Down to Earth

Down to Earth

Year: 2001

Runtime: 87 min

Language: English

Directors: Paul Weitz, Chris Weitz

Budget: $49M

FantasyComedyRomance

After attempting a daring skydiving stunt, Ernesto Gainza is unexpectedly transported to a magical realm. There, he embarks on a series of fantastical adventures and discovers a blossoming romance, leading him on an extraordinary journey of self-discovery and unexpected destiny.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Down to Earth (2001)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Down to Earth (2001). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Early 2000s

Set in contemporary New York City, the film captures the showbiz culture of the early 2000s. The action unfolds across modern venues, luxury apartments, and corporate offices, reflecting the era's urban pace. The afterlife visitations interrupt the present-day setting and frame the reincarnation premise.

Location

Apollo Theater, New York City, Heaven

Most of the action centers around the Apollo Theater in Harlem, a storied venue that serves as a launching pad for Lance's dream of performing in front of a real audience. The story also shifts between Charles Wellington III's luxurious New York penthouse and other urban spaces, including corporate boardrooms and hospital settings. Beyond mortal life, Heaven and its angels influence Lance's fate throughout the film.

🎭 Theater 🗽 City ☁️ Afterlife 🏙️ Urban

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:30

Main Characters – Down to Earth (2001)

Meet the key characters of Down to Earth (2001), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Lance Barton

A struggling comedian with natural wit and confidence who struggles to translate his talent on stage. After a fatal accident, he returns to Earth by inhabiting the body of a dying billionaire, Charles Wellington III. Inside Charles, Lance must balance his comedic instincts with a new public persona and pursue his love interest Sontee while navigating the expectations of wealth and power.

🎤 Comedian

Charles Wellington III

A extremely rich and initially snobbish businessman whose life and persona are upended when Lance inhabits his body. As Lance's wit influences his actions, Charles becomes more generous and publicly advocates for universal healthcare, clashing with his board. His transformation highlights the tension between wealth, power, and humanity.

💼 Billionaire

Sontee Jenkins

The woman Lance saw before his death, who protests Charles by handcuffing herself to a coffee table in his penthouse. She becomes a key emotional focal point as Lance (in Charles's body) seeks to win her affection, and she must decide whether to trust the seemingly changed Charles.

💖 Love Interest

Winston Sklar

Charles Wellington's associate with an affair involving Charles's wife; he is involved in the power plays and betrayals that drive the board's desire to control Charles. His scheming and loyalty to profit create the tension that ultimately contributes to Charles's downfall.

💼 Corporate

King

One of the two angels who oversee Lance's fate in the afterlife, King guides the arrangement of Lance's reincarnation and interacts with him to shape the living world.

👼 Angel

Keyes

King's partner among the angels, Keyes helps execute the plan and provides counsel as Lance's journey continues through different lives.

🕊️ Angel

Joe Guy

The reincarnated persona that carries Lance's soul after the second act of the afterlife deal. He returns to Earth as a great comedian, performs at the Apollo, and reconnects with Whitney, all while not remembering the angels or past lives—yet still expressing Lance's underlying personality.

♻️ Rebirth

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:30

Major Themes – Down to Earth (2001)

Explore the central themes of Down to Earth (2001), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

♻️ Rebirth

Rebirth is central to the story, as Lance's soul inhabits a new body after death. The angels King and Keyes orchestrate a second chance that forces characters to confront who they truly are beneath appearances. The body swap reveals that identity can persist beyond physical form but is shaped by circumstance and choices.

💸 Wealth & Power

Charles's wealth and power initially mask his self-centered tendencies, while the plot shows how greed can cloud judgment and provoke moral collapse. Lance's presence inside Charles begins to reveal a more compassionate, community-minded side that contrasts with prior corporate behavior. The conflict with the board underscores the tension between profit and people.

🎭 Identity & Performance

Lance uses humor to navigate his new body, trying to connect with Sontee and others. People perceive Charles's changes as a real transformation, blurring lines between actor and persona. The film explores how performance and personality can endure even when outward form changes.

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:30

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Down to Earth Summary

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Down to Earth Summary

Down to Earth Timeline

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Down to Earth Timeline

More About Down to Earth

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More About Down to Earth

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