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Idiocracy

Play trailer Poster for Idiocracy R Released Sep 1, 2006 1h 24m Comedy Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
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71% Tomatometer 51 Reviews 61% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
In 2005, average in every way private Joe Bowers (Luke Wilson) is selected to take part in a secret military experiment to put him in hibernation for a year along with a woman named Rita (Maya Rudolph). The slumbering duo is forgotten when the base they are stored on is closed down and are left in stasis until 2505. When they finally wake up, they discover the average intelligence of humans has decreased so much that Joe is now the smartest man in the world.
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Idiocracy

Idiocracy

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Critics Consensus

Frustratingly uneven yet enjoyable overall, Idiocracy skewers society's devolution with an amiably goofy yet deceptively barbed wit.

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Critics Reviews

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Reihan Salam Slate Idiocracy is easily the most potent political film of the year, and the most stirring defense of traditional values since Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France. Apr 9, 2020 Full Review Bilge Ebiri Village Voice The whole film has a drab, somnambulant rhythm. Intentional or not, this is part of its genius. Oct 4, 2016 Full Review Ann Hornaday Washington Post If the world is going to hell in any number of handbaskets -- as Judge so acutely demonstrates that it is -- you might as well hitch a ride in his. May 7, 2009 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Crappy film. Rated: D Nov 20, 2020 Full Review Peter Schom IGN Movies While dumb people are an easy target, Judge makes a mistake in only working variants of this one riff. Rated: 4/10 Apr 9, 2020 Full Review Lucy Barrick Radio Times Although Wilson's everyman is a bit too much of a blank slate to really care about, the gaudy visuals and cynical gags more than compensate. Rated: 3/5 Apr 9, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Joshua L A prescient movie, and as many put it, it's aged into more of a documentary. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/21/25 Full Review Drew F This movie has aged so well it’s scary. Absolutely hilarious fun film. Short run time so it packs a punch full of laughs from beginning to end. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/18/25 Full Review Niklas L The movie is quite thought-provoking (how dumb could we actually get?). However, I do not think that its genre (Comedy) and setup fit the story very well. 1. The movie does not show a likely future, and I do not think that it ever intended to do so. Clearly, if people would become very dumb, then the world would look quite differently. Television, commerce and advanced machinery would be no more. Rather, I feel as if the movie is a comedy of contemporary dumbed-down-American consumers, and thus also a critique of the latter. As such, I think it is good and also a little fun. 2. I think the movie should have either been a (probably pretty dystopian) movie about such a future, or a comedy movie about contemporary America. Mixing these two does not make the comedy better, and makes the movie and story itself quite flat and dumb. 3. The comedy is not top-notch, except for Terry Crews character, who is certainly a fun watch. All in all, a wasted opportunity. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/16/25 Full Review Mark m Uncomfortably close to current events, but pretty funny. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/08/25 Full Review Volodymyr S US in very current moment... Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/03/25 Full Review Kevin P A pretty funny satire that feels equally dated and sharp with its creative worldbuilding and time capsule commentary of 2000’s America. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/27/25 Full Review Read all reviews
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Idiocracy

A scene from the film "Idiocracy." A scene from the film "Idiocracy." Idiocracy (2006) Idiocracy (2006) Idiocracy (2006) Idiocracy (2006) Idiocracy (2006) Idiocracy (2006) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In 2005, average in every way private Joe Bowers (Luke Wilson) is selected to take part in a secret military experiment to put him in hibernation for a year along with a woman named Rita (Maya Rudolph). The slumbering duo is forgotten when the base they are stored on is closed down and are left in stasis until 2505. When they finally wake up, they discover the average intelligence of humans has decreased so much that Joe is now the smartest man in the world.
Director
Mike Judge
Producer
Mike Judge, Elysa Koplovitz
Screenwriter
Mike Judge, Etan Cohen
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox
Rating
R (Sex-Related Humor|Language)
Genre
Comedy, Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 1, 2006, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Oct 4, 2016
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 1, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$438.7K
Runtime
1h 24m
Sound Mix
Dolby, DTS
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