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The Descendants

Play trailer Poster for The Descendants R 2011 1h 55m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
88% Tomatometer 264 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Native islander Matt King (George Clooney) lives with his family in Hawaii. Their world shatters when a tragic accident leaves his wife in a coma. Not only must Matt struggle with the stipulation in his wife's will that she be allowed to die with dignity, but he also faces pressure from relatives to sell their family's enormous land trust. Angry and terrified at the same time, Matt tries to be a good father to his young daughters, as they too try to cope with their mother's possible death.
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The Descendants

The Descendants

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Critics Consensus

Funny, moving, and beautifully acted, The Descendants captures the unpredictable messiness of life with eloquence and uncommon grace.

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Critics Reviews

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Deborah Ross The Spectator 08/31/2018
I liked it. I enjoyed it. I did not resent the time I'd spent watching it, although that may just be because I seriously have nothing better to do. Go to Full Review
David Thomson The New Republic 06/20/2013
The Descendants is humane, decent, and close to real quality. Go to Full Review
Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com 01/27/2012
4/4
Few films have dealt with the concept of parental death as movingly, poetically and lovingly as this, delivering a strikingly powerful narrative that is as profound as it is honest. Go to Full Review
Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson 04/07/2024
5/5
There are moments throughout the film where characters need to speak their pace, whether that peace is good news, bad news, loving support, hurtful truth, assertiveness, or even the things you shouldn't say and, therefore, leave at peace. Go to Full Review
Emiliano Basile EscribiendoCine 01/02/2024
10/10
... The film stands out for exploring the human condition from the awkwardness - and at times humor - that extreme situations produce. The kind that family forces us to go through. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Danilo Castro Next Best Picture 07/07/2023
9/10
It’s the sort of resonant, mid-budget film that we see so rarely these days, and it’s a reminder that when Payne is at his peak, few directors are more skilled at depicting the paradox of human behavior. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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John V. @JohnnyVGood 2d One of the best adaptations from a book that I’ve seen. See more Edward L @Lassoto Jan 5 I have watched this movie three times, and for some reason, thoroughly enjoyed it. It covers topics such as marital struggle, death, natural beauty, and stewardship. Also it taps into some distinctly Hawaiian topics. The sountrack, mostly Gabby Pahinui, is beautiful and compelling. So is the landscape, especially the estate in question. It delves into the slightly wild nature of Hawaiians and their interaction with haole, the white man. The story is sad, and examines the pain of grief within a family. It also examines the unusual topic of stewardship of land and nobility of character. It is hard to say what makes this movie great, but it is visually beautiful and thought provoking, the way a movie should be. See more Madam D @Madam1948 Dec 14 This realistic drama was heart felt without total schmaltz. Written very well and with Clooney as his usual charming self...plus the beautiful scenery! Not for action fans, but if you enjoy a good story--this is for you. See more Troy R @Grim16 Dec 6 Good acting, somewhat funny at rare moments, but a solid story and drama. Uniquely interesting to watch after seeing Chief of War. See more PC M Oct 8 I had not heard anyone talk about this film, I just put it on for something to watch, not expecting much. The acting was strong and well played, the direction was one of authenticity, showing the reality of parental loss and impact it has without hamming it up for the tears. It resonated with me having been in a very similar situation in my early 40s. I found the storyline and the characters believable and engaging. If you like a story that's not overdramatised with excellent acting, then give it a watch. See more James B Sep 14 I really enjoyed this movie. It was truly a rollercoaster of emotions as one minute you are thinking about the characters going through the inevidatble death of a loved one to the next moment laughing at the characters interactions with others. It was entertaining throughout and was a great movie. See more Read all reviews
The Descendants

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Movie Info

Synopsis Native islander Matt King (George Clooney) lives with his family in Hawaii. Their world shatters when a tragic accident leaves his wife in a coma. Not only must Matt struggle with the stipulation in his wife's will that she be allowed to die with dignity, but he also faces pressure from relatives to sell their family's enormous land trust. Angry and terrified at the same time, Matt tries to be a good father to his young daughters, as they too try to cope with their mother's possible death.
Director
Alexander Payne
Producer
Jim Burke, Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
Screenwriter
Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
Distributor
Fox Searchlight
Production Co
Little Blair, Dune, Ad Hominem Enterprises, Ingenious Film Partners
Rating
R (Sexual References|Language)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 23, 2011, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$82.6M
Runtime
1h 55m
Sound Mix
Dolby, SDDS
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