---
title: "Mad City"
year: 1997
canonical_url: "https://www.archytele.com/show/mad-city-1997"
media_type: "movie"
tmdb_id: 9770
imdb_id: null
status: "Released"
runtime_minutes: 114
community_rating: 6.2
vote_count: 0
content_rating: "PG-13"
---

# Mad City (1997) — Television & Cinema Intelligence Dossier

> **Archytele Living Vault Canonical Record**: https://www.archytele.com/show/mad-city-1997

## Executive Summary & Cultural Positioning

Mad City is a 1997 thriller and drama film directed and produced within the thriller and drama genres, released on November 7, 1997 in the United States with a runtime of one hour and fifty-four minutes. The story follows a misguided museum guard who loses his job and attempts to get it back at gunpoint, leading directly into the fierce world of ratings-driven television.

Culturally, the film draws its title from a nickname of Madison, Wisconsin, where the film was originally going to be set and was used for its multiple meanings. Its tone and pacing reflect a PG-13 dramatic thriller exploring how ordinary events are transformed into major media spectacles.

## The Hook & The Verdict

**The Hook**: "A misguided museum guard takes hostages at gunpoint, launching a fierce ratings-driven media spectacle."

### Why Watch
- Explores the intense world of ratings-driven television.
- Features a tense confrontation involving a museum guard.
- Examines a dramatic hostage situation turned media spectacle.

### Caveats & Content Note
- The plot centers heavily on a tense hostage situation which may not appeal to all viewers.
- Tone & Suitability: The film runs for one hour and fifty-four minutes, offering a thriller and drama tone rated PG-13.

**Micro-Themes & Vibe Matrix**: #hostage-crisis, #media-satire, #museum-setting, #ratings-driven, #workplace-drama

## Streaming Availability Matrix

Direct streaming licensing updates dynamically. Consult the live tracking interface at https://www.archytele.com/show/mad-city-1997#watch.

## Creative Credits

- **Directed by**: Costa-Gavras
- **Networks / Studios**: Arnold Kopelson Productions, Warner Bros. Pictures, Punch Productions

## Key Cast Continuity

- **John Travolta** as *Sam Baily*
- **Dustin Hoffman** as *Max Brackett*
- **Mia Kirshner** as *Laurie Callahan*
- **Alan Alda** as *Kevin Hollander*
- **Robert Prosky** as *Lou Potts*
- **Blythe Danner** as *Mrs. Banks*
- **William Atherton** as *Dohlen*
- **Ted Levine** as *Lemke*
- **Milton Davis Jr.** as *The Kids*
- **Bill Nunn** as *Cliff Williams*

## Canonical Frequently Asked Questions

### Q: Where to stream Mad City?
Streaming availability can be checked on platforms like The Movie Database under the watch now section.

### Q: Is Mad City worth watching?
It is a drama and thriller film that explores a museum guard's desperate act and the media frenzy that follows.

### Q: What is the runtime of Mad City?
The film has a runtime of one hour and fifty-four minutes.

### Q: What genre is Mad City?
Mad City is classified as a thriller and drama film.

## Grounded Source Citations

- [Mad City — The Movie Database (TMDB)](https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/9770)
- [Mad City (film) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_City_(film))

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*Generated by Archytele Open Intelligence Systems. Data verified against TMDB and JustWatch APIs.*