I.O.U.S.A. (2008)

86% of critics liked it
(65 reviews)
81% of users liked it
(1,638 ratings)

As the United States faces unprecedented financial crises, filmmaker Patrick Creadon explores just how America got to be in the economic mess that it finds itself in, eventually detailing just what the nation would have to do in order to prevent a bad situation from turning into an all-out financial… More As the United States faces unprecedented financial crises, filmmaker Patrick Creadon explores just how America got to be in the economic mess that it finds itself in, eventually detailing just what the nation would have to do in order to prevent a bad situation from turning into an all-out financial disaster from which no citizen could escape. ~ Cammila Albertson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 27 min.
Directed By: Patrick Creadon
Written By: Patrick Creadon, Christine O'Malley, Addison Wiggin
Genres: Documentary, Special Interest

In Theaters: Aug 22, 2008 Limited
On DVD: Apr 7, 2009
Studio: Roadside Attractions

Critic Reviews

Tom Long, Detroit News
A movie that should be seen by everyone.
Richard Nilsen, Arizona Republic
You will not likely forget the Jeremiad it presents about how the United States has been living on borrowed money -- and borrowed time -- for decades and now is presenting the bill for our extravagance to our grandchildren.
Jason Anderson, Toronto Star
I.O.U.S.A. is a clear, cogent and compelling primer on contemporary American economics and the not-so-small matter of how we ended up at the edge of a precipice.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
A documentary about the U.S. addiction to debt, I.O.U.S.A. could have easily taken the title of another movie released this week, What Just Happened?
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
A sharp, absorbing portrait of our national debt crisis.
Sheri Linden, Los Angeles Times
Packed with facts, figures and the testimony of policy experts, the film is no wallow in wonkiness, but a surprisingly sprightly tough-love lesson in fiscal responsibility.
Kelly Vance, East Bay Express
Bottom line: The party's over. There's no such thing as a free lunch. America itself may be a bubble.
Simon Foster, sbs.com.au
If more people had watched this film, they might still have their houses.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
Well made, informative and genuinely terrifying documentary, in which the use of humour can't quite diminish the spectre of doom and gloom.
Jennifer Merin, About.com
Think of this important documentary as Economics 101, a primer on how America and Americans spend, and what hardships the future holds for us unless we change the pattern and our habits quickly.
Kam Williams, NewsBlaze
Tough talk for tough times.
Ron Wilkinson, Monsters and Critics
For a film starring the national debt, this is a good one. The expected tedious numerical research is accompanied by excellent graphics and archival footage that bring it alive. Is anyone listening?
Marty Mapes, Movie Habit
Practically begs audiences to declaim it essential viewing, rather than quietly convincing us
S. James Wegg, JWR
Fending off the global repo man
Karina Montgomery, Cinerina
I.O.U.S.A manages to keep this dense, dry information dynamic enough to be interesting and terrifying enough to be important.
Bill Gibron, PopMatters
If you believe the terrifying documentary I.O.U.S.A., America is headed for a financial crisis of monumental proportions - and apparently, we are probably too late to keep it from happening.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Its aim is to raise awareness of an impending financial disaster if America continues acting fiscally and morally irresponsible.
Frank Ochieng, Movie Eye
[A] timely documentary...There is a sense of urgency that propels Creadon's cautionary narrative as an alarming wake-up call to financial discipline.
Gabe Leibowitz, Film and Felt
Creadon avoids turning his film into a partisan slugfest, instead opting to focus on how our country as a whole must come together.
Dave Calhoun, Time Out
This solid doc reminds us how unsustainable the current American economy is.

Read all 23 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

E.J. B

A very in depth documentary that breaks down America's economic problem into layman's terms and emphasizes just how big this problem is. The true horror of the situation is that the idiot leaders of the most powerful nation in the world have still not been able to foresee… More
A very in depth documentary that breaks down America's economic problem into layman's terms and emphasizes just how big this problem is. The true horror of the situation is that the idiot leaders of the most powerful nation in the world have still not been able to foresee this problem and are not doing anything about it. One thing I know the filmmakers don't want to see is their prediction come true, and hopefully, the right people see this film.
Curtis L

We're screwed. I like how people in the government spend our tax money on $450 tatoos, $20,000 Hawaiian vacations, and Girls Gone Wild videos. The sad thing is this film was made in 2007, talking about how bad Bush made the economy, and how the next President will hopefully… More
We're screwed. I like how people in the government spend our tax money on $450 tatoos, $20,000 Hawaiian vacations, and Girls Gone Wild videos. The sad thing is this film was made in 2007, talking about how bad Bush made the economy, and how the next President will hopefully make it better. How depressing...
Rico Z

This documentary is very good at breaking things down for the layman who knows our economy is broken--but doesn't understand the specifics. I knew that we were in a bad state, but never knew how bad things really were. This movie shows you a lot of numbers, figures, graphs and… More
This documentary is very good at breaking things down for the layman who knows our economy is broken--but doesn't understand the specifics. I knew that we were in a bad state, but never knew how bad things really were. This movie shows you a lot of numbers, figures, graphs and pie charts--as well as plenty of interview footage with some of the most prominent experts and people directly involved. It is shocking to see the staggering figures on the screen and learn that things are still not over. Of course--it's not all doom and gloom. There is ultimately hope for a fix in the bleeding treasury. And, as the movie points out, it's up to the individual citizen to curb our own selfish spending and elect leader who will act. Many may be put off by the presentation (which is more facts than it is entertainment) but this is a documentary that every American citizen should watch before going on shopping sprees at Neiman-Marcus.
Sarah P

A great wake-up call. The unfortunate part is I'm sure only a very small fraction of the American public has seen this film, let alone even know this problem exists. So wake-up everyone: We can't have it all and expect to go on the way we do now.
Grifty G

This is a doc that every person should see. We've all heard our whole life about the national debt and how it's really bad, but this film really crystallized how bad it is going to get in a very short period of time if we don't do something soon. My main criteria for… More
This is a doc that every person should see. We've all heard our whole life about the national debt and how it's really bad, but this film really crystallized how bad it is going to get in a very short period of time if we don't do something soon. My main criteria for rating this so high is how well the film gets across the facts and explains how we got to where we are, and where we are headed. (FYI- This is on Netflix streaming)