Falling Down

Falling Down is a 1993 American action drama film directed by Joel Schumacher, written by Ebbe Roe Smith, and starring Michael Douglas and Robert Duvall. Set in Los Angeles, the film tells the story of William Foster, a disgruntled, unemployed defense worker who abandons his car in the middle of a traffic jam and goes on a violent rampage trying to reach his family for his daughter's birthday. Martin Prendergast, a retiring police officer, attempts to catch Foster. On its release, the film received mixed reviews, with some praising the performances from Douglas and Duvall, while criticizing the film's violence and tone. It grossed $96 million against a $25 million budget, taking the top spot at the United States box office in its first two weeks of release. In later years, the film has gained cult status, with many citing it as one of Schumacher's best films, as well as one of Douglas's best roles. The film has since continued to be analyzed for its themes of the class system, economic pressures, and mental health.