By Design

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By Design

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1h 32m

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71%

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52 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 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.

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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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Coleman Spilde

Salon.com

2d

Sstick around, and you will find that Kramer’s take on the subgenre is far more fascinating and pertinent to life outside the movie theater than most of its peers.

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Bob Mondello

NPR

2d

Writer and director Amanda Kramer uses interpretive dance and exquisite art direction to create a work that's off-putting, peculiar and inviting all at once -- as much performance art as film, and definitely something to sit with.

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Peyton Robinson

RogerEbert.com

Feb 13

3/4

It is not laugh-out-loud funny, but tragically comical, prompting us to laugh at the superficiality and emotional displacement of its existential questions.

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Erik Reeds

Spectrum Culture

3d

By Design is an interesting and forward-thinking work, even if it does come off as a bit of a missed opportunity at times.

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Robert Stinner

In Review Online

4d

By Design, always pleasurable and charming to watch, nonetheless puts forth startling ideas.

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Elijah Fischer

MovieJawn

Feb 14

Kramer’s theatrical direction always lends itself to the kinds of stories she wants to tell, but By Design feels like new ground has been broken.

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Joe C

@JoeinAtl Feb 15

If this were a student film by 19 year olds, it would all be forgivable - the fragmented storyline, clunky dialogue, unforgiving lighting, makeup and costume. It's not a student film, though, it's made by purported professionals with real actors. It's a novel concept, but seems to be trying so so hard that it becomes too artsy by half.

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Dave J

@ccodave Feb 15

It was worthwhile seeing even though I felt its true potential was never realized. I was intrigued by its premise (a woman's soul is transferred to a chair coveted by many) but for me there was too much bizarre filler material.

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Amanda Kramer

Director

Juliette Lewis

Camille

Mamoudou Athie

Olivier

Samantha Mathis

Lisa

Robin Tunney

Irene

Alisa Torres

Marta

By Design: Trailer 1

1:39

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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: Jacob Agger, 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
Box Office (Gross USA): $20.3K
Runtime: 1h 32m

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