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Documentary

Drop Dead City (2025): Ratings & Box Office

Drop Dead City (2025) movie poster

Drop Dead City is a 2025 documentary directed by Michael Rohatyn and Peter Yost. It runs 1 hour 43 minutes and earned $159,523 worldwide. Critics gave it 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and 67 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.0/10.

IMDb rating
8.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes
92%
worldwide gross
$159.5K
Echo Score
75
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Drop Dead City (2025) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 43m (103 min)
Directors
Michael Rohatyn and Peter Yost
Genre
Documentary
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Drop Dead City About?

The premise of Drop Dead City without spoilers.

New York City in 1975 faces imminent bankruptcy, but a diverse group of individuals—newcomers, rivals, fixers, and power players—forges an unexpected partnership, seeking a solution to save the city.

Drop Dead City Themes & Keywords

· 6 tags
  • politics
  • new york city
  • economy
  • cities
  • social issues
  • city
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Crew

The Director of Drop Dead City

Directed by Michael Rohatyn and Peter Yost.

From the directors

More from Michael Rohatyn and Peter Yost

More films directed by Michael Rohatyn and Peter Yost: Nazi Town, USA, Inside North Korea: Then and Now with Lisa Ling, NOVA: Secrets of the Viking Sword and Area 51 Declassified.

Ratings

Drop Dead City Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Drop Dead City 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and 67 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.0/10. Our Echo Score gives it 75/100, strongest in story & flow (85) and weakest in rewatch factor (60).

75 /100

Drop Dead City Echo Score Breakdown

Drop Dead City offers a well-structured examination of New York’s fiscal crisis. Reviews highlight the film’s evenhanded handling of complex financial material and its brisk pacing. While some observers find the abundance of talking-head interviews burdensome and note occasional pacing lulls, the documentary is praised for its archival montages and clear narrative thrust. This blend of thorough research and measured storytelling yields an engaging historical overview that resonates with audiences interested in urban governance and economic history.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 80

    In terms of art and craft, the film demonstrates confident direction and precise editing. The use of well-curated interview snippets and seamless montages sustains brisk momentum, while archival footage is integrated with clarity. The visual composition remains functional rather than ornamental, focusing on informational impact. Overall, the documentary’s craft elements support its analytical tone without unnecessary embellishment.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    When it comes to character and emotion, the documentary offers modest depth through profiles of key figures like Mayor Abe Beame and financier Felix Rohatyn. Brief personal anecdotes and archival photographs provide occasional resonance, though extensive talking-head sequences can limit emotional immersion. The sparse dramatization leaves character portrayals restrained. In net, the film delivers informative rather than deeply personal connection.

  • Story & Flow 85

    In terms of story and flow, Drop Dead City presents a coherent chronology of events leading to New York’s financial brink. The narrative unfolds with measured pacing, balancing background context with political inflection. While some viewers may perceive stretches of dense exposition, the film maintains engagement through clear transitions. Ultimately, the documentary succeeds as an organized account of a complex fiscal saga.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    When it comes to sensory experience, the documentary adopts a functional audiovisual style. The curated soundtrack, including the closing montage set to “New York Groove,” adds a fitting cultural note, while sound design remains straightforward. Visual cohesion stems from archival footage and simple graphics rather than stylized cinematography. Altogether, the sensory elements reinforce the film’s informative objectives.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    In terms of rewatch factor, Drop Dead City offers limited replay potential. The dense presentation of fiscal data and heavy reliance on interview segments serve an initial informational purpose, but may diminish appeal on subsequent viewings. Occasional insights can emerge upon reexamination, yet the documentary’s focus on exposition over narrative flair constrains its lasting allure.

Box office

Drop Dead City Box Office

Drop Dead City grossed $159,523 worldwide.

2025 box office

Worldwide gross

$159.5K

US & Canada
$159.5K
Videos

Drop Dead City Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 featurette.

Official Trailer
  • Featurette Directors Dig into NYC’s 1975 Financial Crisis in 'Drop Dead City' Doc

Seen Drop Dead City?

FAQ

Drop Dead City FAQ: Box Office, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Drop Dead City, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Drop Dead City?

Drop Dead City runs 1 hour 43 minutes (103 minutes).

When was Drop Dead City released?

Drop Dead City was released on April 25, 2025.

Who directed Drop Dead City?

Drop Dead City was directed by Michael Rohatyn and Peter Yost.

More films by Michael Rohatyn

How much did Drop Dead City make at the box office?

Drop Dead City grossed $159,523 worldwide.

How is Drop Dead City rated?

Drop Dead City has 8.0/10 on IMDb, 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, 67 on Metacritic and 3.5/5 on Letterboxd.

Does Drop Dead City have a post-credit scene?

No. Drop Dead City has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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