Mad City

"One man will make a mistake. The other will make it a spectacle."

1997 1h 54m EN

😐

6.2

MID

★6.2TMDB · 378

ThrillerDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A misguided museum guard who loses his job and then tries to get it back at gunpoint is thrown into the fierce world of ratings-driven TV gone mad.

“One man will make a mistake. The other will make it a spectacle.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Amazon VideoRent

Apple TV StoreRent

Google Play MoviesRent

Google Play MoviesBuy

YouTubeBuy

Fandango At HomeBuy

Cast

John Travolta
Sam Baily
Dustin Hoffman
Max Brackett
Mia Kirshner
Laurie Callahan
Alan Alda
Kevin Hollander
Robert Prosky
Lou Potts
Blythe Danner
Mrs. Banks
William Atherton
Dohlen
Ted Levine
Lemke

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Costa-Gavras
Writers: Tom Matthews, Tom Matthews, Eric Williams
Languages: English
Countries: 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 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Mid-budget at $50M — the now-extinct middle tier of Hollywood.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 21% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Costa-Gavras, shot by Patrick Blossier. 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 Thomas Newman. 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 Françoise Bonnot 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

John Travolta and Dustin Hoffman and Mia Kirshner carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "One man will make a mistake. The other will make it a spectacle.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Costa-Gavras directs. Patrick Blossier behind the camera. Thomas Newman scores. Françoise Bonnot cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Mid-budget at $50M — the now-extinct middle tier of Hollywood.
2Earned back only 21% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
329 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
4Directed by Costa-Gavras, shot by Patrick Blossier. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Thomas Newman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Françoise Bonnot shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7John Travolta and Dustin Hoffman and Mia Kirshner carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "One man will make a mistake. The other will make it a spectacle.".
9IMDB entry: tt0119592 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.