Alexander Payne’s comedic drama is set in a world where a scientist has invented “downsizing” – an irreversible process to shrink people to a height of five inches as a way to combat the impact of overpopulation and climate change.
The unveiling of this scientific breakthrough sets the plot in motion, as Paul Safranek (Matt Damon) and his wife, Audrey (Kristen Wiig) decide to undergo the procedure after they learn the value of their money increases in environmentally friendly micro-communities.