It took place in the '80s, not the '90s.

What year is Maniac set in?

It's all a bit disorienting, but outside of the trial, it's still basically 2018. Showrunner Cary Fukanaga also contextualized the Maniac timeline during an interview with Digital Spy.

Where does Maniac take place?

Set in a retro futuristic version of New York City, the limited series Maniac on Netflix stars Emma Stone and Jonah Hill. The story centers around two lonely New Yorkers who sign up for a pharmaceutical trial to test an experimental drug that was developed to rewire troubled minds and destroy feelings of pain.