The Incredible Shrinking Man

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The Incredible Shrinking Man

1957,

1h 21m,

Sci-Fi

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Watchlist

Watchlist

83%

52 Reviews

Tomatometer

82%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

52 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

While on a boating trip, Scott Carey (Grant Williams) is exposed to a radioactive cloud. Nothing seems amiss at first, but several months later Scott realizes that he's shrunk in height by several inches. He sees a doctor, who admits that he's baffled. As Scott continues to shrink, decreasing to three feet tall, he becomes bitter, and lashes out at his wife, Louise (Randy Stuart). He begins to fear a cure will never be found -- since even as he becomes a national sensation, he's still shrinking.

Critics Consensus

A curiously sensitive and spiritual addition to the Universal Monsters line-up, tacking on deep questions about a story who is shrinking to death.

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Jean Yothers

Orlando Sentinel

Sep 24, 2021

The film's trick photography is pretty good. The acting, pretty poor. Regardless, it holds a horrible fascination.

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Mae Tinée

Chicago Tribune

Sep 24, 2021

Oversize sets and trick photography are extremely obvious and utterly unconvincing.

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Marjory Adams

Boston Globe

Sep 24, 2021

It will be pleasant to see Williams and Miss Stuart again. They are far better theatrically than the usual run of players in this type of picture.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Jan 23, 2024

4/5

...Simple storytelling, vivid effects and a disturbing premise which is followed through to the bitter end; Jack Arnold and Richard Matheson are cult figures now, and the Incredible Shrinking Man is reason enough for their canonisation....

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Jan 6, 2024

Jack Arnold’s screen adaptation of Richard Matheson’s novel 'The Shrinking Man' is compassionate, intelligent, and the most metaphysical American science fiction film until Stanley Kubrick’s '2001: A Space Odyssey.'

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Kristy Strouse

Film Inquiry

Oct 26, 2022

The Incredible Shrinking Man undoubtedly feels of its time, but it’s messages and deep seeded thought-provoking topics are universal and timeless.

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Hermione W

Sep 21, 2018

A superb existential sci-fi B-movie from the 50's with mind-blowing practical effects. This film is entertaining and at the same time it doesn't shy away from making commentaries of various kinds upon different plights of men. Sci-fi films used to be very clever and didn't rely only on special effects. This film is a very good example of such a movie.

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Draco W

Mar 30, 2018

Once you get past the MacGuffin of "radioactive mist", which would have slightly affected Mrs. Carey as well as her husband, this is a well above average film. Great FX for the time, with strong characterization of the leads. Reminds me of great literary tales of Jules Verne or HG Wells.

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Poe S

Jan 27, 2018

Incredibly well done, especially for 1957.

Hagrid M

Nov 6, 2017

An instant one of the best films of all time and inspiring one, and one of the scariest of all time, before it even came out.

Abraham W

Aug 25, 2017

Utterly brilliant and bleak 50s sci fi horror from the genius pen of Richard Matheson. I last watched this film about 35 years ago and it has lost none of its brilliance. A fantastic film that is much more than just horror or science fiction.

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Poe G

Jul 15, 2017

'The Incredible Shrinking Man' is an interesting vision of the world through the lense of 2-inch tall man, much more than expected from a fantastic B-movie. Moreover, unlike some other sci-fi films, its qualities remain intact with the passing of decades. Better, 'The Incredible Shrinking Man' offers a thought provoking story about humankind, and has a profound ending. The special effects of the film are as well visually remarquable.

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Jack Arnold

Director

Grant Williams

Scott Carey

Randy Stuart

Louise Carey

April Kent

Clarice

Paul Langton

Charlie Carey

William Schallert

Doctor Arthur Bramson

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Synopsis

While on a boating trip, Scott Carey (Grant Williams) is exposed to a radioactive cloud. Nothing seems amiss at first, but several months later Scott realizes that he's shrunk in height by several inches. He sees a doctor, who admits that he's baffled. As Scott continues to shrink, decreasing to three feet tall, he becomes bitter, and lashes out at his wife, Louise (Randy Stuart). He begins to fear a cure will never be found -- since even as he becomes a national sensation, he's still shrinking.

Director: Jack Arnold
Producer: Albert Zugsmith
Screenwriter: Richard Matheson
Distributor: MCA/Universal Home Video, Universal Pictures, Ultra Pictures
Production Co: Universal International Pictures
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 1, 1957, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2014
Runtime: 1h 21m

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