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City of Angels

City of Angels is a 1998 American romantic fantasy film directed by Brad Silberling and starring Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

City of Angels is a 1998 American romantic fantasy film directed by Brad Silberling and starring Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan. Set in Los Angeles, it follows an angel who falls in love with a human surgeon and considers giving up immortality to be with her. The film is a loose remake of Wim Wenders’s Wings of Desire.

Plot

The film follows Seth, an angel who watches over people in Los Angeles, and Maggie, a heart surgeon. After falling in love with Maggie, Seth considers abandoning immortality so he can experience human life and be with her.

Production and release

City of Angels was directed by Brad Silberling and released in 1998 in the United States. It is listed as a PG-13 film and runs 114 minutes.

Adaptation and influences

The film is a loose remake of the German film Wings of Desire (1987), which was directed by Wim Wenders. Sources also note the influence of the original film’s creators in the writing credits and premise.

Cast

The principal cast includes Nicolas Cage, Meg Ryan, Dennis Franz, André Braugher, Colm Feore, and Robin Bartlett. Cage plays the angel Seth and Ryan plays Dr. Maggie Rice.

Key facts

  • The film was released in 1998 and has a running time of 114 minutes.
  • It stars Nicolas Cage as an angel and Meg Ryan as a Los Angeles heart surgeon.
  • The story centers on the angel’s desire to become human after falling in love.
  • It is a loose remake of Wim Wenders’s 1987 film Wings of Desire.
  • The film is set in Los Angeles, California.
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Canadian context

The film was widely distributed in North America and remains part of the broader catalogue of 1990s Hollywood romantic fantasy films viewed by Canadian audiences.

Frequently asked questions

What is City of Angels about?
It is about an angel in Los Angeles who falls in love with a surgeon and contemplates becoming human to be with her.
Who directed City of Angels?
Brad Silberling directed the film.
Who stars in City of Angels?
The film stars Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan, with Dennis Franz and André Braugher in supporting roles.
Is City of Angels a remake?
Yes. It is described as a loose remake of Wim Wenders’s Wings of Desire.
When was City of Angels released?
It was released in the United States on April 10, 1998.

References

  1. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120632/
    Supports: Release year, release date, runtime, director, writers, cast, genre, and plot premise.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Angels_(film)
    Supports: Film overview, director, cast, setting, and status as a loose remake of Wings of Desire.
  3. Roger Ebert — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/city-of-angels-1998
    Supports: Film as a love story and connection to Wings of Desire.
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/city_of_angels
    Supports: Synopsis, genre, MPAA rating, and main cast.
  5. Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/city-of-angels/umc.cmc.2jgofd7rlgeddjj3une653wtd
    Supports: Running time, release year, director, cast, and plot summary.