City of Angels

"She didn't believe in angels until she fell in love with one."

1998 1h 54m EN

👍

6.8

SOLID

★6.8TMDB · 2,469

DramaFantasyRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

When a guardian angel – who invisibly watches over the citizens of Los Angeles – becomes captivated by a strong-willed heart surgeon, he ponders trading in his pure, otherworldly existence for a mortal life with his beloved. The couple embarks on a tender but forbidden romance spanning heaven and Earth.

“She didn't believe in angels until she fell in love with one.”

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Cast

Nicolas Cage
Seth
Meg Ryan
Maggie
Dennis Franz
Messinger
Andre Braugher
Cassiel
Colm Feore
Jordan
Robin Bartlett
Anne
Joanna Merlin
Teresa
Sarah Dampf
Susan

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Brad Silberling
Writers: Dana Stevens, Wim Wenders, Peter Handke
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America, Germany

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 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Mid-budget at $55M — the now-extinct middle tier of Hollywood.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Made its money back 3.6× over at the box office.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

28 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United States of America, Germany.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CAST

Did you know

209+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Brad Silberling, shot by John Seale. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Gabriel Yared. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Lynzee Klingman shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Brad Silberling directs. John Seale behind the camera. Gabriel Yared scores. Lynzee Klingman cuts. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in United States of America, Germany. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Mid-budget at $55M — the now-extinct middle tier of Hollywood.
2Made its money back 3.6× over at the box office.
328 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
4International production across 2 countries: United States of America, Germany.
5209+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.
6Directed by Brad Silberling, shot by John Seale. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
7Original score by Gabriel Yared. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
8Editor Lynzee Klingman shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
9Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan and Dennis Franz carry the top of the cast.
10Marketing tagline: "She didn't believe in angels until she fell in love with one.".
11IMDB entry: tt0120632 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
12Classified under 10 themes, including "suicide", "operation", "life and death", "afterlife".

The technical file

Cinematography: John Seale
Original score: Gabriel Yared
Editing: Lynzee Klingman
Production design: Lilly Kilvert
Costume design: Shay Cunliffe
Makeup / hair: Lutz Wesemann
VFX supervisor: John Nelson
Sound: Robert J. Litt
Stunt coordinator: Doug Coleman
Runtime: 114 min · 1h 54m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $55,000,000
Box office: $198,685,114
Return: 361% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: City of Angels (1998)

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Brad Silberling

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What people are saying

Wuchak2020-12-06
★ 7/10
What goes on "behind the scenes"? Released in 1998, "City of Angels" is a drama/fantasy/romance starring Nicolas Cage as a literal angel in Los Angeles named Seth who's assigned to bring the dead to God and other duties. During one of his assignments he meets and becomes intrigued by a surgeon (Meg Ryan) and wonders what it would be like to be human. Andre Braugher is on hand as Seth's angel friend while Dennis Franz plays a human in whom Seth seems to have an affinity. Will Seth "fall to the earth"? I saw this when I was younger and it didn't have much of an impact, although I liked it. Viewing it at an older age definitely heightened my appreciation and shows that this is a movie for mature people (regardless of age). It skillfully touches on heavy issues of which younger people don't particularly dwell. Based on the 1987 Euro film "Wings of Desire," everything depends on if the film can convince the viewer that the angels are real and believable in the context of the story. It does so convincingly with a tone similar to "Meet Joe Black," which was released the same year as "City of Angels" (later); and maybe 1990's "Ghost." If you like these two movies you will definitely appreciate "City." I don't want to say anything more because it's better that you watch the movie and discover its potential riches for yourself. The script is well thought out, although they didn't milk the ending for all its potential, plus it seemed rather rushed, not to mention there are some glaring theological holes. Regardless, this is a nigh spiritual masterpeace. (No, I didn't misspell that). The film runs 114 minutes and was shot in Los Angeles, Malibu, Big Bear Lake, Lake Tahoe and the San Francisco Public Library, California. GRADE: A-/B+
Peter89Spencer2021-02-14
★ 6/10
Everytime I hear Iris by Goo Goo Dolls I'll always think of Nic Cage!