Overview
A father's journey through grief and family turmoil unfolds against the stunning backdrop of Hawaii.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- bittersweet
- witty
- melancholic
- reflective evening
- family drama night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film funny, moving, and beautifully acted, praising its graceful portrayal of family grief and emotional messiness.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Matt's grief, marital betrayal, and parenting failures repeatedly collide with dry humor and uncomfortable everyday behavior.
The King family's 25,000 acres on Kauai force Matt and his cousins to weigh financial gain against the future of the island.
Matt brings Alexandra and Scottie into the crisis surrounding Elizabeth and must rapidly become the attentive father he has not been.
Hawaii's beaches, homes, and undeveloped land remain beautiful while the King family undergoes medical, marital, and financial upheaval.
Films like The Descendants, and why
Little Miss Sunshine
shared bittersweet family drama, grief, and emotionally restrained comedy centered on damaged relationships
The Savages
shared intimate dysfunctional-family themes, awkward humor, and compassionate treatment of personal crisis
About Schmidt
shared Alexander Payne-style tragicomic character study, middle-aged disappointment, and gradual emotional renewal
In the Bedroom
shared coastal setting, infidelity, grief, and morally complicated family relationships
Movie Details
- Director
- Alexander Payne
- Release Date
- 2011-09-09
- Runtime
- 115 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (3161)
Cast
- George Clooney
- Shailene Woodley
- Amara Miller
- Nick Krause
- Patricia Hastie
- Grace A. Cruz
- Kim Gennaula
- Karen Kuioka Hironaga
- Carmen Kaichi
- Kaui Hart Hemmings
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Descendants about?
- A grieving Hawaiian father reconnects with his daughters while confronting marital betrayal and a land sale that could reshape Kauai.
- What is The Descendants like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Descendants as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Descendants violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Descendants as mild.
- What did critics think of The Descendants?
- Critics broadly found the film funny, moving, and beautifully acted, praising its graceful portrayal of family grief and emotional messiness.
- Which films are like The Descendants?
- Films with a similar feel include Little Miss Sunshine, The Savages, About Schmidt, and In the Bedroom.
- How long is The Descendants?
- The Descendants runs 115 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Descendants?
- In United States, The Descendants is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
