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Falling Down

Play trailer Poster for Falling Down R 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

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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Gavin F. I’m pretty sure every one of us has thought about doing something like this on a bad day. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/06/25 Full Review Amy C Just rewatched Falling Down after 32 years since I last watched this movie. I thought it it depicted truths about class, society and and the struggleto remain relevant, viable in what is an increasingly dishonest, unfair and increasingly hostile world. I cried after because 32 years ago, we were a better country , better people than what we are now. Today, we are on the verge of massive job losses as tech bros recklessly speed a technology that will soon bein control of human destiny, and we elected a President who cannot tell the truth and has made the lives of everyday Americans harder, stacking the deck against the middle and working classes. We may all be on the verge of becoming Bill. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/26/25 Full Review Calvin T Wasn't bad......that's the definition of "when's its enough" Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/17/25 Full Review robert b Watching this for the second time. It's been years since and although a bit dated it still holds up very well. Terrific acting and screenplay. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/02/25 Full Review Brad H What a brilliant film, rewatched again only recently and still as good as ever. Michael Douglas and Robert Duvall are positively magnetic. The morality in the film is wonderfully murky, very much leaving it up to the audience to decide what is right and wrong. If I had one tiny criticism (only occurred to me after watching it a few times mind you) - geez Prendergast makes some incredible leaps of logic to work out who the guy is! Just happened to be in the traffic jam at the right time and remembered that moment? Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/02/25 Full Review Shaun R Still a great movie. Would’ve been an all time classic if it wasn’t for some of the slightly over the top, exaggerated gun scenes. Would’ve also have been great to explore Douglas’s mental crisis. Let’s face it, we’ve all had a Falling Down moment. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/29/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Falling Down

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Cast & Crew

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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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Falling Down

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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
Regency Enterprises, Warner Bros., Le Studio Canal +, Alcor Films
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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