Falling Down

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Falling Down

R

Released Feb 26, 1993

1h 55m

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

75%

Tomatometer

57 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

A middle-aged man dealing with both unemployment and divorce, William Foster (Michael Douglas) is having a bad day. When his car breaks down on a Los Angeles highway, he leaves his vehicle and begins a trek across the city to attend his daughter's birthday party. As he makes his way through the urban landscape, William's frustration and bitterness become more evident, resulting in violent encounters with various people, including a vengeful gang and a dutiful veteran cop (Robert Duvall).

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Critics Consensus

Falling Down's popcorn-friendly take on its complex themes proves disquieting -- and ultimately fitting for a bleakly entertaining picture of one man's angry break with reality.

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Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

A brilliant drama with black-comic undertones. The film is directed by Joel Schumacher and stars Michael Douglas, in what may be the best performance of his career,

Rated: 4/4

Jan 11, 2023

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

None of the characters ever rises beyond the level of his or her generic functions, and by the end the overall emptiness of the conception becomes fully apparent.

Jul 18, 2011

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Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

Let's face it, there is an element of truth in the character of D-FENS. But it is, finally, tabloid truth.

Jul 18, 2011

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Bianca Garner

Filmotomy

Its technical aspects along with Douglas’ performance are praise worthy. There is so much to admire from a screenwriting perspective as it pulls you instantly into this world...

Oct 10, 2024

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Falling Down," a stellar film, is Joel Schumacher's miracle.

Rated: 4.0/4.0

Sep 7, 2020

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Barbara Shulgasser

Common Sense Media

Disturbing '90s crime thriller has violence and language.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 17, 2020

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Aaron C

All time classic thriller about one man's mental health. We have all had days feeling we would like to do what he does. Could be Michael Douglas' best film

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/26/24

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Audience Member

This is one of those films when you walk away after watching the film and start talking about the scenes you like like the McDonald’s bit of this film when he asks for breakfast. I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Then again, I really like Michael Douglas and he is perfect in this role.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/06/24

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Ken H

This writer, producer,director has done a spectacular job in grabbing our emotions, and thoughts about a man who has given up on life and welcomes death as his goal.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/23/24

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Farah R

It's hard to admit that I related way too much to Michael Douglas's antihero. Whether it's because he's a powerful actor or because I, too, tend to lose my wits when the temperature soars, Falling Down was an uncomfortable yet impactful film with themes just as relevant today as 30 years ago, if not more so.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/03/24

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A A

Just an absolute winner of a 90s film. Captures the frustration and disappointment of urban life (esp in Los Angeles) at the height of the drug epidemic and all the reverberations that had through society. You'll love Michael Douglas in some moments and hate him in others...people aren't simple, we may appreciate their message but not always their actions. Either way it was a fantastic movie for its time, modern audiences (whenever you are) will see their own realities in it, but they will likely connect with some aspect of what he is enduring.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/24/24

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Jay H

"I'm the bad guy???"

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/23/24

Full Review

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Joel Schumacher

Director

Michael Douglas

William Foster

Robert Duvall

Prendergast

Barbara Hershey

Beth

Rachel Ticotin

Detective Sandra

Tuesday Weld

Amanda Prendergast

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1993’s Falling Down is an Eerie Reflection of Modern America’s Persecution Complex

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Synopsis

A middle-aged man dealing with both unemployment and divorce, William Foster (Michael Douglas) is having a bad day. When his car breaks down on a Los Angeles highway, he leaves his vehicle and begins a trek across the city to attend his daughter's birthday party. As he makes his way through the urban landscape, William's frustration and bitterness become more evident, resulting in violent encounters with various people, including a vengeful gang and a dutiful veteran cop (Robert Duvall).

Director: Joel Schumacher
Producer: Timothy Hyde Harris, Arnold Kopelson, Herschel Weingrod
Screenwriter: Ebbe Roe Smith
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Warner Bros., Le Studio Canal +, Alcor Films, Regency Enterprises
Rating: R
Genre: Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 26, 1993, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $40.4M
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR

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