The Incredible Shrinking Man

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The Incredible Shrinking Man

Released Apr 1, 1957

1h 21m

Sci-Fi

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Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

53 Reviews

83%

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2,500+ Ratings

While on a boating trip, Scott Carey (Grant Williams) is exposed to a radioactive cloud. Nothing seems amiss at first, but several months later Scott realizes that he's shrunk in height by several inches. He sees a doctor, who admits that he's baffled. As Scott continues to shrink, decreasing to three feet tall, he becomes bitter, and lashes out at his wife, Louise (Randy Stuart). He begins to fear a cure will never be found -- since even as he becomes a national sensation, he's still shrinking.

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Critics Consensus

A curiously sensitive and spiritual addition to the Universal Monsters line-up, tacking on deep questions about a story who is shrinking to death.

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Jean Yothers

Orlando Sentinel

The film's trick photography is pretty good. The acting, pretty poor. Regardless, it holds a horrible fascination.

Sep 24, 2021

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Mae Tinee

Chicago Tribune

Oversize sets and trick photography are extremely obvious and utterly unconvincing.

Sep 24, 2021

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Marjory Adams

Boston Globe

It will be pleasant to see Williams and Miss Stuart again. They are far better theatrically than the usual run of players in this type of picture.

Sep 24, 2021

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

...Simple storytelling, vivid effects and a disturbing premise which is followed through to the bitter end; Arnold and Matheson are cult figures now, and this is reason enough for their canonisation....

Rated: 4/5

Jan 23, 2024

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Jack Arnold’s screen adaptation of Richard Matheson’s novel 'The Shrinking Man' is compassionate, intelligent, and the most metaphysical American science fiction film until Stanley Kubrick’s '2001: A Space Odyssey.'

Jan 6, 2024

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Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

It feels a lot like other horror films with incredible special effects...

Feb 28, 2023

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CodyZamboni Z

Mostly gripping tale of survival against house cat and spider in basement, Movie has some well staged action, and an empathetic lead, But movie ends up unncessarily philosophical and high minded, That killed the fun,

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/20/24

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Ted B

3.5 stars. I saw this movie when it was first released in 1957 and remember being wowed by it. Seeing it again recently, I felt it really never lost anything in the translation over the years. There was great empathy created for the shrinking man (played by Grant Williams), which took you through some tense, thrilling scenes when he was put into perilous situations due to his miniature size, i.e., chased by a cat and a spider. Given its many years before SGI, I give great credit to the special effects team for using oversized props and trick photography to create a well-done effect of an actual man shrinking. The film ends with an esoteric message that: Even the smallest of men are significant in God's eyes. This is a good example of a well-done 1950s sci-fi film.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/15/24

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Dallas H

I truly enjoyed watching this movie. It is a fun viewing and completely vibes with the '50s style science fiction movies. I was a bit surprised toward the beginning when the doctor stated actual scientific facts about how the body naturally compresses down the spine as the day goes on giving the illusion of shrinking. I wasn't expecting scientific facts to be casually dropped like that in an old sci-fi flick.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/15/24

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NiB Y

A great work of existential dread that every movie lover should see. The effects, miniature work, and specially the ending and Jack Arnold's direction are perfect.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/06/24

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Audience Member

Not your typical fare, The Incredible Shrinking Man, at its core, is an examination of man's preconceptions of what constitutes value and one's own self worth. It is poignant and profound, delivering one of the most beautifully written endings in film history. On the Sci Fi end, It also delivers some great visuals. This is a singular Sci Fi masterpiece.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/01/24

Full Review

Chris r

It was a really good movie, thought provoking funny emotion-full. I loved it I watched it in theater at Film Forum the new 4k restoration. If ever the chance def watch this at a theater. Definitely worth your time.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/03/23

Full Review

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Jack Arnold

Director

Grant Williams

Scott Carey

Randy Stuart

Louise Carey

April Kent

Clarice

Paul Langton

Charlie Carey

William Schallert

Doctor Arthur Bramson

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Synopsis

While on a boating trip, Scott Carey (Grant Williams) is exposed to a radioactive cloud. Nothing seems amiss at first, but several months later Scott realizes that he's shrunk in height by several inches. He sees a doctor, who admits that he's baffled. As Scott continues to shrink, decreasing to three feet tall, he becomes bitter, and lashes out at his wife, Louise (Randy Stuart). He begins to fear a cure will never be found -- since even as he becomes a national sensation, he's still shrinking.

Director: Jack Arnold
Producer: Albert Zugsmith
Screenwriter: Richard Matheson
Distributor: MCA/Universal Home Video, Universal Pictures, Ultra Pictures
Production Co: Universal International Pictures
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 1, 1957, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2014
Runtime: 1h 21m

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