By Design

Play trailer

By Design

2025

1h 32m

Comedy

Drama

Sci-Fi

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

73%

Tomatometer

30 Reviews

Popcornmeter

0 Ratings

Camille and Olivier are intriguing people with rich interior character landscapes. But in a society that refuses to acknowledge their existence, is it better to be a chair?

Jourdain Searles

The Hollywood Reporter

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.

Feb 13, 2025

Full Review

Tara Judah

Sight & Sound

Amanda Kramer was already one to watch and her fifth dramatic feature proves she is an unmatched voice in American indie cinema.

Feb 12, 2025

Full Review

Brian Tallerico

RogerEbert.com

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.

Jan 25, 2025

Full Review

Rendy Jones

Rendy Reviews

Only Amanda Kramer could make me believe that being inanimate feels more exciting than being alive. It's anything but wooden.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 11, 2025

Full Review

Andrew Webster

The Verge

The movie can drag in moments, particularly because of its lengthy narration, but its strange vision is weirdly charming and eventually pushes towards a surprisingly intense climax.

Feb 10, 2025

Full Review

Lyvie Scott

Inverse

Part experimental theater, part absurd tragicomedy, By Design is an oddball of a film — but it manages to express an untenable aspect of the feminine mystique with a unique blend of gonzo charm.

Feb 10, 2025

Full Review

Read all reviews

Amanda Kramer

Director

Juliette Lewis

Actor

Mamoudou Athie

Actor

Melanie Griffith

Actor

Samantha Mathis

Actor

Robin Tunney

Actor

PK

80%

85%

PK

Watchlist

Marjorie Prime

89%

61%

Marjorie Prime

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Marjorie Prime

Unidentified Objects

86%

80%

Unidentified Objects

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Unidentified Objects

Tom of Your Life

71%

59%

Tom of Your Life

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Tom of Your Life

Cold Souls

75%

54%

Cold Souls

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Synopsis

Camille and Olivier are intriguing people with rich interior character landscapes. But in a society that refuses to acknowledge their existence, is it better to be a chair?

Director: Amanda Kramer
Producer: Miranda Bailey, Sarah Winshall, Natalie Whalen, Jake Agger
Screenwriter: Amanda Kramer
Production Co: Smudge Films, Cold Iron Pictures
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 32m