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MONEY
Did you know
Earned back only 64% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Bright Lights, Big City
"It's 6.00 am. Do you know where you are?"
1988 1h 47m EN
😐
5.7
MID
★5.7TMDB · 146
DramaRomance
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
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.
“It's 6.00 am. Do you know where you are?”
Cast
Michael J. Fox
Jamie
Kiefer Sutherland
Tad
Phoebe Cates
Amanda
Swoosie Kurtz
Megan
Frances Sternhagen
Clara
Tracy Pollan
Vicky
John Houseman
Mr. Vogel
Charlie Schlatter
Michael
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- James Bridges
- Writers
- Jay McInerney
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- Japan, United States of America
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
ERA
Did you know
38 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
International production across 2 countries: Japan, United States of America.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by James Bridges, shot by Gordon Willis. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Donald Fagen. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor George Berndt shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Michael J. Fox and Kiefer Sutherland and Phoebe Cates carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "It's 6.00 am. Do you know where you are?".
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
James Bridges directs. Gordon Willis behind the camera. Donald Fagen scores. George Berndt cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Japan, United States of America. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 1Earned back only 64% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
- 238 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
- 3International production across 2 countries: Japan, United States of America.
- 4Directed by James Bridges, shot by Gordon Willis. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Original score by Donald Fagen. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 6Editor George Berndt shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 7Michael J. Fox and Kiefer Sutherland and Phoebe Cates carry the top of the cast.
- 8Marketing tagline: "It's 6.00 am. Do you know where you are?".
- 9IMDB entry: tt0094799 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 10Classified under 11 themes, including "based on novel or book", "yuppie", "nightclub", "magazine".
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Gordon Willis
- Original score
- Donald Fagen
- Editing
- George Berndt
- Production design
- Santo Loquasto
- Costume design
- Bernie Pollack
- Makeup / hair
- Craig Lyman
- Runtime
- 107 min · 1h 47m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $25,000,000
- Box office
- $16,118,077
- Return
- 64% of budget
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- R
Also by
James Bridges
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
- ST
Star Partners
United Artists
US
Mirage Enterprises
US
- CS
CST Telecommunications
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
US
Key crew
- Assistant Production ManagerTed Kurdyla
- Assistant Production ManagerMichael Badalucco
- Assistant Makeup ArtistCraig Lyman
- Unit Production ManagerGerald R. Molen
- NovelJay McInerney
- Post Production SupervisorRobin Forman
- Associate ProducerJack Larson
- HairstylistRomaine Greene
- EditorGeorge Berndt
- ProducerMark Rosenberg
- Executive ProducerGerald R. Molen
- Production DesignSanto Loquasto
- Costume DesignBernie Pollack
- ProducerSydney Pollack
- MusicDonald Fagen
- Set DecorationGeorge DeTitta Jr.
- Makeup ArtistBernadette Mazur
- Art DirectionSanto Loquasto
- CastingMary Colquhoun
- EditorJohn Bloom
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- based on novel or book
- yuppie
- nightclub
- magazine
- writer
- drugs
- sunglasses
- world trade center
- fashion show
- playful
- vibrant
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical1988-04-01R
Also known as
International titles
- Nova York - Uma Cidade em DelírioBR
- Luces de la gran ciudadCL
