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Downsizing

Downsizing

We are meant for something bigger.

2017135 minRMidcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
Director
Alexander Payne
Starring
Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau, Kristen Wiig

A kindly occupational therapist undergoes a new procedure to be shrunken to four inches tall so that he and his wife can help save the planet and afford a nice lifestyle at the same time.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Downsizing?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Downsizing streaming on MGM+ via Prime Video and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Subscription

via Prime Video

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Downsizing?

Downsizing earns 6 badges, led by Award Winner and Box Office Flop.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Downsizing worth watching?

Downsizing's Midcredits score is the 26th percentile of all films, from 380K ratings across 6 sources. 32% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

26th percentile

Better received than 26% of films

22nd percentile among Drama27th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)29th
Approval (how many liked it)26th

55 /100

29th percentile of all films

25th percentile among Drama32nd percentile among 2010s

Critics 64 · Audience 55

Critics liked it more than audiences did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 5.6 — solid but not unanimous.

32% liked it

26th percentile of all films

21st percentile among Drama25th percentile among 2010s
32% rated it 7–1068% rated it 1–6

Critics 47% · Audience 26%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 1 wins / 16 noms overall

  • NominatedGolden Globes· Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

98th percentile

379K ratings across platforms

98th percentile among Drama98th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 14% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$68M
Opening weekend$5M
Domestic gross$24M
Worldwide gross$55M

Returned 0.8× its budget — 95th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the film is ambitious and conceptually original but suffers from a fragmented structure and tonal shifts.

Fans praised

  • creative concept and original sci-fi premise
  • Hong Chau's standout performance
  • humane and emotional core beneath the satire

Detractors panned

  • two disjointed movies stitched together
  • meandering plot that loses focus
  • misleading trailer promises a comedy it never delivers

What stands out

Originality80

Subversive high-concept satire, innovative premise

Acting70

Damon and Chau singled out as engaging, Wiig underused

Cinematography70

Visual contrast between worlds, broader palette

Emotional impactDivisive65

Human connections and self-discovery resonate

HumorDivisive55

Dark, witty visual gags but not a laugh-out-loud comedy

CharactersDivisive55

Interesting characters introduced but abandoned

Plot and storyDivisive40

Two-halves structure, meanders and loses coherence

PacingDivisive35

Sluggish second half, runtime feels bloated

Preferred by

Critics vs users

Preferred by Critics

Critics scored it 22 points higher than users.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 8 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 7 points apart
  • US vs non-US 8 points apart

Watch experience

What is Downsizing like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Food for thought: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something to think about afterwards.

It is gentle, takes its time and leaves you thinking. Skip it when you want things to move fast.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Patience.

What it feels like

Food for thought.

Moods
ContemplativeBittersweetHopeful
Heaviest: throughout
Warm humor
Register
Wry · 7% of films: Amused and slightly dry about it.Satirical · 5% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its satirical premise with a deadpan sincerity, alternating between whimsical comedy and earnest social commentary.
The rideThe film maintains a mild, contemplative tone throughout, blending wonder with satire and a gentle emotional arc.
StructureConventional three-act structure following Paul's decision to downsize, his life in Leisureland, and his eventual choice to help others.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Thinking.

The answer rests on this: Thought-provokingHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayThe film's shift from satirical comedy to earnest social commentary leaves a thought-provoking aftertaste about consumerism and environmental neglect, tempered by a hopeful sense of purpose through community.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).RebirthHealing
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13% (this title): Redemption 3% · Healing 5% (this title) · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Rebirth: A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed. · Healing: Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).

13% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypePaul's journey from seeking financial ease to finding purpose in community service within the miniature world fits a rebirth arc with healing from his initial disappointment.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfPurposeSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22% (this title): Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% (this title) · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% (this title) · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% (this title) · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Self

Purpose · 9% of filmsCommunity · 14% of films: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Class · 3% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores a man seeking a better life and ultimately questioning what truly matters beyond material wealth.
StanceThe film questions the value of wealth and the pursuit of a perfect life through a satirical lens, centered on Paul's personal journey.

The world

Near futureUrbanSuburbanStylized realism
Orchestral classicalSupportive music · original score · Rolfe Kent
Settinga near-future world where voluntary shrinking into a miniature society is possible
MusicThe score likely underscores the film's whimsical and satirical moments without overwhelming them.

Content guide

Is Downsizing okay for kids?

R

Downsizing is rated R: “Rated R for language including sexual references, some graphic nudity and drug use” (MPAA). As of September 28, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at minimal (7/100), sexual content at intense (60/100), language at intense (69/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (52/100) and frightening material at minimal (14/100). Overall it is heavier than 22% of R-rated films.

Ratings in 20 other countries
  • UK15
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany0
  • FranceU
  • Ireland15
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil14
  • Czechia18+
  • Denmark7
  • Hungary12
  • ItalyT
  • LTN-13
  • Norway15
  • Poland16
  • PortugalM/14
  • RO18
  • Russia18+
  • Spain12
  • SwedenBtl
  • Switzerland16
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 49% of all filmsHeavier than 22% of R-rated films
Violence & Gore
None / Minimal
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 2%
Sex & Nudity
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 74%
Profanity
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 53%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 66%
Frightening / Intense
None / Minimal
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 7%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is language and sexual content. Everything else sits at or below what R-rated films usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Downsizing have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Downsizing?

Cast

3 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Matt Damon
as Paul Safranek
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Christoph Waltz
as Dusan Mirkovic
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Hong Chau
as Ngoc Lan Tran
Globe nominee: Golden Globe nomination — Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Kristen Wiig
as Audrey Safranek
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Rolf Lassgård
as Dr. Jorgen Asbjørnsen
Ingjerd Egeberg
as Anne-Helene Asbjørnsen
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Udo Kier
as Konrad
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Søren Pilmark
as Dr. Andreas Jacobsen
Jason Sudeikis
as Dave Johnson
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Maribeth Monroe
as Carol Johnson

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Downsizing?

Movies like Downsizing include The Zero Theorem (2013), Her (2013) and About Schmidt (2002). Of the 12 closest matches, two are films by Alexander Payne, and several are films set in the near future.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

8 of these 12 share its subject: purpose. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Downsizing?

4.5K other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: satire or spoof. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.