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Falling Down

Play trailer Poster for Falling Down R 1993 1h 55m Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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Falling Down

Falling Down

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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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Critics Reviews

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Mick LaSalle San Francisco Chronicle 01/11/2023
4/4
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, Go to Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader 07/18/2011
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. Go to Full Review Richard Schickel TIME Magazine 07/18/2011
Let's face it, there is an element of truth in the character of D-FENS. But it is, finally, tabloid truth. Go to Full Review Bianca Garner Filmotomy 10/10/2024
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... Go to Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com 09/07/2020
4.0/4.0
Falling Down," a stellar film, is Joel Schumacher's miracle. Go to Full Review Barbara Shulgasser Common Sense Media 07/17/2020
2/5
Disturbing '90s crime thriller has violence and language. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Bill B @RT01438538 Jan 17 Several seriously two-dimensional characters are strewn throughout (cringe-worthy stereotypes), but when focusing on Douglas and Duvall it is a decent film. Unique in its story. See more Gavin F. @bonkloud Nov 6 I’m pretty sure every one of us has thought about doing something like this on a bad day. See more Amy C @RT58669540 Oct 26 Just rewatched Falling Down after 32 years since I last watched this movie. I thought it it depicted truths about class, society and and the struggleto remain relevant, viable in what is an increasingly dishonest, unfair and increasingly hostile world. I cried after because 32 years ago, we were a better country , better people than what we are now. Today, we are on the verge of massive job losses as tech bros recklessly speed a technology that will soon bein control of human destiny, and we elected a President who cannot tell the truth and has made the lives of everyday Americans harder, stacking the deck against the middle and working classes. We may all be on the verge of becoming Bill. See more Calvin T @Calvin504 Oct 17 Wasn't bad......that's the definition of "when's its enough" See more robert b @RT26413437 Oct 2 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. See more Brad H @RT71498508 Oct 2 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? See more Read all reviews
Falling Down

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Cast & Crew

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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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Falling Down

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Movie Info

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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