In these dark times, turning to comedy can often be the only shining light at the end of what seems like an endless tunnel. And quite possibly the perfect comedy for right now, which has become a cult classic since its muted debut way back in 2006, is set to hit free streaming next month.
This particular comedy is often brought up by fans as a prime example of where we are at politically and socially, with the satirical nature of the movie seemingly reflecting the state of things with stark accuracy. That movie is, of course, Idiocracy, which follows Luke Wilson as a slacker librarian in the United States Army who finds himself awakening in a severely dumbed-down world following a secret hibernation experiment.
Directed by Mike Judge of Beavis and Butt-Head and King of the Hill fame, and from a screenplay written by Judge and Etan Cohen, Idiocracy stars Wilson alongside Maya Rudolph, Dax Shepard, Terry Crews, David Herman, Justin Long, Andrew Wilson, and Brad Jordan. The cult classic comedy is due to stream on the free platform Tubi from October 1, 2025, and you can check out the official synopsis below…
“In 2005, average in every way private Joe Bowers (Luke Wilson) is selected to take part in a secret military experiment to put him in hibernation for a year along with a woman named Rita (Maya Rudolph). The slumbering duo is forgotten when the base they are stored on is closed down and are left in stasis until 2505. When they finally wake up, they discover the average intelligence of humans has decreased so much that Joe is now the smartest man in the world.”
‘Idiocracy’ Was Surprisingly Unpopular With Audiences at the Time…
At the time, Idiocracy was met with solid but decidedly lukewarm reactions from critics. The comedy now stands at a “Certified Fresh” 71% on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus reading, “Frustratingly uneven yet enjoyable overall, Idiocracy skewers society’s devolution with an amiably goofy yet deceptively barbed wit.”
But in a surprise turn of events considering how well the movie is now remembered, audiences were far more critical of Idiocracy than the critics themselves, resulting in a more middling 61% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcornmeter. However, over the years, this has surely changed, with more recent user reviews of the sci-fi comedy heaping praise on its satirical approach, as well as its eerie accuracy when it comes to the present day.
“This movie is very funny, which is because its dim view of the future is absolutely justified. So the movie is nearly twenty years old now and probably funnier now than it was originally because we can see how valid it is,” said one user alongside a perfect five-star rating. “At the time of this writing, there is a 61% audience score. Obviously, the 39% who didn’t like this movie are exactly who this movie is about Lol…” adds another.
The perceived importance of Idiocracy is only growing, with another fan saying, “This is not a comedy. This is a mirror on our society and where we’re heading. I wish I could say this isn’t so, but it’s not much of an exaggeration of what’s coming.” While another thinks “High schools should make watching this movie a graduation requirement.” Could now be the perfect time for Idiocracy 2?
- Release Date
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September 1, 2006
- Runtime
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84 minutes
- Producers
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Elysa Koplovitz Dutton
