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City of Ember poster
6.4 / 10(1,971 votes)IMDbPG20081h 35m$17.9M Worldwide GrossUnited States of America

City of Ember

“Escape is the only option”

Synopsis

For generations, the people of the City of Ember have flourished in an amazing world of glittering lights. But Ember's once powerful generator is failing and the great lamps that illuminate the city are starting to flicker. Now, two teenagers, in a race against time, must search Ember for clues that will unlock the ancient mystery of the city's existence, before the the lights go out forever.

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Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes

Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.

City of Ember Trailer [HD]

Type: Trailer • Published 2011-03-09

Release History & Theatrical Window

Theatrical Premiere

October 7, 2008

Wide Cinema Exhibition

4K UHD / Blu-ray Debut

January 20, 2009

Physical Home Media

Financials & Box Office Performance

ReleasedUnderperformed (0.32x ROI)

Production Budget

$55M

Filming & production cost

Worldwide Gross

$17.9M

Total global ticket sales

Box Office Return

0.32x

-$37.1M deficit

Theatrical Status

Budget Return

Box office tier

Budget: $55MWorldwide: $17.9M

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director
Gil Kenan
Screenplay & Story
Caroline Thompson
Original Score
Andrew Lockington
Original Title
City of Ember
Country of Origin
United States of America
Spoken Languages
English
Runtime
1h 35m
Production Budget
$55M
Worldwide Gross
$17.9M
Production Studios
Playtone, Walden Media

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

Gil Kenan

Screenplay & Story

Caroline Thompson, Jeanne Duprau

Original Score & Music

Andrew Lockington

Director of Photography

Xavier Grobet

Film Editing

Adam P. Scott, Zach Staenberg

Producers

Diana Choi, Gary Goetzman, Tom Hanks, John D. Schofield, Steven Shareshian

Department Leadership Roster

Gil Kenan

Gil Kenan

Director

Caroline Thompson

Caroline Thompson

Screenplay

Gary Goetzman

Gary Goetzman

Producer

Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks

Producer

Steven Shareshian

Producer

Xavier Grobet

Xavier Grobet

Director of Photography

Adam P. Scott

Editor

Zach Staenberg

Zach Staenberg

Editor

Martin Laing

Production Design

Ruth Myers

Costume Design

Andrew Lockington

Andrew Lockington

Original Music Composer

Vincent Cirelli

Visual Effects Supervisor

Joe Condren

Joe Condren

Stunt Coordinator

Age Classification & Content Advisories

Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.

Primary: PG

PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.

International Certification Matrix

Australia (ACB)G

General — Suitable for all audiences.

Germany (FSK)12

FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.

France (CNC)U

Tous publics — Universal audience.

United Kingdom (BBFC)PG

Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.

United States (MPAA)PG

Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.

Official cinematic photography and background stills for City of Ember.

Featured In Curated Collections

Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring City of Ember.

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Frequently Asked Questions About City of Ember

Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.

What is City of Ember about?

For generations, the people of the City of Ember have flourished in an amazing world of glittering lights. But Ember's once powerful generator is failing and the great lamps that illuminate the city are starting to flicker. Now, two teenagers, in a race against time, must search Ember for clues that will unlock the ancient mystery of the city's existence, before the the lights go out forever.

Who directed City of Ember?

City of Ember was directed by Gil Kenan.

Who stars in City of Ember?

The principal cast of City of Ember includes Saoirse Ronan, Harry Treadaway, Bill Murray, David Ryall, Tim Robbins.

When was City of Ember released and how long is it?

City of Ember was released in 2008 with a total runtime of 1h 35m.

What was the box office and production budget of City of Ember?

City of Ember had a reported production budget of $55M and grossed $17.9M at the worldwide box office (0.32 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).

Who composed the musical score for City of Ember?

The original motion picture soundtrack for City of Ember was composed by Andrew Lockington.

What is the age rating and content advisory for City of Ember?

City of Ember holds official age classifications: AU: G (General — Suitable for all audiences.); DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).