Idiocracy

Joe Bauers is selected as the most average man in America and paired with Rita, a sex worker, to test a secret military hibernation program. A series of mishaps leaves them frozen until the year 2505, when they wake into a society transformed by anti-intellectualism, rampant consumerism and collapsing institutions. Everyday life runs on brand loyalty and trivia, while common sense and civic competence have atrophied. The contrast between the protagonists' ordinary instincts and the new world's extreme stupidity drives the comedy, as they try to figure out how to get by and whether they can influence a civilization that treats them like outliers rather than role models.

Directed by Mike Judge and written by Etan Cohen, Idiocracy was released in 2006. The film stars Luke Wilson, Maya Rudolph, Dax Shepard and Terry Crews, and it blends satirical science fiction with broad comedy.

The movie opened in a very limited theatrical run and did not make a big commercial impact initially. Over time it reached a far larger audience through home video and streaming, where it built a devoted following that keeps it in circulation.

Idiocracy has become a frequent cultural touchstone when people talk about anti-intellectual trends and the erosion of public institutions. Clips and references from the film pop up in social media and political commentary, often used as a shorthand for fears about declining civic knowledge and corporate influence on daily life.

Critical reaction was mixed, and audience response sits at about 6.363/10 based on 3355 votes. Reviewers pointed to its blunt satire of consumer culture, bureaucratic dysfunction and the dumbing-down of public discourse, praising its bold premise while noting the humor is deliberately crude and abrasive, which divides viewers.