The Brutalist
A Hungarian architect rebuilding his life in postwar America discovers that artistic opportunity can become another form of captivity.
Overview
A tale of ambition and transformation amidst the chaos of post-war Europe and the promise of America.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- austere
- melancholic
- grand
- serious movie night
- architecture film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard it as a monumental, visually stunning historical epic anchored by exceptional performances from Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce, with its ambition and length dividing some viewers.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
László Tóth's architectural vision is inseparable from his immigrant selfhood and his negotiations with Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr.
The wealthy Van Buren commissions László's major building project while exerting influence over his professional and personal life.
The film foregrounds brutalist architecture through expansive compositions, deliberate geometry, and large-format visual design.
László arrives in the United States after fleeing postwar Europe, pursuing professional renewal while confronting capitalism and class power.
Films like The Brutalist, and why
There Will Be Blood
epic immigrant drama examining artistic ambition, American power, and the costs of assimilation
The Master
formally ambitious historical drama about architecture, trauma, memory, and postwar identity
The Godfather Part II
sweeping character-driven drama about the American dream, wealth, and destructive ambition
Once Upon a Time in America
European immigrant experience rendered through grand scale, family conflict, and social transformation
Movie Details
- Director
- Brady Corbet
- Release Date
- 2024-12-20
- Runtime
- 215 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (1833)
Cast
- Adrien Brody
- Felicity Jones
- Guy Pearce
- Joe Alwyn
- Raffey Cassidy
- Stacy Martin
- Isaach de Bankolé
- Alessandro Nivola
- Ariane Labed
- Michael Epp
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Brutalist about?
- A Hungarian architect rebuilding his life in postwar America discovers that artistic opportunity can become another form of captivity.
- What is The Brutalist like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Brutalist as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Brutalist violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Brutalist as mild.
- What did critics think of The Brutalist?
- Critics broadly regard it as a monumental, visually stunning historical epic anchored by exceptional performances from Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce, with its ambition and length dividing some viewers.
- Which films are like The Brutalist?
- Films with a similar feel include There Will Be Blood, The Master, The Godfather Part II, and Once Upon a Time in America.
- How long is The Brutalist?
- The Brutalist runs 215 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Brutalist?
- In United States, The Brutalist streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max.
