MOVIEmeter
Top 5000
Up 102 this week

Falling Down (1993)

7.6
Your rating:
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -/10 X  
Ratings: 7.6/10 from 92,875 users   Metascore: 56/100
Reviews: 349 user | 71 critic | 21 from Metacritic.com

An unemployed defense worker frustrated with the various flaws he sees in society, begins to psychotically and violently lash out against them.

Director:

Writer:

Watch Trailer
0Check in
0Share...

User Lists

Related lists from IMDb users

a list of 444 titles created 28 May 2011
 
a list of 2364 titles created 4 months ago
 
a list of 10000 titles created 2 months ago
 
a list of 1269 titles created 6 months ago
 
a list of 123 titles created 8 months ago
 

Connect with IMDb


Share this Rating

Title: Falling Down (1993)

Falling Down (1993) on IMDb 7.6/10

Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.

Take The Quiz!

Test your knowledge of Falling Down.
1 win & 2 nominations. See more awards »

Videos

Photos

Learn more

People who liked this also liked... 

Crime | Drama | Thriller
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8.6/10 X  

A professional assassin rescues a teenage girl whose parents were killed in a police raid.

Director: Luc Besson
Stars: Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman
Carlito's Way (1993)
Crime | Drama | Thriller
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.9/10 X  

A Puerto-Rican ex-con, just released from prison, pledges to stay away from drugs and violence despite the pressure around him and lead on to a better life outside of NYC.

Director: Brian De Palma
Stars: Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Penelope Ann Miller
Donnie Brasco (1997)
Biography | Crime | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.8/10 X  

An FBI undercover agent infilitrates the mob and finds himself identifying more with the mafia life to the expense of his regular one.

Director: Mike Newell
Stars: Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, Michael Madsen
Collateral (2004)
Crime | Drama | Thriller
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.6/10 X  

A cab driver finds himself the hostage of an engaging contract killer as he makes his rounds from hit to hit during one night in LA. He must find a way to save both himself and one last victim.

Director: Michael Mann
Stars: Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, Jada Pinkett Smith
Training Day (2001)
Action | Crime | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.6/10 X  

On his first day on the job as a narcotics officer, a rookie cop works with a rogue detective who isn't what he appears.

Director: Antoine Fuqua
Stars: Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke, Scott Glenn
Heat (1995)
Action | Crime | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8.3/10 X  

A group of professional bank robbers start to feel the heat from police when they unknowingly leave a clue at their latest heist.

Director: Michael Mann
Stars: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer
Lord of War (2005)
Crime | Drama | Thriller
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.6/10 X  

An arms dealer confronts the morality of his work as he is being chased by an Interpol agent.

Director: Andrew Niccol
Stars: Nicolas Cage, Bridget Moynahan, Jared Leto
Inside Man (2006)
Crime | Drama | Thriller
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.7/10 X  

A cop has to talk down a bank robber after the criminal's perfect heist spirals into a hostage situation.

Director: Spike Lee
Stars: Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster
Scarface (1983)
Crime | Drama | Thriller
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8.3/10 X  

In 1980 Miami, a determined Cuban immigrant takes over a drug cartel while succumbing to greed.

Director: Brian De Palma
Stars: Al Pacino, Steven Bauer, Michelle Pfeiffer
Cape Fear (1991)
Thriller
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.3/10 X  

A convicted rapist, released from prison after serving a 14 year sentence, stalks the family of the lawyer who originally defended him.

Director: Martin Scorsese
Stars: Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange
Sleepers (1996)
Crime | Drama | Thriller
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.4/10 X  

After a prank goes disastrously wrong, a group of boys are sent to a detention center where they are brutalized; over 10 years later, they get their chance for revenge.

Director: Barry Levinson
Stars: Kevin Bacon, Robert De Niro, Jason Patric
Harry Brown (2009)
Action | Crime | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.2/10 X  

An elderly ex-serviceman and widower looks to avenge his best friend's murder by doling out his own form of justice.

Director: Daniel Barber
Stars: Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Charlie Creed-Miles
Edit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
...
Sandra
...
Mrs. Prendergast
...
Nick, The Nazi Surplus Store Owner
...
Mrs. Foster / William's Mother
Joey Hope Singer ...
Adele Foster-Travino
...
Guy on Freeway
...
Mr. Lee
...
Captain Yardley
...
Detective Lydecker
...
Detective Brian
...
Detective Jones
...
Detective Keene
Edit

Storyline

William (D-FENS) just wants to get home to see his daughter on her birthday. Unfortunately, nothing seems to be going right for him. First there's the traffic jam, then the unhelpful Korean shopkeeper who "doesn't give change". D-FENS begins to crack and starts to fight back against the every day "injustices" he encounters on his journey home. The film has a story running in parallel about a desk-bound cop who is about to retire. He's retiring for his wife's sake, and obviously isn't happy about it. The cop tracks down D-FENS and in the final scene..... Written by Rob Hartill

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

The adventures of an ordinary man at war with the everyday world. See more »

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and strong language | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
Edit

Details

Country:

| |

Language:

| |

Release Date:

26 February 1993 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Un día de furia  »

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$40,903,593 (USA)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bill Foster's license plate is D-FENS. See more »

Goofs

In D-Fens' home videos, there is a close up of his wife's face while she is crying. Her mascara is running, then not running (and not smeared). See more »

Quotes

Nick: You want freedom? I'll give you fucking freedom.
[Takes out some handcuffs]
Nick: You're going to jail, faggot. How's that for freedom? Freedom to get fucked up the ass by some big buck nigger. Give me your other hand! He's gonna be right behind you. Just like this. You're gonna like that, won't you you faggot fuck?
See more »

Crazy Credits

"London Bridge is falling down" plays briefly at the very end of the credits. See more »

Connections

Spoofed in One Night at McCool's (2001) See more »

Soundtracks

"THE STRIPPER"
Written by David Rose
Performed by David Rose and His Orchestra
Courtesy of POLYGRAM SPECIAL MARKETS
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

Excellent Observations of Society
20 January 2004 | by (College Park, Maryland) – See all my reviews

"Falling Down" is a film that intends to point out the many quirks and oddities of modern urban society. It succeeds in doing so, but one must look carefully. Each situation Bill Foster (Michael Douglas) faces is one that most people can relate to. However, unlike most people he decides to "fight the system" and wage war on the everyday annoyances that we all face. Foster is a People's Champion. To illustrate this, most people who watch this film naturally pull for him and see him as being a hero, mostly out of pure sympathy. However, at the end of the day, Foster is still "the bad guy" for going against the societal grain. Most viewers will find this upsetting or even unfair, considering that he fought back against many criminals and unjust forces.

Where Falling Down fails at times is during the scenes where it attempts to do too many things at once. The bits of humor throughout the film are mostly derived from over-the-top scenes, and at times Foster's actions seem cheesy and unrealistic. The fact that the film is two stories in one (Foster and Prendergast) provides a good contrast because the viewer gets to see both sides of the story. On one hand, we see an ordinary family man going bezerk (but in a way most of us can understand) and on the other hand we see a cop who believes Foster is a complete psychopath. Only the audience knows the truth. The film could have done without some of the lame subplots such as Duvall's marriage, even though those scenes illustrate his perception of being "weak" or "whipped". The film sets out to do a lot at once, which is quite necessary to create a thorough storyline, but at times doesn't come out right on film.

One scene that I have always found moving and powerful is the scene where Bill Foster sees the man who is "Not Economically Viable" protesting outside of the bank that denied him a loan. As everyone on the busy street goes about their business and ignores this man, Foster (and the viewer) are focused directly on him. Foster obviously sympathizes with this poor, hardworking man who is also being stepped on by society. As the man is escorted away in the police car he looks directly at Foster and says "don't forget me". In a gesture of sympathy and appreciation, he nods to him. The two characters share a connection. It is especially important to notice the symbolism of this scene. Both men are wearing the exact same outfits: a white short-sleeved dress shirt, black tie and black pants. They are on the opposite sides of the street. When they look at each other, even though they are white and black, it is as though they are looking into a mirror and seeing the same thing: a victim of society.

Overall, a slightly sad story that tries to do a whole lot, succeeds in most of it and provides lots of entertainment. A good storyline and an excellent observation of modern society.


65 of 74 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

Message Boards

Recent Posts
People are really misinterpreting the story with Prendergast's wife TVmovieViewer
Question - The bum in the park. MederA
child actress in this is now a major singer craphead_is_a_compliment
Need a 2011 remake !!! chadbargo
Is Mr. D-Fens Democrat or Republican? msimic
How is this not higher than 8/10 TheSilverScreenJunkie
Discuss Falling Down (1993) on the IMDb message boards »

Contribute to This Page

Create a character page for:
?