Idiocracy

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Idiocracy

R

2006

1h 24m

Comedy

Sci-Fi

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Popcornmeter

71%

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51 Reviews

61%

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50,000+ Ratings

In 2005, average in every way private Joe Bowers (Luke Wilson) is selected to take part in a secret military experiment to put him in hibernation for a year along with a woman named Rita (Maya Rudolph). The slumbering duo is forgotten when the base they are stored on is closed down and are left in stasis until 2505. When they finally wake up, they discover the average intelligence of humans has decreased so much that Joe is now the smartest man in the world.

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Critics Consensus

Frustratingly uneven yet enjoyable overall, Idiocracy skewers society's devolution with an amiably goofy yet deceptively barbed wit.

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Reihan Salam

Slate

Apr 9, 2020

Idiocracy is easily the most potent political film of the year, and the most stirring defense of traditional values since Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France.

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Bilge Ebiri

Village Voice

Oct 4, 2016

The whole film has a drab, somnambulant rhythm. Intentional or not, this is part of its genius.

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Ann Hornaday

Washington Post

May 7, 2009

If the world is going to hell in any number of handbaskets -- as Judge so acutely demonstrates that it is -- you might as well hitch a ride in his.

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Nov 20, 2020

D

Crappy film.

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Peter Schom

IGN

Apr 9, 2020

4/10

While dumb people are an easy target, Judge makes a mistake in only working variants of this one riff.

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Lucy Barrick

Radio Times

Apr 9, 2020

3/5

Although Wilson's everyman is a bit too much of a blank slate to really care about, the gaudy visuals and cynical gags more than compensate.

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Frans B

@FransB Nov 4, 2026

Genius. One of my all time favorite movies. Arguably the most realistic interpretation of the "future", well evidently right on track if you look around you at the moment hey? Stupidity is on the rise people, at an unprecedented pace, don't you think? Great premise, very well written and amazing storytelling. Luke Wilson simply shines in character. Very realistic feel to it. Filled with hilarious moments, stupidity, drama, tomfoolery, nitpicking, melodrama, peculiar circumstances, twists and intrigue. Entertaining, eye-opening and captivating

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Sam T

@STCG472 Oct 25, 2026

9/10 This movie is unbelievably stupid. In a good way! This was a hilarious movie that me and my cousin Zach watched and we both had some good laughs. The concept of putting people into cryosleep into 500 years in the future (which btw this movie is making me question the future of mankind) and everyone being idiots is in my opinion a really cool movie concept. Well done Luke and Maya!

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Nelly L

@RT35187793 Sep 16, 2026

Watched twice. 1x in 2020 and 1x in 2024. Eye-opening literally and metaphorically. Wonderful job displaying a dystopian world. We should all turn off our AC, use a smaller fridge, and charge our devices less. Wear more natural fibres (E.g. cotton), and drink more plain water. Overconsumption has gotten to us. Not just US but also Singapore, where I’m from. Singapore is a lovely place and nothing like this movie, but I see traces of idiocracy here too — overweight people on the streets waddling around, shoppers swarming over piles of cheap clothes, students buried to their phones…… All in all, I realised I keep resorting to politically correct statements for fear of being judged in a negative way. I should change that. However, just by saying that means I am conforming to society’s norms. Also, define "normal", what does "normal" mean? Not the Oxford definition or AI Google summary. Someone tell me what’s normal.

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Farah R

@Farah Sep 12, 2026

This is both a comedy for its outrageously silly humor, and a horror for its accuracy in foreseeing the future. The songs were all there and we really did nothing to prevent the decline of human intelligence.

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Jamar J

@DennyDawg Sep 11, 2026

Prophecy with comedy...Foretold Trump!@

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 9, 2026

Idiocracy = a 3.5 star movie!

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Mike Judge

Director

Luke Wilson

Pvt. Joe Bowers

Maya Rudolph

Rita

Dax Shepard

Frito

Terry Crews

President Camacho

David Herman

Secretary of State

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Synopsis

In 2005, average in every way private Joe Bowers (Luke Wilson) is selected to take part in a secret military experiment to put him in hibernation for a year along with a woman named Rita (Maya Rudolph). The slumbering duo is forgotten when the base they are stored on is closed down and are left in stasis until 2505. When they finally wake up, they discover the average intelligence of humans has decreased so much that Joe is now the smartest man in the world.

Director: Mike Judge
Producer: Mike Judge, Elysa Koplovitz
Screenwriter: Mike Judge, Etan Cohen
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Rating: R (Sex-Related Humor|Language)
Genre: Comedy, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 1, 2006, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Oct 4, 2016
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $438.7K
Runtime: 1h 24m
Sound Mix: Dolby, DTS

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