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I.O.U.S.A.

Play trailer Poster for I.O.U.S.A. PG Released Aug 22, 2008 1h 27m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
88% Tomatometer 64 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Will the United States of America go broke in your lifetime? This documentary examines the myriad reasons why such a dangerous outcome is a distinct possibility. In the opinion of some, as the baby boomer generation ages, entitlement programs will be strained to the breaking point, and an astronomical defense budget and excessive national debt threaten to hurl the country over the financial brink. If the U.S. is not prepared to change its ways, the film warns, we'd better be ready for disaster.
I.O.U.S.A.

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Critics Consensus

A potent and lithely constructed documentary about America's financial crisis, I.O.U.S.A grabs you with figures but holds you with irreverent wit.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Movie Mom Rated: B+ Feb 18, 2012 Full Review David Fear Time Out Rated: 2/5 Nov 18, 2011 Full Review Hank Sartin Time Out Rated: 4/5 Nov 17, 2011 Full Review Kelly Vance East Bay Express Bottom line: The party's over. There's no such thing as a free lunch. America itself may be a bubble. Aug 15, 2011 Full Review Simon Foster sbs.com.au If more people had watched this film, they might still have their houses. Mar 9, 2011 Full Review Matthew Turner ViewLondon Well made, informative and genuinely terrifying documentary, in which the use of humour can't quite diminish the spectre of doom and gloom. Rated: 3/5 Jan 14, 2010 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member A simple doc that leaves with facts on how the national debt may one day burst Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/06/19 Full Review Audience Member The financial situation of the world post this documentary underscores the need for both a hard look at the causes of how the debt crisis came about, but also the sobering pain that might have to occur in trying to wrest it back under control. What might have been a dry subject was made surprisingly engaging and easy to follow. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Audience Member A fantastic movie that should be shown to every politician and High School Economics class across the country. Our politicians have our credit card and they are spending with reckless abandon and don't care. They are forcing the debt upon my generation, my kids and my un-born grandchildren. The only problem with this video is it is now five years old. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member One could almost look on this doom-and-gloom documentary with fond nostalgia. "Remember five years ago when the national debt was only 8 trillion? Those were the days!" Of course it is now 16 trillion and likely to be 20 trillion in four more years. The movie is excellent on the history and the peril, but is light on solutions. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member Good one. Shows the US debt's alarming situation in 2007 and how their hands are tied vs China and oil exporting countries. I wish the movie was bringing some comparisons of US situation (currently 102% debt\GDP ration) vs other countries like Japan (208%), Greece (165%), Italy (120%), Ireland (104%), Canada (84%), etc. Interesting fact: the US debt\GDP ratio increased from 69% to 102% in the last 4 years. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Audience Member A really informative, well done documentary meant to inform the viewer all about the Federal debt and yearly deficit. It's split into four sections: Spending, saving, trade, leadership. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews
I.O.U.S.A.

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Movie Info

Synopsis Will the United States of America go broke in your lifetime? This documentary examines the myriad reasons why such a dangerous outcome is a distinct possibility. In the opinion of some, as the baby boomer generation ages, entitlement programs will be strained to the breaking point, and an astronomical defense budget and excessive national debt threaten to hurl the country over the financial brink. If the U.S. is not prepared to change its ways, the film warns, we'd better be ready for disaster.
Director
Patrick Creadon
Producer
Sarah Gibson, Christine O'Malley
Screenwriter
Patrick Creadon, Addison Wiggin, Christine O'Malley
Distributor
Roadside Attractions
Production Co
O'Malley Creadon Productions
Rating
PG (Thematic Elements)
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 22, 2008, Limited
Release Date (DVD)
Apr 7, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA)
$821.0K
Runtime
1h 27m