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Sci-fi drama

Downsizing (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Downsizing (2017) movie poster

Downsizing is a 2017 sci-fi drama directed by Alexander Payne, starring Matt Damon as Paul Safranek, Rolf Lassgård and Søren Pilmark. It runs 2 hours 15 minutes and earned $55 million worldwide on a $68 million budget. It earned 3 award nominations, including Best Supporting Actress at the Critics' Choice 2018. Critics gave it 47% on Rotten Tomatoes and 64 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10.

IMDb rating
5.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes
47%
worldwide gross
$55M
award nominations
3
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Downsizing (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 15m (135 min)
Director
Alexander Payne
Genres
Sci-Fi , Drama , Comedy
Original language
English
Budget
$68M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Downsizing About?

The premise of Downsizing without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Seeking a better financial future, Paul Safranek and his wife Audrey decide to undergo a radical process: voluntary downsizing, shrinking themselves to just inches tall. Hoping for a life of luxury in a specially built community for the miniaturized, they soon find that their dreams are complicated by unforeseen consequences and the realities of their new, tiny world. The experience forces them to confront questions about happiness, consumerism, and what truly matters in life.

Downsizing Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • miniaturization
  • alternate future
  • husband wife relationship
  • scientist
  • downsizing
  • shrinking man
  • shrinking
  • shrinking in size
  • shrinking technology
  • shrinking formula
  • bergen norway
  • vietnamese
+38 more
  • divorce
  • slum
  • neighbor
  • party
  • interracial romance
  • experiment
  • surrealism
  • boat
  • human smuggling
  • amputee
  • unnatural experiment
  • environment
  • body change
  • body transformation
  • size change
  • changing size
  • latex gloves
  • one word title
  • computer
  • omaha nebraska
  • omaha steaks
  • norwegian
  • fjord
  • end of the world
  • injection
  • hypodermic needle
  • laboratory
  • occupational therapist
  • high school reunion
  • father daughter relationship
  • shaving someone's body hair
  • shaving someone's eyebrows
  • economics
  • amputated leg
  • limping woman
  • cleaning lady
  • telephone
  • telephone call
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Cast & crew

Downsizing Cast & Characters

Matt Damon leads the cast as Paul Safranek, with Rolf Lassgård as Dr. Jorgen Asbjørnsen and Søren Pilmark as Dr. Andreas Jacobsen. Directed by Alexander Payne; 18 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Alexander Payne

More films directed by Alexander Payne, best-rated first: The Holdovers, Sideways, Nebraska and About Schmidt.

Full filmography
Ratings

Downsizing Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Downsizing 47% on Rotten Tomatoes and 64 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 53/100, strongest in art & craft (75) and weakest in story & flow (40).

53 /100

Downsizing Echo Score Breakdown

Downsizing presents an inventive premise but struggles to sustain narrative momentum throughout its runtime. The film’s ambitious concept and creative production design earn praise for originality and visual flair, yet its central characters often lack sufficient development, leading to underwhelming emotional resonance. Critics frequently note the uneven pacing that results in promising early sequences giving way to meandering drama, and many viewers found the structural shifts disruptive. While individual elements such as striking visual effects and thematic ambition stand out, the overall execution leaves a mixed impression.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 75

    In terms of art and craft, Downsizing showcases imaginative direction and inventive production design that highlight the film’s central conceit. Critics and some viewers praise the visual flair of the shrinking sequences and the coherent visual style of the miniature world. Although isolated complaints note that scale effects sometimes feel inconsistent, the film’s overall visual ambition remains evident.

  • Character & Emotion 45

    When it comes to character and emotion, the film’s central figures struggle to achieve depth and dynamism. Reviews frequently criticize Matt Damon’s role for lacking a defining purpose and emotional clarity, resulting in a detached audience connection. Positive mentions focus on strong supporting performances, particularly from the Vietnamese actress, but these highlights cannot fully offset the uneven emotional engagement.

  • Story & Flow 40

    In terms of story and flow, Downsizing opens with a compelling concept but fails to maintain coherent momentum across its extended runtime. Observers highlight a strong opening hour followed by narrative digressions that diminish engagement, and critics note an underdeveloped thematic payoff. While moments of originality and surprising tonal shifts receive acknowledgement, the uneven pacing ultimately undermines sustained narrative impact.

  • Sensory Experience 60

    Concerning sensory experience, the film benefits from thoughtful cinematography and a clean, cohesive visual style that underscores the miniature environment. Select visual effects draw particular praise for their inventiveness. However, some viewers find the scale of props inconsistent and report that the soundtrack and sound design do little to elevate the overall atmosphere beyond solid craftsmanship.

  • Rewatch Factor 45

    As for rewatch factor, Downsizing’s unique premise and occasional thematic insights offer limited incentive for repeated viewings. While the initial concept feels fresh and certain visual sequences retain curiosity value, the film’s uneven pacing and underresolved character arcs reduce its lasting appeal. Consequently, the movie is unlikely to inspire significant replay interest.

Plot

Downsizing Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Downsizing from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Searching for solutions to the pressing issues of overpopulation and global warming, Norwegian scientist Dr. Jorgen Asbjornsen from the Edvardsen Institute invents “downsizing” — a groundbreaking process that shrinks organic material irreversibly. Established in the 1950s with the revenue derived from mustard gas production during World War II, the institute aimed to utilize scientific advancements for the betterment of humanity. Recognizing overpopulation as a pivotal threat, they discovered that downsizing could offer an unlikely yet effective solution.

Full summary

The whole story of Downsizing, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Downsizing Box Office & Budget

Downsizing grossed $55 million worldwide on a $68 million budget, 81% of what it cost. $24.4 million came from the US and Canada and $30.6 million (56%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$55M

81% of its budget back

US & Canada
$24.4M
International
$30.6M
Budget
$68M
US & Canada 44% Rest of the world 56%
Awards

Downsizing Awards & Nominations

Downsizing earned 3 award nominations, including Best Supporting Actress at the Critics' Choice 2018. The 3 nominations come from 3 ceremonies.

3 nominations3 ceremonies

Videos

Downsizing Trailers & Videos

10 videos: 2 trailers, 3 teasers, 2 clips and 3 featurettes.

All 10 videos
Official Trailer
  • Trailer Official Trailer #2
  • Teaser Exclusive Look
  • Teaser Steps
  • Teaser Have It All
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Downsizing?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the inventor of the downsizing procedure?

Cars

Cars in Downsizing

23 cars on screen, including the 2010 Buddy and the 2013 Nissan Altima.

All 23 cars
  • 2010 Buddy in Downsizing 2010 Buddy Important role
  • 2013 Nissan Altima in Downsizing 2013 Nissan Altima Important role
  • 1993 Ford Taurus in Downsizing 1993 Ford Taurus Minor role
  • New Flyer D 40 LF in Downsizing New Flyer D 40 LF Minor role
Details

Downsizing Also Known As

33 alternative titles, including “Короче” and “Küçülen Hayatlar”.

Also known as
  • Короче
  • Küçülen Hayatlar
  • Pequena Grande Vida
  • 縮小人生
  • Pequeña Gran Vida
  • Petit format
  • Una vida a lo grande
  • 다운사이징
  • Kiçilən Həyatlar
  • Mali veliki svijet
  • Downsizing - Vivere alla grande
  • Зменшення
+21 more
  • Kicsinyítés
  • Μικρόκοσμος
  • Малък голям живот
  • לחיות בקטן
  • Zmenšování
  • Смањивање
  • Pomniejszenie
  • ダウンサイズ
  • 缩小人生
  • Zmenšovanie
  • Sumažinti žmonės
  • Malgrandigado
  • Samazināšana
  • มนุษย์ย่อไซส์
  • Downsizing: Mini-oamenii
  • 縮水人間
  • Krčenje
  • Thu Nhỏ
  • تقليص الحجم
  • Mali veliki život
  • Kahandamine

Seen Downsizing?

FAQ

Downsizing FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Downsizing, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Downsizing?

Downsizing runs 2 hours 15 minutes (135 minutes).

When was Downsizing released?

Downsizing was released on December 22, 2017.

Who directed Downsizing?

Downsizing was directed by Alexander Payne.

More films by Alexander Payne

Who is in the cast of Downsizing?

Downsizing stars Matt Damon as Paul Safranek, Rolf Lassgård as Dr. Jorgen Asbjørnsen and Søren Pilmark as Dr. Andreas Jacobsen, among 18 credited actors.

How much did Downsizing make at the box office?

Downsizing grossed $55 million worldwide ($24.4 million domestic, $30.6 million international) on a budget of $68 million.

How is Downsizing rated?

Downsizing has 5.8/10 on IMDb, 47% on Rotten Tomatoes, 64 on Metacritic and 54% on TMDB.

Was Downsizing nominated for any awards?

Downsizing received 3 nominations across 3 ceremonies.

Does Downsizing have a post-credit scene?

No. Downsizing has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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