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Down to Earth

Play trailer Poster for Down to Earth PG-13 Released Feb 16, 2001 1h 27m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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19% Tomatometer 95 Reviews 40% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
When amateur comedian Lance Barton (Chris Rock) finds himself at Heaven's door, he is convinced there has been a mistake. Miraculously he is right. Since returning to his own body is not an option, a heavenly agent places him into the corpse of a rich Manhattan mogul who has just been murdered by his wife -- until a more suitable replacement can be found. Ironically, it is as this new person that Lance ultimately discovers his true self, falls in love and improves his comedy act in the process.
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Down to Earth

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Critics Consensus

A toned down Chris Rock fails to bring a limp script to life as the movie moves from one gag to the next.

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Critics Reviews

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Joe Morgenstern Wall Street Journal Mr. Rock's opening scene is very funny. After that it's a steep downhill slide. Feb 5, 2018 Full Review Nell Minow Common Sense Media Likeable Chris Rock in a comedy about race. Rated: 3/5 Dec 22, 2010 Full Review Globe and Mail Rated: 2.5/4 Mar 19, 2002 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: C Mar 19, 2013 Full Review Hollywood.com Rated: 2/5 Nov 20, 2008 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 0.5/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Rich S Now I understand why Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 06/06/24 Full Review The A Really ROTTEN. No way to find actor and Co interesting. No good jokes. Nothing funny. Es hat NICHTS mit den beiden ersten Verfilmungen gemein. Lächerliche Darsteller und sowohl im Englischen als auch Deutschen nicht lustig. Aber Hauptsache WIEDER eine Neuverfilmung mit einem COLORED PEOPLE .... ich mag den Darsteller ansonsten wirklich, aber nicht in dieser Rolle und einer solchen Neuverfilmung. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 09/03/23 Full Review Audience Member A very sweet remake of "Heaven can Wait," with a few twists that make it all its own. Very solid performances by Rock, Regina King, and especially Frankie Faison in the role so memorably played by Jack Warden in the great 1978 film. Wanda Sykes and Jennifer Coolidge were also very good. No, this wasn't the equal of HCW, but it is a very pleasant movie in its own right. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Audience Member It's funny & enjoyable, what u want to ask for more? Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member I f'ing love this movie. Chris Rock makes films like he wants to see the world, and this is what I love about the movies he chooses to make*. This is a futuristic health care film where we see how hospitals would run if a black man popped into an old white man's bod, which is: HEALTHCARE FOR ALL! It's a really dreamy perspective which should be a reality already. Where does this funny film go wrong? Our main man Chris needs romantic leading man lessons. The love scenes with the beautiful Regina King are cringe-y, and King doesn't need any help acting, so...hint hint. *I won't be seeing "Spiral" Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Chris Rock is so funny! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Down to Earth

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Cast & Crew

The School of Rock 92% 64% The School of Rock Watchlist TRAILER for The School of Rock The Out-of-Towners 28% 32% The Out-of-Towners Watchlist Zoolander 64% 80% Zoolander Watchlist TRAILER for Zoolander The Fighting Temptations 42% 66% The Fighting Temptations Watchlist TRAILER for The Fighting Temptations Head of State 30% 46% Head of State Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis When amateur comedian Lance Barton (Chris Rock) finds himself at Heaven's door, he is convinced there has been a mistake. Miraculously he is right. Since returning to his own body is not an option, a heavenly agent places him into the corpse of a rich Manhattan mogul who has just been murdered by his wife -- until a more suitable replacement can be found. Ironically, it is as this new person that Lance ultimately discovers his true self, falls in love and improves his comedy act in the process.
Director
Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz
Producer
Sean Daniel, Michael Rotenberg, James Jacks
Screenwriter
Chris Rock, Lance Crouther, Ali LeRoi, Louis C.K.
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures, Village Roadshow Prod., NPV Entertainment
Rating
PG-13 (Sexual Humor|Language|Drug References)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 16, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 21, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA)
$64.2M
Runtime
1h 27m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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