I.O.U.S.A.

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With the country's debt growing out of control, Americans by and large are unaware of the looming financial crisis. This documentary examines several of the ways America can get its economy back on the right track. In addition to looking at the federal deficit and trade deficit, the film also closely explores the challenges of funding national entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
Netflix Rating: 3.8
NYT Critics' Pick: Yet another documentary that everyone should see but most will not, "I.O.U.S.A." tackles the unsexy topic of our soaring national debt and its likely consequences for present and future Americans -- or at least those who survive the tsunamis, water shortages and Beijing-level air quality promised by Al Gore. Brimful of disquieting facts on inflation, trade deficits and Wall Street's influence on national monetary policy, Patrick Creadon's resolutely nonpartisan movie tracks America's "fiscal cancer" through centuries of budgetary highs and lows. — Jeannette Catsoulis Read the review
Top Rotten Tomatoes Critics: A movie that should be seen by everyone. full review

Tom Long, Detroit News

You will not likely forget the Jeremiad it presents about how the United States has been living on borrowed money -- and borrowed time -- for decades and now is presenting the bill for our extravagance to our grandchildren. full review

Richard Nilsen, Arizona Republic

I.O.U.S.A. is a clear, cogent and compelling primer on contemporary American economics and the not-so-small matter of how we ended up at the edge of a precipice. full review

Jason Anderson, Toronto Star

A documentary about the U.S. addiction to debt, I.O.U.S.A. could have easily taken the title of another movie released this week, What Just Happened? full review

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

A sharp, absorbing portrait of our national debt crisis. full review

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Packed with facts, figures and the testimony of policy experts, the film is no wallow in wonkiness, but a surprisingly sprightly tough-love lesson in fiscal responsibility. full review

Sheri Linden, Los Angeles Times

Documentarian Patrick Creadon does a nice job of making the daunting math and economic theories associated with our national debt accessible. full review

Miami Herald, Miami Herald

Any documentary about the alarming level of our national debt faces a major hurdle -- making the dismal subject at least somewhat palatable. I.O.U.S.A. does about as good a job as any film could be expected to, thanks to the direction of Patrick Creadon. full review

Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle

The buck stops here in this sobering but disarmingly irreverent look at the national debt.

Michael Rechtshaffen, Hollywood Reporter

Yet another documentary that everyone should see but most will not.

Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times

Here's the bottom line, kids. The United States is probably going to go broke during your lifetimes. full review

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

There's no quick fix for a culture 'addicted to debt,' as one wag puts it in the film. But watching I.O.U.S.A. is a good place to start. full review

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Forceful and lucid. full review

J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

Both a handy election primer and a bowel-rattling cry of fiscal doom. full review

Michelle Orange, Village Voice

An alternately amusing and alarming primer on America's off-the-charts fiscal irresponsibility. full review

Justin Chang, Variety