Urbanized
A polished global survey of the ideas, compromises, and human consequences embedded in the design of cities.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- thoughtful
- curious
- optimistic
- urbanism study
- architecture viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the documentary's impressive scope, expert interviews, and gorgeous photography while noting its limited representation of ordinary residents and preference for new urbanist ideas.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film surveys urban design issues and strategies across multiple cities and planning contexts.
Architects, planners, policymakers, builders, and thinkers collectively explain the forces shaping cities.
Critics specifically praised the film's photography and its ability to make banal cityscapes appear appealingly utopian.
Critical commentary identifies a distinct bias toward Jane Jacobs-influenced new urbanism.
Films like Urbanized, and why
Objectified
urban design documentary with expert interviews and an accessible, visually polished presentation
My Architect
architecture-focused documentary examining how design shapes human experience through articulate expert commentary
The Human Scale
socially engaged documentary connecting built environments, public policy, and everyday urban life
Movie Details
- Director
- Gary Hustwit
- Release Date
- 2011-09-09
- Runtime
- 85 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (85)
Cast
- Norman Foster
- Jan Gehl
- Ellen Dunham-Jones
- Amanda M. Burden
- Joshua David
- Oscar Niemeyer
- Sicelo Nkohla
- Rem Koolhaas
- Alejandro Aravena
- Stefan Mappus
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Criterion Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Urbanized about?
- A polished global survey of the ideas, compromises, and human consequences embedded in the design of cities.
- What is Urbanized like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Urbanized as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Urbanized violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Urbanized.
- What did critics think of Urbanized?
- Critics broadly praised the documentary's impressive scope, expert interviews, and gorgeous photography while noting its limited representation of ordinary residents and preference for new urbanist ideas.
- Which films are like Urbanized?
- Films with a similar feel include Objectified, My Architect, and The Human Scale.
- How long is Urbanized?
- Urbanized runs 85 minutes.
- Where can I watch Urbanized?
- In United States, Urbanized streams on Criterion Channel.
