Empire City (1985): cast, story & where to watch
1985 · Film · ★ 9
Released in 1985, Empire City is a history and documentary film directed by Michael Blackwood, running about 89 minutes. “The City That Never Sleeps” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Guided by seasoned New Yorkers, political figures, and cultural connoisseurs, "Empire City" examines Manhattan and its surrounding boroughs in order to paint a portrait of the ever-evolving metropolis. Appearing to be both adaptable and stubbornly stagnant, New York is a city of juxtapositions. As our narrator notes, "The city is too big, too diverse, and too complex for anyone to comprehend. New York is many cities interlaced with one another, each in constant independent motion."
Who’s in it. Empire City stars Donald Trump as Self, Ed Koch as Himself, Jane Jacobs as Herself and Elia Kazan as Self, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 9.0/10, Empire City sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Eternal Family and rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Empire City page.
If you liked it. Fans of Empire City tend to enjoy Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, Hacksaw Ridge and Green Book.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Empire City (1985)?
- In US, Empire City is available to stream on Eternal Family, and rent or buy from Amazon Video. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Empire City worth watching?
- Empire City holds an audience score of 9.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy history and documentary. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Empire City?
- Empire City stars Donald Trump, Ed Koch, Jane Jacobs, Elia Kazan and Norman Mailer.
- When was Empire City released?
- Empire City was released in 1985, with a runtime of about 89 minutes.