City by the Sea (2002): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
City by the Sea is a 2002 drama thriller directed by Michael Caton-Jones, starring Robert De Niro, James Franco and Frances McDormand. It runs 1 hour 48 minutes and earned $29.7 million worldwide on a $40 million budget. Critics gave it 48% on Rotten Tomatoes and 50 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 48m (108 min)
- Director
- Michael Caton-Jones
- Original language
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English - Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- Budget
- $40M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is City by the Sea About?
The premise of City by the Sea without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A haunted New York City detective, played by Robert De Niro, is forced to confront his troubled past when his estranged son (James Franco) becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation. The case takes him to the decaying boardwalks of Long Beach, where he must grapple with the painful consequences of his own failings as a father. He is compelled to address the deep wounds of their fractured relationship and the unresolved issues that have kept them apart for so long.
City by the Sea Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- detective
- drug dealer
- long island new york
- father son relationship
- based on true story
- grandfather grandson relationship
- murder of a police officer
- mother son relationship
- drug addict
- redemption
- dark past
- regret
+38 more Show fewer
- resentment toward father
- grief
- guilt
- ex husband ex wife relationship
- murder suspect
- weeping man
- murder
- new york city
- police
- family abandonment
- on the run
- death of friend
- police officer
- crime scene
- divorcee
- abandoned building
- arrest
- boyfriend girlfriend relationship
- framed for murder
- investigation
- tears
- manhunt
- breaking and entering
- police partner
- toddler
- suicide-by-cop
- beach
- death of father
- title spoken by character
- cartoon on tv
- corpse
- stabbed to death
- diner
- telephone booth
- theft
- despair
- tattoo
- police siren
City by the Sea Cast
Robert De Niro leads the cast, with James Franco and Frances McDormand. Directed by Michael Caton-Jones.
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Director Michael Caton-Jones
More from Michael Caton-Jones
More films directed by Michael Caton-Jones, best-rated first: Urban Hymn, Beyond the Gates, Asher and This Boy's Life.
City by the Sea Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave City by the Sea 48% on Rotten Tomatoes and 50 on Metacritic.
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Rotten Tomatoes 48% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 40%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 50 Metascore
User score 6.2
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 58% User score
See on TMDB
City by the Sea Plot Summary
What happens in City by the Sea from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
As a seasoned detective with the New York City Police Department, Vincent LaMarca (Robert De Niro) carries the heavy burden of his haunting past. His father’s notorious legacy looms large over him, a man who faced execution for murder when Vincent was only eight years old. This tragedy, rooted in a heartbreaking kidnapping gone awry, has left scars that motivate Vincent’s quest for redemption. Though he once called Long Beach home, he now immerses himself in the hustle and bustle of New York City.
Full summary
The whole story of City by the Sea, scene by scene
City by the Sea Box Office & Budget
City by the Sea grossed $29.7 million worldwide on a $40 million budget, 74% of what it cost. $22.4 million came from the US and Canada and $7.2 million (24%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$29.7M
74% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $22.4M
- International
- $7.2M
- Budget
- $40M
City by the Sea Trailers & Videos
The trailer of City by the Sea.
How Well Do You Know City by the Sea?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the main profession of Vincent LaMarca?
Cars in City by the Sea
27 cars on screen, including the 1993 Ford Crown Victoria and the 1968 Chevrolet Chevy II Nova.
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1993 Ford Crown Victoria Main role -
1968 Chevrolet Chevy II Nova Important role -
1992 Ford F-150 Important role -
2000 Ford Taurus Important role
Seen City by the Sea?
Movies Like City by the Sea
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Canal Street, Motherless Brooklyn and The Son of No One.
City by the Sea FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of City by the Sea, each answered in a sentence.
How long is City by the Sea?
City by the Sea runs 1 hour 48 minutes (108 minutes).
When was City by the Sea released?
City by the Sea was released on September 6, 2002.
Who directed City by the Sea?
City by the Sea was directed by Michael Caton-Jones.
More films by Michael Caton-Jones Who is in the cast of City by the Sea?
City by the Sea stars Robert De Niro, James Franco and Frances McDormand.
How much did City by the Sea make at the box office?
City by the Sea grossed $29.7 million worldwide ($22.4 million domestic, $7.2 million international) on a budget of $40 million.
How is City by the Sea rated?
City by the Sea has 48% on Rotten Tomatoes, 50 on Metacritic and 58% on TMDB.
Does City by the Sea have a post-credit scene?
No. City by the Sea has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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