Sign in
Trailer+1 trailer

Bright Lights, Big City

1988Movie1 h 47 minR

DramaRomance
46
MediocreGoodWatch score
IMDb5.7Metacritic51–Rotten Tomatoes59%38%

A melancholic, bleak drama movie about everyday modern life and pop culture.

Good for friends night · drop-in friendly · thought-provoking

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Movies with

Story

It's 6.00 am. Do you know where you are?

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.

Feels like

  • New York City
  • Drug Use
  • Estranged Wife
  • Melancholy
  • Literary Adaptation
  • 1980s
  • Downward Spiral
  • Character Study
  • Urban Drama

Cast

24 of 40

Crew

Directed by
James Bridges
Written by
Jay McInerney
Produced by
Sydney Pollack, Mark Rosenberg
Music by
Donald Fagen

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

April 1, 1988 · 1 h 47 min · R

Released
April 1, 1988
Runtime
1 h 47 min
Age rating
R
Content
Drug Use, Strong Language, Sexual Content
Genres
Drama, Romance
Original language
English
Made in
Japan, United States
Budget
$25 million
Box office
$16 million
Available in
2 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book

Tropes

A Threesome Is Hot, The Alcoholic, Deadly Nosebleed +6

  • A Threesome Is Hot
  • The Alcoholic
  • Deadly Nosebleed
  • Big Applesauce
  • Train Escape
  • Functional Addict
  • Named by the Adaptation
  • Titled After the Song
  • Contemplative Boss

From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream Bright Lights, Big City?"

Questions about Bright Lights, Big City

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Bright Lights, Big City?

fuboTVMGM+PhiloHooplaPluto TVScreenPixTubi TV

In the United States, Bright Lights, Big City streams on fuboTV, MGM+, Philo, and ScreenPix, and it is free with ads on Hoopla, Pluto TV, and Tubi TV. It also streams in 1 other country.

Is Bright Lights, Big City worth watching?

46
MediocreGoodWatch score

Reviews are weak, with a GoodWatch score of 46 (IMDb 5.7, Rotten Tomatoes 59%, and Metacritic 51).

Is Bright Lights, Big City good for date night?

AdultsFriends NightSolo Watch

Not really: romance is 4 of 10, but the viewing guide doesn't list it for date night.

Will I feel good after watching Bright Lights, Big City?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for bleakness and 8 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

Was Bright Lights, Big City a box office flop?

Budget$25 million
Box office$16 million

Yes: it cost about $25 million to make and earned $16 million worldwide, 64% of its budget.