PG-13

Mad City

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

1997 • 114 min • Thriller · Drama

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Synopsis

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.

Our family guide

Best from age 13

Movie Knight Score

372 reviews

62 Audience · 372 · 100%

A museum guard takes hostages after losing his job, leading to a media frenzy that escalates the tense standoff. The film explores how news coverage can influence real-world events and public perception.

Violence & peril: 5/10
Language: 4/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 2/10
Romance & sensuality: 1/10
Scary moments: 5/10

Heads up

A tense hostage situation
Some characters are under extreme duress
Depicts sensationalist news coverage

What it models well

The power of media
Empathy for unexpected characters
Consequences of desperate actions

Talk about it after

How does media influence public opinion?
When does a news story become part of the event?
Discuss the pressures faced by the characters.
The importance of responsible journalism.

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Mad City. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

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Top billed cast

Director: Costa-Gavras • Crew: Tom Matthews, Tom Matthews, Eric Williams

Trailers & clips

Mad City (1997) Original Trailer [HD]

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Details

TMDB audience: 6.2/10 (372)
Age rating: PG-13
Status: Released
Budget: $50,000,000
Box office: $10,500,000
IMDb: tt0119592

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