I.O.U.S.A. (2008)
84%RT Audience Score: 76%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
133 wins & 172 nominations total
I.O.U.S.A. is a documentary that is both informative and terrifying, much like a rollercoaster ride through the American economy. The film’s use of humor and excellent graphics make it unexpectedly entertaining, despite the dodgy accounting practices and ever-expanding national debt that it exposes. The bottom line is that America’s economic party is over, and there is no such thing as a free lunch. This movie is a scary, exhilarating blast of atheist common sense that begs audiences to pay attention to the unsustainable economic practices that threaten our future. If more people had watched this film, they might still have their houses.
If you’re looking for a documentary that will make you laugh, cry, and question everything you thought you knew about the American economy, then I.O.U.S.A. is the film for you. With graphics that are more exciting than a rollercoaster and archival footage that will transport you back in time, this movie is like a history lesson on steroids. But don’t let the educational aspect fool you – this film is also genuinely terrifying. If you’re not careful, you might just learn something.
Production Company(ies)
Lionsgate Media Rights Capital, T-Street
Distributor
Roadside Attractions
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Paris, France
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong graphic violence, language and brief sexuality
Year of Release
2009
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:SDDS Dolby Digital DTS
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:1h 27m
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Language(s):English, German, French, Italian
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 22, 2008 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 7, 2009
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, financial crisis, United States, budget, national debt, entitlement programs, defense budget, baby boomer generation, disaster, Patrick Creadon, Sarah Gibson, Christine O’Malley, Addison Wiggin, reviewed by Nell Minow, reviewed by David Fear, reviewed by Hank Sartin, reviewed by Dave Calhoun, reviewed by Wendy Ide, reviewed by Peter Bradshaw, PG, Roadside Attractions, starring none, produced by Jon Carnes, $821.0K, 1h 27m, directed by Patrick Creadon, I.O.U.S.A, box office performance, critic names, producer names, MPAA rating, genre, writer names, budget
Worldwide gross: $321,457,747
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $444,290,199
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 339
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 48,450,403
US/Canada gross: $120,540,719
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $166,600,620
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 457
US/Canada opening weekend: $38,054,676
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $52,595,776
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 209
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $70,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $96,747,751
Production budget ranking: 425
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $52,098,664
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $295,443,785
ROI to date (est.): 198%
ROI ranking: 630
Patrick Creadon – Writer
Addison Wiggin – Writer
Jon Carnes – Executive Producer
Sarah Gibson – Producer
Christine O’Malley – Producer
Director(s)
Patrick Creadon
Writer(s)
Patrick Creadon, Addison Wiggin
Producer(s)
Sarah Gibson, Christine O’Malley
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
133 wins & 172 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (65) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (57) | Rotten (8)
February 18, 2012 | Rating: B+
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
November 18, 2011 | Rating: 2/5
David Fear
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Hank Sartin
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
This solid doc reminds us how unsustainable the current American economy is.
November 14, 2008 | Rating: 3/6
Dave Calhoun
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Unexpectedly entertaining, given that it’s about dodgy accounting on an epic scale, the film predicts an economic cold shower that is about to douse America’s prospects, thanks to its ever-expanding national debt.
November 14, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Wendy Ide
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
This movie is a scary, exhilarating blast of atheist common sense.
November 14, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Bottom line: The party’s over. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. America itself may be a bubble.
August 15, 2011
Kelly Vance
East Bay Express
If more people had watched this film, they might still have their houses.
March 9, 2011
Simon Foster
sbs.com.au
Well made, informative and genuinely terrifying documentary, in which the use of humour can’t quite diminish the spectre of doom and gloom.
January 14, 2010 | Rating: 3/5
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon
Think of this important documentary as Economics 101, a primer on how America and Americans spend, and what hardships the future holds for us unless we change the pattern and our habits quickly.
June 27, 2009 | Rating: 5/5
Jennifer Merin
About.com
For a film starring the national debt, this is a good one. The expected tedious numerical research is accompanied by excellent graphics and archival footage that bring it alive. Is anyone listening?
February 23, 2009 | Rating: 7/10
Ron Wilkinson
Monsters and Critics
Practically begs audiences to declaim it essential viewing, rather than quietly convincing us
February 22, 2009 | Rating: 2/4
Marty Mapes
Movie Habit…
Plot
In German-occupied France, young Jewish refugee Shosanna Dreyfus witnesses the slaughter of her family by Colonel Hans Landa. Narrowly escaping with her life, she plots her revenge several years later when German war hero Fredrick Zoller takes a rapid interest in her and arranges an illustrious movie premiere at the theater she now runs. With the promise of every major Nazi officer in attendance, the event catches the attention of the “Basterds”, a group of Jewish-American guerrilla soldiers led by the ruthless Lt. Aldo Raine. As the relentless executioners advance and the conspiring young girl’s plans are set in motion, their paths will cross for a fateful evening that will shake the very annals of history.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t have anything goofy or funny to say about I.O.U.S.A., but they do mention the film’s “irreverent wit” in their critics consensus.
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