Down to Earth

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Down to Earth

PG-13

2001

1h 27m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

18%

Tomatometer

94 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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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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Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

Mr. Rock's opening scene is very funny. After that it's a steep downhill slide.

Feb 5, 2018

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Likeable Chris Rock in a comedy about race.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 22, 2010

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Matthew Feeney

Slate

The makers of Down to Earth were faced with a dilemma nobody would have anticipated: Boosting their star's screen time kills the comedy.

Feb 27, 2001

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: C

Mar 19, 2013

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Hollywood.com

Rated: 2/5

Nov 20, 2008

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Film Threat

Rated: 0.5/5

Dec 6, 2005

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Stephen C

Funny in 1 hour and 27 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG-13 for Sexual Humor, Language and Drug References!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $64,200,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/13/25

Full Review

Chris M

Absolutely love this movie 30 years old now I remember seeing this when I was way way younger… Chris Rock is a comedy legend and I miss this era of Comedy. I don’t understand how this has so much hate. Y’all got no taste !!!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/16/25

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Chris Weitz

Director

Paul Weitz

Director

Chris Rock

Lance Barton

Regina King

Sontee Jenkins

Chazz Palminteri

King

Eugene Levy

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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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