every alley feels borrowed from a dream — or a trap.

02
The Strangers tuning

The Strangers tuning

At midnight the city folds and re-forms, and its inhabitants wake with new lives grafted onto old faces.

03
Memory as rebellion

Memory as rebellion

Murdoch's growing power to resist the Strangers turns identity itself into the weapon that can break their control.

Cast

Main characters and performers

Behind the Scenes

Alex Proyas directed Dark City before The Crow and I, Robot.

Roger Ebert named it one of the best films of 1998.

The Strangers were inspired by German Expressionist cinema.

A director's cut released in 2008 restored Proyas's original vision.

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FAQ

What is Dark City about?

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.

Who directs Dark City?

Alex Proyas directed the film.

How long is Dark City?

Approximately 101 min.

Where can I watch Dark City?

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