The Incredible Shrinking Man

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The Incredible Shrinking Man

1957

1h 21m

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

53 Reviews

83%

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

09/24/2021

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

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Mae Tinee

Chicago Tribune

09/24/2021

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

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Marjory Adams

Boston Globe

09/24/2021

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

01/23/2024

4/5

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

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

01/06/2024

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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Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

02/28/2023

It feels a lot like other horror films with incredible special effects...

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Leaburn O

@RT35452347 Apr 1

The effects are great for its time. The plot isn’t the best but the short runtime keeps it gripping enough. The unresolved philosophical ending was more interesting than I expected. A solid effort, if not a classic. Watched on Channel 4.

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Farah R.

@Farah Feb 21

I thoroughly enjoyed the clever use of practical effects in this film, but it doesn’t make it any more compelling as the plot is a bit too far-fetched.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Oct 30

Success in 1 hour and 21 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In color and black and white versions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Khai M

@Khaimang Aug 20

I saw this movie as a young pre-teen boy. I must admit that at the time it left quite an impact; especially his fights with the house cat & spider. I was truly terrified for him. Contrary to some who were not impressed with Grant Williams' performance, I beg to differ. He appeared terrified. Fast forward to 2025. I watched this movie about two weeks ago. I'm still terrified for him. It's a wonderful film with many philosophical & scientific implications. Imagine, shrinking to a point possibly smaller than an atomic particle? Mind-blowing.

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Mike J

@Writer69 Jun 8

This movie was released in 1957. The acting is outstanding especially by Grant Williams. We really believe he is threatened by the spider, the cat and the flood. When you consider how long ago this film was made the effects are great. Some may not agree with the ending but most viewers seem to think it points out the courage and will of the human spirit. It is now available on DVD for a reasonable price. It seems to rapidly becoming a cult classic.

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Dave S

@RT68722908 Apr 22

If you think that your life is difficult, consider the case of Scott Carey (Grant Williams) who, after coming into contact with a mysterious cloud of mist, finds himself slowly shrinking to the size of a thimble, his main concerns being avoiding the family cat and battling the hairy spider in the basement. The premise of The Incredible Shrinking Man sounds ridiculous but, compared to other sci-fi duds of its time period, it’s well-crafted, surprisingly suspenseful, and filled with existential angst. Of note, the sets, props and special effects are impressive throughout and, despite the navel-gazing final scene and the preposterous premise, the movie is entertaining from start to finish, which is more than can be said for other sci-fi films of the same era.

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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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