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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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

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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

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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

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Fabrícia F

Que show de filme. Amei a experiência, a interpretação contida mas bem posicionado de Michael Douglas como um homem obstinado e violento, as coincidências do roteiro que se conectam aos personagens e a presença ilustre de Robert Duvall como um experiente detetive vivendo um dia desafiante.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/28/25

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thiago s

Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são mais ou menos, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

09/27/25

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Oaklee D

I have no idea how Joel Schumacher went from making this to making his god awful Batman films. This film was awesome and I definitely recommend it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/24/25

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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: 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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