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By Design

Play trailer 1:39 Poster for By Design In Theaters Feb 13 1h 32m Comedy Drama Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
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71% Tomatometer 38 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Verified Ratings
A woman (Juliette Lewis) swaps bodies with a chair, and everyone likes her better as a chair in a surreal, deadpan comedy from director Amanda Kramer.
Coming Soon In Theaters Feb 13 Reserve Tickets
By Design

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Amanda Kramer's delicate creation intellectualizes the absurdity of objectification, yet this film won't sit still in the audience's mind and that's By Design.

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Cast & Crew

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Amanda Kramer

Director

Juliette Lewis

Camille

Mamoudou Athie

Olivier

Samantha Mathis

Lisa

Robin Tunney

Irene

Alisa Torres

Marta

Critics Reviews

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William Repass Slant Magazine 2d
2.5/4
By forcing us to identify with its largely comatose protagonist, By Design arouses resentment in order to shake us out of torpor. Go to Full Review Jourdain Searles The Hollywood Reporter Feb 13
The alienating nature of the premise is what makes it fascinating, pushing us to question how we want to be seen and experienced as people in the world. Go to Full Review Tara Judah Sight & Sound Feb 12
Amanda Kramer was already one to watch and her fifth dramatic feature proves she is an unmatched voice in American indie cinema. Go to Full Review Brian Orndorf Blu-ray.com 12h
B-
Has a capable cast to help support the strangeness of the idea, and Kramer has a few things to share about the state of being a woman in the world today, keeping the picture interesting when it isn’t always engaging. Go to Full Review Stefania Sarrubba Screensphere Nov 12
2/5
As a piece to behold, it’s gorgeous and engrossing, but risks splintering as soon as you try to sit on it. Go to Full Review Stephen A. Russell Orion's Shoulder (Substack) Sep 8
With much to say about the objectification of women, unreal Instagram-proliferated lifestyles and the vultures who circle our ever-decreasing disposable incomes, it’s a bountifully biting fable. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
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By Design

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By Design

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Movie Info

Synopsis A woman (Juliette Lewis) swaps bodies with a chair, and everyone likes her better as a chair in a surreal, deadpan comedy from director Amanda Kramer.
Director
Amanda Kramer
Producer
Jacob Agger, Miranda Bailey, Sarah Winshall, Natalie Whalen, Jake Agger
Screenwriter
Amanda Kramer
Distributor
Music Box Films
Production Co
Smudge Films, Cold Iron Pictures
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 13, 2026, Limited
Runtime
1h 32m