The Descendants

The Descendants (2011)

  • 89% of critics liked it
    (225 reviews)

  • 79% of users liked it
    (52,807 ratings)

From Alexander Payne, the creator of the Oscar-winning Sideways, set in Hawaii, The Descendants is a sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic journey for Matt King (George Clooney) an indifferent husband and father of two girls, who is forced to re-examine his past and embrace his future when his wife… More

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R, 1 hr. 50 min.
Directed By
Alexander Payne
Written By
Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
Genres
Drama, Comedy
In Theaters
Nov 18, 2011 Limited
On DVD
Mar 13, 2012
Fox Searchlight Pictures

Critic Reviews

  • Tom Long, Detroit News

    One of the year's best films, a bubbly meditation on family and responsibility that weighs just enough to matter.

  • Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic

    With so many balls in the air the temptation is to rush from one plot strand to another, but Payne takes the opposite approach. He also captures the complexity of emotional reactions that grief stirs.

  • Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

    It's a lovely, heartfelt character study of common, everyday people trapped on the horns of an uncommon but not unheard-of dilemma.

  • Anthony Lane, New Yorker

    The latest exhibit in Payne's careful dissection of the beached male, which runs from Matthew Broderick's character in "Election" to Jack Nicholson's in "About Schmidt" and Paul Giamatti's in "Sideways."

  • Eric D. Snider, Film.com

    This mature, well-acted dramatic comedy is deeply satisfying, maybe even cathartic.

Read all 24 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Daniel P


    Another Alexander Payne title for my Books to Read pile... though I wasn't a big Election fan, you have to admit, he's one of the more successful of late when it comes to adapting contemporary literary fiction for the screen (see: About Schmidt, Sideways). This time… More

  • Tired of P


    Directed (and co-written) by Alexander Payne, Fox Searchlight Pictures, 2011. Starring George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller, Beau Bridges and Robert Forster. Genre: Comedy, Drama Question: Can you feel sympathy for a character that neglected or ignored his family but… More

  • Mike S


    Deeply absorbing family drama, beautifully directed by Alexander Payne. This film scored pretty big at the Golden Globes this year and is also nominated for 5 Oscars, including Best Motion Picture and Best Achievement in Directing. What I think is most deserved though, is all the… More

  • ♥˩ƳИИ &


    Cast: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller, Nick Krause, Patricia Hastie, Beau Bridges, Matthew Lillard, Judy Greer, Robert Forster, Mary Birdsong, Rob Huebel Director: Alexander Payne Summary: When a tragic boating accident leaves his wife on life support, an affluent… More

  • Kristijonas F


    While The Descendants is definitely not a comedy, it's a deeply depressing film that still manages to provide plenty of avenues for some solid humor and surprise. And the performances are killer... including the completely deglamorized George Clooney. This man can act.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

Cast

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Trailers & Clips

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