Downsizing

Play trailer

2:25

Downsizing

R

2017

2h 15m

Comedy

Drama

Sci-Fi

Fantasy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

47%

Tomatometer

299 Reviews

26%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Mild-mannered therapist Paul Safranek and his wife, Audrey, decide to undergo a process in which scientists shrink people down to miniature size to live in small communities. The irreversible procedure allows the people to gain wealth and a life of leisure while helping to cut down on the consumption of natural resources. As Paul gets to know his new neighbors and surroundings, he soon learns that living in a tiny suburb comes with its own set of huge problems.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Downsizing assembles a talented cast in pursuit of some truly interesting ideas -- which may be enough for some audiences to forgive the final product's frustrating shortcomings.

Read Critics Reviews

Mark Kermode

Kermode & Mayo's Film Review

08/28/2018

All those disparate elements fail to gel.

Go to Full Review

Henry K. Miller

Sight & Sound

01/29/2018

While Downsizing is not not about the end of human life on earth, it confronts the prospect with minimal sentiment, and uses it to ask questions about what the good life might consist of, here and now.

Go to Full Review

Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

01/29/2018

3/5

With his latest film, Alexander Payne finds himself teetering uncomfortably atop a high-concept device and wrestling with tonal clashes.

Go to Full Review

Diana Tuova

Spotlight on Film

08/09/2024

3/5

Strangely deviating from its own fascinating concept of small people, the second half of the film shouts bewildering environmental and political messages befitting more a climate or migration documentary.

Go to Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

04/07/2024

1/5

A smart premise is reduced to groan-inducing humor and languishing unintelligence.

Go to Full Review

Dan Schindel

Vague Visages

12/06/2023

Downsizing thinks it has big ideas, but artistically and intellectually, it’s as small as its protagonists.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Christian W

01/03/2023

It really missed some opportunities. Nearly no interactions with differently sized people: the same story could've been told without shrinking anyone. Squandered possibilities, following one guy's journey and he wasn't even among the most interesting people.

See more

Gareth P

@RT73339437 May 7

There are so many holes in this idea of shrinking humans that it is difficult to follow the plot.

See more

Zane T

@ZaneThind Apr 22

While the premise and concept is intriguing with good performances from Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, and Hong Chau. This film's third act is bad and seemingly very inappropriate when comparing it to the other two acts of the film.

See more

prawnda S

@RT72497680 Mar 25

it's pretty good at times, but loses momentum and doesn't seem focused on plausibility in any way despite its scientific premise. there's not really much consistency in how anything works, but most of that is forgivable. the biggest problem though is that the ending is just kind of a wet fart. there's no real conclusion. i think some people would enjoy it, but i cant really recommend it because of the numerous plot holes and weak finale.

See more

Monica B

@Chartreusea Mar 15

Probably like so many , so sad to see a movie with huge potential, but instead took itself too seriously, and went for the easy clinate fear porn issue. Blowing a great premise is more annoying than a good old fashioned bad movie. Boo. A star and a half for some creativity.

See more

J V

@AppropriateTouch Mar 1

It was a mostly fun, silly take on a sci-fi tale. Reviewers looking for deeper meaning are looking in the wrong place. The story is about a man who has repeatedly failed to make opportunistic choices in his life for the sake of others. He has a rescuer mentality even when the choices harm him. In the end the prophetic words of his neighbor come true, and love saves him. Ignore the haters, it’s fun.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Alexander Payne

Director

Matt Damon

Paul

Christoph Waltz

Dusan

Kristen Wiig

Audrey

Hong Chau

Ngoc Lan

Jason Sudeikis

Dave Johnson

Downsizing: Official Clip - Human Extinction

2:00

Downsizing: Official Clip - Entering the Vault

2:13

Downsizing: Official Clip - A New Love

1:57

Downsizing: Official Clip - You're Leaving Me Here?

2:13

Downsizing: Official Clip - A Little Advice

2:11

Downsizing: Official Clip - I Go to Norway Too

2:02

Downsizing: Official Clip - Leisureland Presentation

2:05

Downsizing: Official Clip - 8 Kinds of F***

2:14

Downsizing: Official Clip - Welcome to Little Norway

2:14

Downsizing: Official Clip - The Shortening Process

2:17

View more videos

Slipstream

27%

29%

Slipstream

Watchlist

Sorry to Bother You

93%

70%

Sorry to Bother You

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Sorry to Bother You

Colossal

82%

58%

Colossal

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Colossal

The Lobster

87%

65%

The Lobster

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Lobster

Mean Machine

32%

72%

Mean Machine

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Know Your Critic: Alonso Duralde, Film Reviews Editor at TheWrap

New On DVD in March: Thor: Ragnarok, Lady Bird, Jumanji and More

SAG Awards 2018 Winners — Full List

Downsizing: Trailer 2

2:25

Downsizing: Trailer 1

2:25

Downsizing: Teaser Trailer 1

0:30

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Mild-mannered therapist Paul Safranek and his wife, Audrey, decide to undergo a process in which scientists shrink people down to miniature size to live in small communities. The irreversible procedure allows the people to gain wealth and a life of leisure while helping to cut down on the consumption of natural resources. As Paul gets to know his new neighbors and surroundings, he soon learns that living in a tiny suburb comes with its own set of huge problems.

Director: Alexander Payne
Producer: Megan Ellison, Mark Johnson, Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor, Jim Burke
Screenwriter: Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Ad Hominem Enterprises
Rating: R (Language|Drug Use|Sexual References|Some Graphic Nudity)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 22, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 23, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $24.4M
Runtime: 2h 15m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)