The Descendants

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The Descendants

R

Released Nov 23, 2011

1h 55m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

268 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Native islander Matt King (George Clooney) lives with his family in Hawaii. Their world shatters when a tragic accident leaves his wife in a coma. Not only must Matt struggle with the stipulation in his wife's will that she be allowed to die with dignity, but he also faces pressure from relatives to sell their family's enormous land trust. Angry and terrified at the same time, Matt tries to be a good father to his young daughters, as they too try to cope with their mother's possible death.

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Critics Consensus

Funny, moving, and beautifully acted, The Descendants captures the unpredictable messiness of life with eloquence and uncommon grace.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

I liked it. I enjoyed it. I did not resent the time I'd spent watching it, although that may just be because I seriously have nothing better to do.

Aug 31, 2018

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David Thomson

The New Republic

The Descendants is humane, decent, and close to real quality.

Jun 20, 2013

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Philip Kemp

Sight & Sound

The film plays to Payne's strengths - not just the emotional complexity and the constantly shifting kaleidoscope of moods, but his skill at eliciting in-depth performances from his cast.

Jan 31, 2012

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

There are moments throughout the film where characters need to speak their pace, whether that peace is good news, bad news, loving support, hurtful truth, assertiveness, or even the things you shouldn't say and, therefore, leave at peace.

Rated: 5/5

Apr 7, 2024

Full Review

Emiliano Basile

EscribiendoCine

... The film stands out for exploring the human condition from the awkwardness - and at times humor - that extreme situations produce. The kind that family forces us to go through. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 10/10

Jan 2, 2024

Full Review

Danilo Castro

Next Best Picture

It’s the sort of resonant, mid-budget film that we see so rarely these days, and it’s a reminder that when Payne is at his peak, few directors are more skilled at depicting the paradox of human behavior.

Rated: 9/10

Jul 7, 2023

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Richard M

No comedy as RT says A family drama and tear jerker

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/10/25

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Jordan O

Incredibly real and heartfelt. George Clooney and Shailene Woodley’s performance is incredible and the father daughter dynamic feels original.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/29/25

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Stephen L

The Descendants is a strong but not quite exceptional entry in Alexander Payne’s filmography. George Clooney delivers a grounded performance, capturing the weary dignity of a man caught between grief, betrayal and reluctant responsibility. The Hawaiian setting adds a melancholic beauty to the story, though the film’s themes never cut as deeply as they seem to want to. The supporting cast is solid – Shailene Woodley’s performance stands out – but the film occasionally drifts into sentimentality or indie quirk. While it’s well made and emotionally restrained, it’s not as affecting as it might have been. Good, not great.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/22/25

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Brian D

77%. 3/16/25 - 2nd watch. Just a very, simple, relatable story that with the amazing setting in Hawaii that makes it an enjoyable watch. The plot is sad with the Mom gets in a boating accident and in a coma and dying, the husband then discovers she was cheating on him and Clooney's character has to navigate all this with his two daughters. He's also the head of a trust for land their large family inherited and having to decide to sell and cash out and piss off the locals or hold onto the land. Sid, Shailene Woodley's friend that she has with her throughout the movie is very funny. Very light watch. 4/5 rewatch

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/17/25

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B. S

"The Descendants" is a poignant and subtly funny film about a flawed man navigating grief and family turmoil in Hawaii. George Clooney delivers a nuanced performance, and the film's blend of humor and pathos is both affecting and relatable.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/17/25

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Horror fan 4

A very heartwarming and wonderful movie. Clooneys performance was great. Tim Treakle

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/14/25

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Alexander Payne

Director

George Clooney

Matt King

Shailene Woodley

Alexandra King

Amara Miller

Scottie King

Nick Krause

Sid

Patricia Hastie

Elizabeth King

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Synopsis

Native islander Matt King (George Clooney) lives with his family in Hawaii. Their world shatters when a tragic accident leaves his wife in a coma. Not only must Matt struggle with the stipulation in his wife's will that she be allowed to die with dignity, but he also faces pressure from relatives to sell their family's enormous land trust. Angry and terrified at the same time, Matt tries to be a good father to his young daughters, as they too try to cope with their mother's possible death.

Director: Alexander Payne
Producer: Jim Burke, Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
Screenwriter: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Production Co: Little Blair, Dune, Ad Hominem Enterprises, Ingenious Film Partners
Rating: R (Sexual References|Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 23, 2011, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $82.6M
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: Dolby, SDDS

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