Netflix viewers are all watching a film hailed as ‘near perfect’ and featuring ‘one of the finest actors in the business’.
The movie, Downsizing, has recently been added to the streaming giant’s catalogue and has quickly climbed the ranks to become one of the most viewed titles.
At present, it holds the second spot among the most-watched films by UK subscribers.
This puts it just behind the newly released Spanish thriller A Widow’s Game, but ahead of Channel 4’s documentary Accused and the recent addition Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning.
Downsizing, a sci-fi comedy originally released in 2017, presents a world where a unique procedure might be the answer to global issues.
The plot revolves around a scientist who invents a technique to miniaturise people, offering significant financial advantages.
Married couple Paul and Audrey decide to undergo this process in hopes of a prosperous and tranquil life.
The lead roles are played by Matt Damon and Kristen Wiig, whose characters soon find their lives turned upside down following their decision. The star-studded cast also includes Hong Chau, Christoph Waltz, Jason Sudeikis, Laura Dern and Neil Patrick Harris, reports Surrey Live.
The film was directed by Alexander Payne, known for his work on Sideways and the Oscar-winning The Holdovers. Payne himself is a two-time recipient of the Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award.
The film is experiencing a resurgence on Netflix, much to the delight of an emerging fan base, despite only receiving a lukewarm 47% rating on Rotten Tomatoes at its original cinema outing.
Viewers speculate that the unexpected depth of the film, which was initially pitched as a lighthearted comedy, could account for its newfound success. A Netflix subscriber shared their insight online: “Just watched Downsizing on Netflix and the critics couldn’t be more wrong on this one… Maybe it’s that I’m watching it now in 2025, 8 years after its initial release in 2017, and the themes and issues raised are perhaps more predominant in our society now than ever before!”
Others heap acclaim on the feature, with one admirer stating: “For me, this is close to a perfect movie. No gag is overdone, all the humour is well paced. The political commentary is clever and bold but without anyone explaining or pointing it out. It just breathes and tells a story of many important things with a well executed premise.”
Echoing the sentiment, another viewer offered: “I don’t know why many gave this low ratings. It’s a great movie. Matt Damon is one of the best actors around. He was the perfect choice as lead actor. Just the storyline after he becomes small could be better. I highly recommend this movie.”
Yet not all are swayed, as evidenced by one critique: “Christoph Waltz is both the best and only good part of the movie.”
One viewer remained unimpressed with the film as they remarked: “This movie had a great potential of a movie, however turned into an out of control downward spiral. Don’t get me wrong, the cast is great, however were used in the wrong way. The movie isn’t horrible, but it’s not good”.
Downsizing is streaming on Netflix.