List of films set in an unnamed city
This is a list of films set in an intentionally unnamed city. This can be for the purpose of avoiding controversy, creating ambiguity, generalizing the story or creating a sense of detachment from reality. This technique is especially popular in film noir and science fiction.
A movie is ineligible for this list if the name of the city in which it is set is spoken out loud or shown in text during the film. Alternatively, if a unique landmark is spoken out loud or shown in text, the setting has effectively been named.
This film, television or video-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it with reliably sourced additions.
- Brazil (1985) (despite the title) for thematic reasons: Used to create an atmosphere of universal conformity and sameness.
- Dark City (1998) for plot reasons: Used to keep the nature of the setting a secret.
- Gattaca
- Identity (2003) for plot reasons: Used to keep the nature of the setting a secret.
- The Matrix (The Matrix was set in a city named Zion.)
- Men With Guns (1997) for political reasons.
- Metropolis (1927) for thematic reasons: The futuristic metropolis is used as a metonymy for civilization and technology as a whole.
- Miller's Crossing (1990) for thematic reasons: The film is loosely based on The Glass Key, which takes place in an unnamed Eastern American city.
- Missing (1982) for political reasons: The film's plot follows a mysterious kidnapping amidst a US-backed military coup that bears intentional similarities to a case in Chile.
- Nabi
- Saawariya (2008) for thematic reasons: The Director of this Indian classic didn't want his characters to be affected by anything else other than their emotions so he created this unnamed surrealistic city where profession, religion and such things matter less and emotions matter more. Also it beautifies the story.
- Se7en (1995) for thematic reasons: Used to create a sense of alienation.
- Songs from the Second Floor (2000) for the purpose of generalizing the problems in modern society.
- Z (1969) for political reasons: The film's plot follows a government-backed assassination of a pacifist that bears intentional similarities to a case in Greece.