Drop Dead City

{{Short description|2024 documentary film}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = Drop Dead City | image = Drop Dead City poster.jpg | alt = | caption = Film poster | native_name =  | director = Michael Rohatyn<br />Peter Yost | writer = | screenplay = | story = | based_on =  | producer = Michael Rohatyn<br />Peter Yost | starring = | narrator = | cinematography = Jerry Risius | editing = Anna Auster<br />Don Kleszy | music = | studio = Pangloss Films | distributor = Fear City | released = {{Film date|2024|11|21|DOC NYC|ref1=<ref name="DOC NYC"/>|2025|4|25|New York City|ref2=<ref name="DDC"/>}} | runtime = 103 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = | gross = $159,523<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt34279942/|title=Drop Dead City|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=October 1, 2025}}</ref> }}

'''''Drop Dead City''''' is a 2024 American documentary film which details the 1975 New York City fiscal crisis. It was directed by Michael Rohatyn and Peter Yost.<ref name="V">{{Cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/drop-dead-city-review-1236373372/|title='Drop Dead City' Review: A Gripping Look at How New York City Almost Went Bankrupt in 1975, Foreshadowing the Current Moment|magazine=Variety|first=Owen|last=Gleiberman|date=April 21, 2025|accessdate=October 1, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/drop-dead-again-new-film-finds-nycs-1975-fiscal-crisis-still-haunting-the-city-today|title=Drop dead again? New film finds NYC's 1975 fiscal crisis still haunting the city today.|date=April 20, 2025|last=Kailath|first=Ryan|website=Gothamist|accessdate=April 22, 2025}}</ref> It premiered at DOC NYC on November 21, 2024,<ref name="DOC NYC">{{cite web|url=https://www.docnyc.net/film/drop-dead-city-new-york-on-the-brink-in-1975/|title=Drop Dead City - New York on the Brink in 1975|website=DOC NYC|access-date=October 1, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241102190528/https://www.docnyc.net/film/drop-dead-city-new-york-on-the-brink-in-1975/|archive-date=November 2, 2024}}</ref> and was given a theatrical release in New York City on April 25, 2025.<ref name="DDC">{{cite web|url=https://www.dropdeadcitythemovie.com/news-and-press/press-release-drop-dead-city-premier|title=New Documentary “DROP DEAD CITY” Explores New York's Battle for Survival on the 50th Anniversary of the Fiscal Crisis that Nearly Bankrupted The City|website=Drop Dead City|date=March 19, 2025|access-date=October 1, 2025}}</ref> The film is named after the infamous ''Daily News'' headline, "FORD TO CITY: DROP DEAD".<ref name="V" />

==Reception== {{Rotten Tomatoes prose|92||12}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/drop_dead_city|title=Drop Dead City|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=November 24, 2025}}</ref> {{Metacritic film prose|67|four}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/drop-dead-city/|title=Drop Dead City|website=Metacritic|access-date=October 1, 2025}}</ref>

Owen Gleiberman of ''Variety'' wrote that the film is "wonkish but gripping."<ref name="V"/>

Jason Bailey of ''RogerEbert.com'' gave it two and a half out of four stars, writing, "The filmmaking isn't exactly groundbreaking, but it doesn't need to be; the archival footage is splendid, blending contemporary newscasts, documentary footage, and interviews with commentary from reporters, historians, politicians, and artists."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/drop-dead-city-documentary-film-review|title=Drop Dead City|website=RogerEbert.com|first=Jason|last=Bailey|date=April 25, 2025|access-date=October 1, 2025}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.dropdeadcitythemovie.com/ Official website] * {{IMDb title|tt34279942}}

Category:2024 films Category:2024 documentary films Category:Documentary films about New York City Category:2024 American films Category:American documentary films Category:2024 English-language films Category:1975 New York City fiscal crisis