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Falling Down

Play trailer Poster for Falling Down R Released Feb 26, 1993 1h 55m Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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Falling Down

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com Falling Down," a stellar film, is Joel Schumacher's miracle. Rated: 4.0/4.0 Sep 7, 2020 Full Review Barbara Shulgasser Common Sense Media Disturbing '90s crime thriller has violence and language. Rated: 2/5 Jul 17, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member How much stress on your limit before you break? This is him having a mental break, but it's not forced, it's forced on him. He just takes it too far every time, but only when hostility is literally forced on him. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/09/24 Full Review Adam S I saw this movie in the 90s, and I still watch it. It's one of my favorites. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/05/24 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

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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