The Brutalist, which earned Adrien Brody an Academy Award for Best Actor, is experiencing a significant resurgence on streaming platforms almost a year after its Oscar success. Directed by Brady Corbet, the period drama starring Brody and Guy Pearce is now available on HBO Max and has quickly become one of the service’s most-watched films in the United States.
Strong Streaming Rankings and Critical Acclaim
Since arriving on HBO Max, The Brutalist ranks as the ninth most popular movie on the platform, surpassing action hits such as John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019), although it trails behind titles like the Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009) and earlier John Wick installments. Critics have widely praised the film, which currently holds a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, reinforcing its artistic success alongside commercial appeal.
The film not only secured Brody a long-awaited Oscar win for his first nomination since 2002’s The Piano, but it also won awards for Best Cinematography and Best Original Score. The Brutalist’s total of three Academy Awards came from seven nominations, highlighting its strong reception from both viewers and the industry.
Story and Cast Spotlight
Adrien Brody plays László Tóth, a Hungarian-Jewish architect who emigrates to the United States after World War II, where his life trajectory is impacted by a wealthy client’s influence. The cast features other notable actors, including Guy Pearce as Harrison Lee Van Buren, Felicity Jones, Joe Alwyn, Stacy Martin, and Raffey Cassidy, contributing to the film’s layered narrative and emotional depth.
Box Office Performance and Production Details
The Brutalist saw notable success in theaters before arriving on streaming, earning $50 million worldwide from a modest $10 million budget. Although shot on film and presenting an epic scope, the movie maintained a relatively low production cost. A24 managed distribution in the U.S., while Focus Features handled international markets, helping the film reach a wide audience despite some controversy during its production phase.
Use of AI Sparks Discussion During Production
While The Brutalist was generally praised, reports of artificial intelligence involvement prompted debate. AI was used to subtly enhance Brody and Jones’ accents for greater authenticity and to aid in conceptualizing architectural designs. However, final designs credited human artists exclusively. This blending of traditional artistry with modern technology added complexity to the film’s creation process.
Director Brady Corbet’s Upcoming Project
Following The Brutalist’s acclaim and growing popularity on streaming, director Brady Corbet is preparing a new film that promises a marked shift in subject and style. On the WTF with Marc Maron podcast, Corbet described his forthcoming project as spanning 150 years, with much of the story situated in the 1970s, exploring themes around American mysticism and other topics of personal fascination.
“I’ve been working on it for a long time and I’m excited about doing something very different. It’s a different period of world history…it spans 150 years. I would say a majority of the film takes place in the 70s. It’s sort of about American mysticism and many things I’m fascinated by.” – Brady Corbet, Director
Corbet also confirmed that the new film will carry an NC-17 rating, a designation rarely seen in theaters, usually reserved for films with highly explicit content or intense subject matter. This rating could limit the potential audience but underscores the director’s commitment to uncompromising storytelling.
Anticipation Builds While Audiences Revisit The Brutalist
With production on Corbet’s next film delayed until later this year, viewers have ample opportunity to rediscover The Brutalist on HBO Max, where its streaming surge demonstrates enduring interest. The film’s strong critical and commercial performance lays a promising foundation for Corbet’s upcoming work and suggests continued attention to his distinctive approach in current cinema.
