By Design (2025 film)
| By Design | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Amanda Kramer |
| Written by | Amanda Kramer |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Patrick Meade Jones |
| Edited by | Benjamin Shearn |
| Music by | |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Music Box Films |
Release dates |
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Running time | 92 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $29,415[2] |
By Design is a 2025 American drama film written and directed by Amanda Kramer. It stars Juliette Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Melanie Griffith, Samantha Mathis, Robin Tunney, and Udo Kier.
It premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2025. The film was released in theaters on February 13, 2026.[3]
Premise
A woman swaps bodies with a chair.[4]
Cast
- Juliette Lewis as Camille
- Mamoudou Athie as Olivier
- Melanie Griffith as Narrator
- Samantha Mathis as Lisa
- Robin Tunney as Irene
- Udo Kier as Aldo Fabbri
- Clifton Collins Jr. as Jacob the Stalker
- Betty Buckley as Cynthia
- Alisa Tores as Marta
- Keir Gilchrist as Gary
- Bridey Elliott as Regina
- Sophie von Haselberg as Len
- Madison McKinley as Sarah the Stockest
- Miranda Bailey as Diane the Wailing Woman
- Cristo Montt as Gio
- Greer Cohen as Esther
- Jessie-Ann Kohlman as Tara
- Ruby Cruz as Sheila the Intern
- Michelle Farrah as The Journalist
- Jim Chapa as The Art Director
- Cricket Arrison as The Photographer
Production
In September 2024, it was announced Juliette Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Samantha Mathis, Robin Tunney, Udo Kier, Clifton Collins Jr. and Betty Buckley had joined the cast of the film, with Amanda Kramer writing and directing. Filming took place in Los Angeles.[5]
Release
It had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2025.[6] In August 2025, Music Box Films acquired distribution rights to the film.[7]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 69% of 36 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "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."[8] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 62 out of 100 based on 10 critics, which the site labels as "generally favorable" reviews.[9]
References
- ^ "By Design". Sundance Film Festival. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ "By Design (2025)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
- ^ "The Numbers - Theatrical Release Schedule Changes for the Week Ending November 30, 2025". The Numbers. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
- ^ "2025 Sundance Film Festival Reveals 93 Projects for Feature Film and Episodic Programs". Sundance Film Festival. December 11, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (September 11, 2024). "Juliette Lewis & Mamoudou Athie To Topline Body Swap Pic 'By Design' From Amanda Kramer". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (December 11, 2024). "Sundance 2025: JLo, Sly Stone, Putin, Ayo Edebiri, André Holland, & Ex-NZ PM Jacinda Ardern Films Among Park City Festival Offerings". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas; Ntim, Zac (August 20, 2025). "Sundance Dramedy 'By Design', Starring Juliette Lewis As A Chair, Gets North America Deal". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
- ^ "By Design". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
- ^ "By Design". Metacritic. Retrieved January 24, 2026.