Bright Lights, Big City (1988): cast, story & where to watch
1988 · Film · ★ 5.7
Released in 1988, Bright Lights, Big City is a drama film directed by James Bridges, running about 107 minutes. “It's 6.00 am. Do you know where you are?” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. 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.
Who’s in it. Bright Lights, Big City stars Michael J. Fox as Jamie, Kiefer Sutherland as Tad, Phoebe Cates as Amanda and Dianne Wiest as Mother, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.7/10, Bright Lights, Big City has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $16.1M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo and MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Bright Lights, Big City page.
If you liked it. Fans of Bright Lights, Big City tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Bright Lights, Big City (1988)?
- In US, Bright Lights, Big City is available to stream on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel and Philo. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Bright Lights, Big City worth watching?
- Bright Lights, Big City holds an audience score of 5.7 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Bright Lights, Big City?
- Bright Lights, Big City stars Michael J. Fox, Kiefer Sutherland, Phoebe Cates, Dianne Wiest and Swoosie Kurtz.
- When was Bright Lights, Big City released?
- Bright Lights, Big City was released in 1988, with a runtime of about 107 minutes.