28 Years Ago Today, An Iconic Sci-fi Movie Was Released (And It Has a Hilarious Matrix Connection)

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It’s not uncommon for two very similar movies to come out around the same time. We’ve seen it before with films like Olympus Has Fallen and White House Down in 2013, or Armageddon and Deep Impact in 1998. Typically, one of these films does much better than the other. Before the Wachowskis’ hit The Matrix came out, another film explored similar themes, though not as directly focused on a meteor threatening Earth. And just like Olympus Has Fallen was a financial success while White House Down wasn’t, The Matrix became a blockbuster while the other film failed to gain traction.

In this comparison, the film we’re looking at is Alex Proyas’ Dark City. If you notice similarities between it and The Matrix while watching today, that’s not a coincidence – there are actually several connections between the two.

What Is Dark City About and How Is It So Similar to The Matrix?

The film Dark City begins with John Murdoch, played by Rufus Sewell, waking up in a run-down hotel bathtub with complete amnesia. Things get even stranger when he receives a disturbing phone call from Dr. Daniel Schreber (Kiefer Sutherland), who warns him that some dangerous men are coming after him – and to make matters worse, there’s a dead woman in the same room.

Although the evidence strongly suggests Murdoch committed the crime, Police Inspector Frank Bumstead (William Hurt) has a gut feeling that something isn’t right. It’s not just that he doubts Murdoch’s guilt, but that something is fundamentally wrong with everything around them. He discovers he’s not the only one feeling this way; Murdoch’s wife, Emma, a lounge singer, also senses something strange about their city – a city that is perpetually shrouded in darkness.

Putting it simply, everyone involved is being manipulated by these strange, pale creatures who are after Murdoch. His very existence suggests either their plan has a weakness or that it’s actually working perfectly.

While Proyas’ film and The Matrix didn’t directly copy each other, they share several striking similarities. Both films utilize a prominent green color scheme, with Proyas’ movie taking it a step further by depicting a perpetually nighttime city. The way Murdoch is guided towards the truth by a mysterious phone call also echoes Neo’s initial contact with Morpheus. Ultimately, Murdoch, like Neo, discovers he has unique abilities that set him apart within an artificial reality.

Interestingly, production on The Matrix began shortly after filming for this movie finished, and they actually reused some of the same sets. This was especially noticeable with the rooftop scenes, but the lobby where we first meet Hurt’s character strongly resembles the setting of the final gunfight in the original Matrix film from 1999, creating a familiar feeling.

It’s ironic that this incredibly creative film, despite being released first, earned just $27 million on a $27 million budget. The next year, a similar movie made almost $500 million worldwide on a $63 million budget. It seems audiences weren’t quite ready for a complex, dark sci-fi world in 1998, or perhaps they needed the visual appeal of ‘bullet time’ to grab their attention.

Over time, Dark City has gained a dedicated and well-deserved cult following. It’s a visually stunning film with a really intriguing mystery at its heart – think of the style of Raymond Chandler blended with the unsettling atmosphere of H.P. Lovecraft. If that sounds appealing, you’re in for a treat.

Stream Dark City for free with ads on Tubi.

Have you watched Dark City? Do you think it’s better than The Matrix? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-27 18:14