Downsizing (film)

Downsizing
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAlexander Payne
Written by
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyPhedon Papamichael
Edited byKevin Tent
Music byRolfe Kent
Production
companies
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release dates
  • August 30, 2017 (2017-08-30) (Venice)
  • December 22, 2017 (2017-12-22) (United States)
Running time
135 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$68–76 million[2][3]
Box office$55 million[2]

Downsizing is a 2017 American science fiction comedy-drama film directed by Alexander Payne, written by Payne and Jim Taylor, and starring Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau, and Kristen Wiig. It tells the story of Paul Safranek, who decides to undergo a recently invented procedure to shrink his body so he can start a new life in an experimental community, which he ends up doing alone when his wife backs out at the last minute; his journey takes an unexpected turn after he befriends an impoverished activist. Principal photography for the film began in Ontario, Canada, on April 1, 2016.

The film premiered at the 74th Venice International Film Festival on August 30, 2017, and was theatrically released in the United States by Paramount Pictures on December 22, 2017. It was a box-office bomb, grossing only $55 million against a production budget of $68–76 million, and received mixed reviews from critics.[4] Nevertheless, it was chosen by the National Board of Review as one of the top ten films of 2017,[5] while Chau earned a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 75th Golden Globe Awards.[6][7]

  1. ^ "Cinema - Alexander Payne - Downsizing". Venice Film Festival. August 15, 2017. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Downsizing (2017)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  3. ^ "2017 Feature Film Study" (PDF). FilmL.A. August 8, 2018. p. 25. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  4. ^ Giles, Jeff (December 21, 2017). "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is Certified Fresh". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  5. ^ "National Board of Review Announces 2017 Award Winners". National Board of Review. November 28, 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  6. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (December 11, 2017). "Golden Globe Nominations: Complete List". Variety. Penske Business Media. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  7. ^ "Downsizing: Nominations and awards". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.