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2026

Short answer: Metropolis, the German silent science-fiction film directed by Fritz Lang and written by Thea von Harbou, premiered in Berlin on January 10, 1927. Its city is split between a privileged elite above ground and workers who live and labor below.

The year 2026 doesn't appear in the film. Von Harbou's novel says the story happens 'at no particular place or time'. The date comes from the 1963 Ace Books paperback, whose title page reads 'The World of 2026 A.D.' It was repeated in later writing on the film and in Giorgio Moroder's 1984 re-scored version. Film historians Lotte Eisner and Paul M. Jensen placed it around 2000 instead. Footage long thought lost was found in Buenos Aires in 2008 and restored for a 2010 re-release.

VideoWrite-up3 sources
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What should you know about 2026?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. The film itself never states that it's set in 2026.

    DD-714-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit C (Where 2026 comes from)

  2. Metropolis premiered in Berlin on January 10, 1927.

    DD-714-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit A (The film)

Video transcript: 2026: Was Metropolis Set in 2026?

DID YOU KNOW? In Fritz Lang's 1927 film Metropolis, the year 2026 is envisioned as a starkly divided future city, dominated by colossal skyscrapers, elevated highways, and massive machines that power society. The city is split vertically and socially: the wealthy elite live in towering structures filled with light, leisure, and technology, while workers toil underground in harsh mechanized conditions.

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 24.3s Reel ·

Video coming soon2026 · Instagram Reel
2026: Was Metropolis Set in 2026? Instagram Reel · · 24.3s

The write-up

Was Metropolis set in 2026? The 1927 film never names a year. A 1963 book edition did.

  1. Exhibit A

    The film

    Metropolis was shot over 17 months in 1925-26 at Babelsberg for UFA and premiered on January 10, 1927. It cost about 5.3 million Reichsmarks, more than three times its original budget.

  2. Exhibit B

    The city

    The ruling class enjoys towers, gardens and stadiums, while workers live and work in a city deep below and run the machines in long shifts. The story follows Freder, the son of the city's master, and Maria, a figure the workers revere.

  3. Exhibit C

    Where 2026 comes from

    The film doesn't name a year, and von Harbou's novel says the story takes place 'at no particular place or time'. The 1963 Ace Books paperback, with a foreword by Forrest J Ackerman, put 'The World of 2026 A.D.' on its title page.

  4. Exhibit D

    How it stuck

    The 2026 date was repeated in later writing on the film, and Giorgio Moroder's 1984 version added a title card with it. Historians Lotte Eisner and Paul M. Jensen placed the story around 2000 instead.

  5. Exhibit E

    Found footage

    In 2008, a nearly complete 16 mm copy was found at the Museo del Cine in Buenos Aires. It made a 2010 restoration close to the original cut possible.

Questions people ask about 2026

Where does the '2026' date come from?

The 1963 Ace paperback's title page: 'The World of 2026 A.D.'

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (The film) · Wikipedia: Metropolis (1927 film)

Who wrote the novel and screenplay?

Thea von Harbou, with Lang.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (The city) · Wikipedia: Metropolis (1927 film)

When did Metropolis premiere?

January 10, 1927, in Berlin.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (The city) · Wikipedia: Metropolis (1927 film)

Where was long-lost footage found in 2008?

At the Museo del Cine in Buenos Aires.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (The film) · Wikipedia: Metropolis (1927 film)

Which composer's 1984 version added a 2026 title card?

Giorgio Moroder.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (The film) · Wikipedia: Metropolis (1927 film)

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. Where does the '2026' date come from?

    1. A 1963 Ace Books edition
    2. A title card in the original film
    3. Fritz Lang's diary
    4. The 1927 poster
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. A 1963 Ace Books edition The 1963 Ace paperback's title page: 'The World of 2026 A.D.' Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (The film) · Wikipedia: Metropolis (1927 film)

  2. Who wrote the novel and screenplay?

    1. Thea von Harbou
    2. H.G. Wells
    3. Bertolt Brecht
    4. Erich Pommer
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Thea von Harbou Thea von Harbou, with Lang. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (The city) · Wikipedia: Metropolis (1927 film)

  3. When did Metropolis premiere?

    1. January 10, 1927
    2. 1925
    3. 1933
    4. 1963
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. January 10, 1927 January 10, 1927, in Berlin. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (The city) · Wikipedia: Metropolis (1927 film)

  4. Where was long-lost footage found in 2008?

    1. Buenos Aires
    2. Berlin
    3. Moscow
    4. New York
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Buenos Aires At the Museo del Cine in Buenos Aires. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (The film) · Wikipedia: Metropolis (1927 film)

  5. Which composer's 1984 version added a 2026 title card?

    1. Giorgio Moroder
    2. Hans Zimmer
    3. Vangelis
    4. John Williams
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Giorgio Moroder Giorgio Moroder. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (The film) · Wikipedia: Metropolis (1927 film)

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "2026." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-714, last updated Apr 27, 2026. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/metropolis-2026/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/metropolis-2026/ · Last updated

Markdown version

Cite a single fact by its ID, for example DD-714-F01 → https://detailenjoyer.com/case/metropolis-2026/#DD-714-F01