Downsizing

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2:25

Downsizing

R

2017

2h 15m

Comedy

Drama

Sci-Fi

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

47%

Tomatometer

299 Reviews

26%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Mild-mannered therapist Paul Safranek and his wife, Audrey, decide to undergo a process in which scientists shrink people down to miniature size to live in small communities. The irreversible procedure allows the people to gain wealth and a life of leisure while helping to cut down on the consumption of natural resources. As Paul gets to know his new neighbors and surroundings, he soon learns that living in a tiny suburb comes with its own set of huge problems.

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Critics Consensus

Downsizing assembles a talented cast in pursuit of some truly interesting ideas -- which may be enough for some audiences to forgive the final product's frustrating shortcomings.

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Mark Kermode

Kermode & Mayo's Film Review

Aug 28, 2018

All those disparate elements fail to gel.

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Henry K. Miller

Sight & Sound

Jan 29, 2018

While Downsizing is not not about the end of human life on earth, it confronts the prospect with minimal sentiment, and uses it to ask questions about what the good life might consist of, here and now.

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

Jan 29, 2018

3/5

With his latest film, Alexander Payne finds himself teetering uncomfortably atop a high-concept device and wrestling with tonal clashes.

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Diana Tuova

Spotlight on Film

Aug 9, 2024

3/5

Strangely deviating from its own fascinating concept of small people, the second half of the film shouts bewildering environmental and political messages befitting more a climate or migration documentary.

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Apr 7, 2024

1/5

A smart premise is reduced to groan-inducing humor and languishing unintelligence.

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Dan Schindel

Vague Visages

Dec 6, 2023

Downsizing thinks it has big ideas, but artistically and intellectually, it’s as small as its protagonists.

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Christian W

Jan 3, 2023

It really missed some opportunities. Nearly no interactions with differently sized people: the same story could've been told without shrinking anyone. Squandered possibilities, following one guy's journey and he wasn't even among the most interesting people.

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Oskar D

@Oskar12336 5 days ago

I honestly like it. It shows the problems of the world in many ways. But, the story itself just falls short.

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sarah H

@Humphriessarah2 Aug 15, 2026

I get the message but this was not good. I wanted to turn it off but I thought maybe it'll get better. It really doesn't

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Chris S

@Janomi Aug 10, 2026

Downsizing has plenty to like because the central idea is genuinely fascinating. Shrinking people as a response to overpopulation, consumption, wealth, and environmental collapse is a strong sci-fi hook, and the setup is much more interesting than the story that follows. The early world-building is the best part. The tiny luxury communities, economic advantages, new social rules, and strange appeal of miniature life give the movie a clever satirical edge. Matt Damon works well as an ordinary man pulled into a much bigger social experiment, even if the character is not always the most compelling part of the film. Hong Chau gives the movie its strongest emotional presence as Ngoc Lan Tran. She brings humor, pain, bluntness, and humanity that the film badly needs. Downsizing is ambitious and has interesting things to say about class, climate, privilege, and responsibility, but it drifts away from its best ideas too often.

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Virpi R

@Uneton Aug 3, 2026

I liked this, even though it was unusual. A good movie doesn't spell everything out but leaves room for the viewer's own insights. A film that has been criticized far too much.

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Mike S

@RT81617967 Jul 19, 2026

Terrible movie. Matt Damon is cast as a buffoon and the lead actress is trying really hard to have an Asian accent. It's completely unbelievable. All around, this is a really bad movie. Don't bother.

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Alexander Payne

Director

Matt Damon

Paul

Christoph Waltz

Dusan

Kristen Wiig

Audrey

Hong Chau

Ngoc Lan

Jason Sudeikis

Dave Johnson

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Synopsis

Mild-mannered therapist Paul Safranek and his wife, Audrey, decide to undergo a process in which scientists shrink people down to miniature size to live in small communities. The irreversible procedure allows the people to gain wealth and a life of leisure while helping to cut down on the consumption of natural resources. As Paul gets to know his new neighbors and surroundings, he soon learns that living in a tiny suburb comes with its own set of huge problems.

Director: Alexander Payne
Producer: Megan Ellison, Mark Johnson, Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor, Jim Burke
Screenwriter: Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Ad Hominem Enterprises
Rating: R (Language|Drug Use|Sexual References|Some Graphic Nudity)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 22, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 23, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $24.4M
Runtime: 2h 15m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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