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By Design

Play trailer 1:39 By Design 1h 32m Comedy Drama Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
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69% Tomatometer 36 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Verified Ratings
A woman (Juliette Lewis) swaps bodies with a chair, and everyone likes her better as a chair in a surreal, deadpan comedy from director Amanda Kramer.
By Design

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Amanda Kramer's delicate creation intellectualizes the absurdity of objectification, yet this film won't sit still in the audience's mind and that's By Design.

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Cast & Crew

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Amanda Kramer

Director

Juliette Lewis

Actor

Mamoudou Athie

Actor

Melanie Griffith

Actor

Samantha Mathis

Actor

Robin Tunney

Actor

Critics Reviews

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Jourdain Searles The Hollywood Reporter Feb 13
The alienating nature of the premise is what makes it fascinating, pushing us to question how we want to be seen and experienced as people in the world. Go to Full Review Tara Judah Sight & Sound Feb 12
Amanda Kramer was already one to watch and her fifth dramatic feature proves she is an unmatched voice in American indie cinema. Go to Full Review Brian Tallerico RogerEbert.com Jan 25
There are some sharp ideas in “By Design” and one excellent performance, but it often struggles to tie those ideas together in a coherent way, wearing out its welcome long before it’s over. Go to Full Review Stefania Sarrubba Screensphere Nov 12
2/5
As a piece to behold, it’s gorgeous and engrossing, but risks splintering as soon as you try to sit on it. Go to Full Review Stephen A. Russell Orion's Shoulder (Substack) Sep 8
With much to say about the objectification of women, unreal Instagram-proliferated lifestyles and the vultures who circle our ever-decreasing disposable incomes, it’s a bountifully biting fable. Go to Full Review Jessica Gonzales Geek Vibes Nation Jul 17
7/10
Amanda Kramer, who has made other odd and dark, satirical films in the past, has crafted a strange yet tragically funny film, and it is clear that she understands just how silly human nature and our made-up rules can often be. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
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By Design

By Design: Trailer 1 By Design: Trailer 1 1:39 View more videos

Movie Info

Synopsis A woman (Juliette Lewis) swaps bodies with a chair, and everyone likes her better as a chair in a surreal, deadpan comedy from director Amanda Kramer.
Director
Amanda Kramer
Producer
Miranda Bailey, Sarah Winshall, Natalie Whalen, Jake Agger
Screenwriter
Amanda Kramer
Distributor
Music Box Films
Production Co
Smudge Films, Cold Iron Pictures
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 13, 2026, Limited
Runtime
1h 32m