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IMDbPro

The Descendants

  • 20112011
  • RR
  • 1h 55m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
242K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,151
73
George Clooney in The Descendants (2011)
A land baron tries to re-connect with his two daughters after his wife suffers a boating accident.
Play trailer2:21
10 Videos
99+ Photos
ComedyDrama
A land baron tries to reconnect with his two daughters after his wife is seriously injured in a boating accident.A land baron tries to reconnect with his two daughters after his wife is seriously injured in a boating accident.A land baron tries to reconnect with his two daughters after his wife is seriously injured in a boating accident.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
242K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,151
73
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Alexander Payne
    • Writers
      • Alexander Payne(screenplay)
      • Nat Faxon(screenplay)
      • Jim Rash(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • George Clooney
      • Shailene Woodley
      • Amara Miller
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Alexander Payne
    • Writers
      • Alexander Payne(screenplay)
      • Nat Faxon(screenplay)
      • Jim Rash(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • George Clooney
      • Shailene Woodley
      • Amara Miller
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 521User reviews
    • 548Critic reviews
    • 84Metascore
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 65 wins & 148 nominations total

    Videos10

    International Version
    Trailer 2:21
    International Version
    TV Spot
    Trailer 1:08
    TV Spot
    The Descendants: Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:18
    The Descendants: Trailer #1
    'The Descendants' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:40
    'The Descendants' | Anniversary Mashup
    The Descendants
    Clip 1:23
    The Descendants
    The Descendants
    Clip 1:24
    The Descendants
    The Descendants
    Clip 0:41
    The Descendants
    The Descendants
    Clip 0:42
    The Descendants
    "Story"
    Featurette 3:46
    "Story"
    What Roles Has Shailene Woodley Missed Out On?
    Video 3:04
    What Roles Has Shailene Woodley Missed Out On?

    Photos168

    Shailene Woodley in The Descendants (2011)
    George Clooney in The Descendants (2011)
    Shailene Woodley in The Descendants (2011)
    George Clooney in The Descendants (2011)
    Judy Greer in The Descendants (2011)
    George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, and Nick Krause in The Descendants (2011)
    Judy Greer and Shailene Woodley in The Descendants (2011)
    George Clooney and Alexander Payne in The Descendants (2011)
    George Clooney in The Descendants (2011)
    Alexander Payne in The Descendants (2011)
    George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Nick Krause, and Amara Miller in The Descendants (2011)
    George Clooney in The Descendants (2011)

    Top cast

    Edit
    George Clooney
    George Clooney
    • Matt King
    Shailene Woodley
    Shailene Woodley
    • Alexandra King
    Amara Miller
    Amara Miller
    • Scottie King
    Nick Krause
    Nick Krause
    • Sid
    Patricia Hastie
    Patricia Hastie
    • Elizabeth King
    Grace A. Cruz
    • Scottie's Teacher
    Kim Gennaula
    • School Counselor
    Karen Kuioka Hironaga
    • Barb Higgins
    Carmen Kaichi
    • Lani Higgins
    Kaui Hart Hemmings
    Kaui Hart Hemmings
    • Matt's Secretary Noe
    Beau Bridges
    Beau Bridges
    • Cousin Hugh
    Matt Corboy
    Matt Corboy
    • Cousin Ralph
    Matt Esecson
    • Cousin Hal
    Michael Ontkean
    Michael Ontkean
    • Cousin Milo
    Stanton Johnston
    • Cousin Stan
    Jon McManus
    • Cousin Six
    • (as Jonathan McManus)
    Hugh Foster
    • Cousin Wink
    Tiare R. Finney
    Tiare R. Finney
    • Cousin Connie
    • Director
      • Alexander Payne
    • Writers
      • Alexander Payne(screenplay)
      • Nat Faxon(screenplay)
      • Jim Rash(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When Matt King describes his inherited wealth, he says, "I don't want my daughters growing up entitled and spoiled. And I agree with my father; you give your children enough money to do something but not enough to do nothing." This is based on a well-known quote from billionaire investor Warren Buffett in a 1986 Fortune magazine interview. "Setting up his heirs with a lifetime supply of food stamps just because they came out of the right womb can be harmful for them and is an antisocial act. To him the perfect amount to leave children is 'enough money so that they would feel they could do anything, but not so much that they could do nothing.'"
    • Goofs
      The resort models shown could not be built. Kaua'i's "coconut tree" building law states that new construction cannot be more than 4 stories tall.

      But this Princeville hotel is a real hotel because it's built on a hill. The Top floor is at ground level and the hotel is built with multiple stories going down to the Ocean.
    • Quotes

      Matt King: I don't want my daughters growing up entitled and spoiled. And I agree with my father - you give your children enough money to do something but not enough to do nothing.

    • Connections
      Featured in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #2.17 (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      Ka Makani Ka'ili Aloha
      Written by Matthew Kane

      Arranged and Performed by Gabby Pahinui

      Courtesy of Panini Records

    User reviews521

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    The rare fuse of amazing direction and brilliant performances
    It has been quite some time since the Toronto International Film Festival, but I still have trouble coming up with something negative to say about The Descendants. It was a film I was immensely excited to see, and one that I think I just managed to squeak into on the second last day of the festival. I tried to not overhype myself, but with George Clooney teaming up with Alexander Payne, a filmmaker whose last film was made almost a decade ago, I could barely contain myself.

    Matt King (Clooney) just found out that his wife is in a coma in the hospital. Matt has always been one to put things off, and has never really found time for his kids. But in this time of need, he finds that he is struggling to identify with older daughter Alexandra (Shailene Woodley) and younger daughter Scottie (Amara Miller). When he learns of a stunning secret about his wife, it thrusts him into an adventure alongside his daughters to find out the truth, while also finding himself.

    From beginning to end, Payne has crafted an endearing film that is hilarious and devastating, often in the same sequence. This is a more calculated family-related effort than I originally thought it would be (with a bit too much emphasis placed on the extended family and land owning subplot), but it is the driving force of everything that happens on-screen. He never overindulges, and never gets too far ahead of himself. He lets the drama play out just as much as he does the comedy, and always keeps the film moving at a borderline ridiculous pace. This may be an indie, but it speaks more to the mainstream than Sideways ever even tried to. It is a truly spectacular work, and one that proves the worth of a talent that has been gone for far too long.

    While he already solidified his leading man status years ago, Clooney quite simply knocks this one out of the park. It is not the typical role we are accustomed to seeing him in, and I think that is what sells it the most. This is a very mature role for Clooney, away from the playboys, the lotharios and the screwballs. He is out of his element, much like the character he is playing, thrust into a situation he never expected in a very adult way. He plays Matt in a very nuanced way, always hovering along the fine line of being a struggling parent and having a full blown emotional breakdown. Clooney has continually proved that he is willing to reinvent himself, and his work here is no different. From the moment he steps on-screen, you are simply enamoured by his presence. We can see the brief twinkle in his eye that suggests he is still the Clooney we all know and adore, but his hardened exterior suggests he is trying to camouflage that fact. I said years ago that Up in the Air was his strongest work. But his work here makes it look positively amateur in comparison.

    For all of Clooney's brilliance, it is surprising to note that Woodley almost steals the movie entirely away from him. While she has had quite a lot of experience on television, this is her first real film role and is an immeasurable breakout. The trailer suggests she is a bit of a wild child, but seeing the heartbreak and pain in her face after she finds out what has happened to her mother is enough to make you want to weep uncontrollably. Lucky for her, she gets more than one scene to prove her emotional chops, and she nails each and every one. She holds her own against Clooney, and has just the right amount of charisma and angst to make her character above and beyond believable. Her struggle to find her place and to help her father on this adventure is the emotional crux of the film, and the real driving spirit. She may be extremely younger than Clooney is, but she is an old soul. Their relationship and chemistry is amazing, and should she have been acting against a less capable actor, I doubt she would be anywhere near as powerful as she is.

    The supporting cast, made up of Beau Bridges, Judy Greer, Nick Krause, Robert Forster and an almost unrecognizable Matthew Lilliard, are all excellent in their small roles. All of them get some really memorable moments to shine, and help to make Clooney and Woodley's performances even greater. Special mention needs to go to both Patricia Hastie, who is confined to a hospital bed for all but about thirty seconds of her screen-time as Matt's wife Elizabeth, and newcomer Miller as Scottie. She is naive and innocent throughout, never once coming off as that annoying kid you try to forget exists. She has a lot of fun in the role, and strikes a real emotional chord at just the right moments. I can only hope directors continue to use her in the future for roles that are just as good, if not better.

    It may have taken me practically two months to write about it, but I still find myself at a loss for words about The Descendants. It is finally rolling out into theatres now, and I cannot wait to see the film again. The cast is amazing, with Clooney coming out swinging. Payne may have taken his time finding a follow-up for Sideways, but what he has returned with is nothing short of amazing. Run, drive, fly – whatever you have to do, just make sure you do not miss it.

    9/10.
    helpful•100
    65
    • DonFishies
    • Nov 16, 2011

    FAQ1

    • The movie is based on Kaui Hart Hemmings's debut novel. Have any other adaptations of debut novels had this much success?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 9, 2011 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tình thân
    • Filming locations
      • Hanalei, Kaua'i, Hawaii, USA
    • Production companies
      • Fox Searchlight Pictures
      • Ad Hominem Enterprises
      • Dune Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $20,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $82,584,160
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,190,096
      • Nov 20, 2011
    • Gross worldwide
      • $177,243,185
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 55 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Datasat
      • SDDS
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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