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Downsizing

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2:25

Downsizing

R

Released Dec 22, 2017

2h 15m

Comedy

Drama

Sci-Fi

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

47%

Tomatometer

300 Reviews

25%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Mild-mannered therapist Paul Safranek and his wife, Audrey, decide to undergo a process in which scientists shrink people down to miniature size to live in small communities. The irreversible procedure allows the people to gain wealth and a life of leisure while helping to cut down on the consumption of natural resources. As Paul gets to know his new neighbors and surroundings, he soon learns that living in a tiny suburb comes with its own set of huge problems.

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Critics Consensus

Downsizing assembles a talented cast in pursuit of some truly interesting ideas -- which may be enough for some audiences to forgive the final product's frustrating shortcomings.

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Mark Kermode

Kermode & Mayo's Film Review

All those disparate elements fail to gel.

Aug 28, 2018

Full Review

Henry K. Miller

Sight & Sound

While Downsizing is not not about the end of human life on earth, it confronts the prospect with minimal sentiment, and uses it to ask questions about what the good life might consist of, here and now.

Jan 29, 2018

Full Review

Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

With his latest film, Alexander Payne finds himself teetering uncomfortably atop a high-concept device and wrestling with tonal clashes.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 29, 2018

Full Review

Diana Tuova

Spotlight on Film

Strangely deviating from its own fascinating concept of small people, the second half of the film shouts bewildering environmental and political messages befitting more a climate or migration documentary.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 9, 2024

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

A smart premise is reduced to groan-inducing humor and languishing unintelligence.

Rated: 1/5

Apr 7, 2024

Full Review

Dan Schindel

Vague Visages

Downsizing thinks it has big ideas, but artistically and intellectually, it’s as small as its protagonists.

Dec 6, 2023

Full Review

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Christian W

It really missed some opportunities. Nearly no interactions with differently sized people: the same story could've been told without shrinking anyone. Squandered possibilities, following one guy's journey and he wasn't even among the most interesting people.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/03/23

Full Review

Paja M

Quite unrealistic. There are many assumptions shout the economy that make no sense. What benefits do you actually get from downsizing? Also too much failed social commentary in 1 movie.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/06/25

Full Review

Darren S

The only redeeming aspect of this movie is that I got to see Christoph Waltz act in it. Everything else is just terrible, its like they had a premise of an idea and then realised there was nowhere to go with it beyond the first 30 minutes. What an absolute waste of time. In fact it was so bad it compelled me to make an account on this site.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/04/25

Full Review

Audience Member

I didn’t get beyond the rat

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/04/25

Full Review

Jessi H

Great concept, cast and effects, it starts well, really interesting and humorous but then lost its way, the second half could be a totally different film. I thought he was going to keep the humanity storyline going and change the lives of those living the other side of the wall, ….so that being little really does differ from being big. Also the scientist felt bad for what she went through ….. I guess he doesn’t know she’s now living in a ghetto ? Made no sense. Easy watch but it could have been great

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

06/04/25

Full Review

David J G

I found this film to be incredibly sloooow and uninvolving. Possibly the shrinking people concept might have sounded promising on paper but, in my opinion, the film didn't work at all, especially stretched over two and a quarter hours. And I found that a particular actor's voice in the last half hour to be the most annoying I've ever heard. The film ended with a whimper. To summarise in one word: boring.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

06/02/25

Full Review

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Alexander Payne

Director

Matt Damon

Paul

Christoph Waltz

Dusan

Kristen Wiig

Audrey

Hong Chau

Ngoc Lan

Jason Sudeikis

Dave Johnson

Downsizing: Official Clip - Human Extinction

2:00

Downsizing: Official Clip - Entering the Vault

2:13

Downsizing: Official Clip - A New Love

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Downsizing: Official Clip - You're Leaving Me Here?

2:13

Downsizing: Official Clip - A Little Advice

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Downsizing: Official Clip - I Go to Norway Too

2:02

Downsizing: Official Clip - Leisureland Presentation

2:05

Downsizing: Official Clip - 8 Kinds of F***

2:14

Downsizing: Official Clip - Welcome to Little Norway

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Downsizing: Official Clip - The Shortening Process

2:17

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Downsizing: Trailer 2

2:25

Downsizing: Trailer 1

2:25

Downsizing: Teaser Trailer 1

0:30

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Synopsis

Mild-mannered therapist Paul Safranek and his wife, Audrey, decide to undergo a process in which scientists shrink people down to miniature size to live in small communities. The irreversible procedure allows the people to gain wealth and a life of leisure while helping to cut down on the consumption of natural resources. As Paul gets to know his new neighbors and surroundings, he soon learns that living in a tiny suburb comes with its own set of huge problems.

Director: Alexander Payne
Producer: Megan Ellison, Mark Johnson, Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor, Jim Burke
Screenwriter: Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Ad Hominem Enterprises
Rating: R (Language|Drug Use|Sexual References|Some Graphic Nudity)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 22, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 23, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $24.4M
Runtime: 2h 15m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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