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City of Angels

Play trailer Poster for City of Angels PG-13 1998 1h 57m Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
56% Tomatometer 55 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
This is the story of Seth (Nicolas Cage), an angel who wanders the Los Angeles area invisible to humans. As the demise of an individual approaches, he spends time near them and becomes visible while acting as their traveling companion during their trip to the great hereafter. His discovery of distraught heart surgeon Maggie (Meg Ryan) inspires him to forego his immortality and exist on earth with her as a feeling and mortal entity.
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City of Angels

City of Angels

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Critics Consensus

City of Angels may not tug the heartstrings as effortlessly as it aims to, but the end results will still leave more than a few viewers in tears.

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Critics Reviews

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Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Sep 7, 2011
C
City of Angels is an exercise in rapt, soapy quietude — a hymn to sappiness. Go to Full Review Nell Minow Common Sense Media Dec 22, 2010
4/5
Glossy romance as an angel falls for a surgeon. Go to Full Review Andrew Sarris Observer Apr 27, 2007
Strains to achieve the enchantingly sublime, but ends up sinking to the depressingly ridiculous. Go to Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia Feb 8, 2023
6/10
Its concept of the fallen angel seems grounded to me by that illuminating presence of Nicolas Cage, but it lacks a few lights to reach heaven. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review James Croot The Post NZ Nov 30, 2021
3.5/5
Everything the over-the-top Ghost should have been - stylish, endearing and, watching it now 23 years on, enduring - City of Angels' only disappointment is that it didn't make even more of the Cannes-winning source material. Go to Full Review Maitland McDonagh TV Guide Sep 18, 2008
3/4
The movie's eerie, slightly menacing vision of black-clad angels lurking in the shadowy corners of unsuspecting lives is genuinely haunting. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Huntin P @PaxVobiscum80 Sep 24, 2026 Worthless remake of Wings of Desire, which is a German film btw. It plays like a feature length commercial for instant coffee. Amazing to think that one of the angels went on to be the captain in Brooklyn Nine Nine. The sex scene has got to be one of the most laughable and cringey ever filmed for a mainstream audience. I bet lots of couples quoted the mid-congress dialogue to each other and laughed themselves off the mattress. Maybe you will too? See more Herb B @herbside Sep 6, 2026 Spoilers! Wear you f—-ing helmet! See more Tracy F @Tray72 Feb 3, 2026 I loved this movie when it came out!! Little out there but, to me a classic. Top 10 Eveytime I hear the Goo Goo Dolls I think of this movie. The end tore me up, I love an Unhappy ending for a change. When Meg was beyond adorable and Nick was the man. Maybe I'm being nostalgic 😔 See more bao s @RT77741678 Jan 25, 2026 Wut lol? Did the director watch the original or did some drunk person just tell him about it? See more Tyler P. @TylerPhoenixMD Nov 26, 2025 Really enjoyed this! The acting was amazing, as well as the soundtrack to get you totally engaged! See more Kim P @RT72072914 Nov 22, 2025 Great premise, great music, but the execution falls well short of its ambition. See more Read all reviews
City of Angels

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Cast & Crew

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Brad Silberling

Director

Nicolas Cage

Seth

Meg Ryan

Maggie Rice

Andre Braugher

Cassiel

Dennis Franz

Nathaniel Messinger

Colm Feore

Jordan Ferris

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City of Angels

City of Angels (1998) City of Angels (1998) City of Angels (1998) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis This is the story of Seth (Nicolas Cage), an angel who wanders the Los Angeles area invisible to humans. As the demise of an individual approaches, he spends time near them and becomes visible while acting as their traveling companion during their trip to the great hereafter. His discovery of distraught heart surgeon Maggie (Meg Ryan) inspires him to forego his immortality and exist on earth with her as a feeling and mortal entity.
Director
Brad Silberling
Producer
Charles Roven, Dawn Steel
Screenwriter
Wim Wenders, Peter Handke, Richard Reitinger, Dana Stevens
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Monarchy Enterprises B.V., Warner Brothers, Regency Enterprises, Atlas Entertainment
Rating
PG-13 (Sexuality|Language|Some Nudity)
Genre
Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 10, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
May 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$78.7M
Runtime
1h 57m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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