You've probably heard the rumblings. Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist isn't just another movie; it’s a massive, three-and-a-half-hour beast of a film that has people talking about the "death of the mid-budget drama" in a totally new way. It’s long. It’s got an intermission. Honestly, it’s the kind of cinema that makes you feel like you’ve actually lived a second life by the time the credits roll. But finding out how to watch The Brutalist isn't as straightforward as just opening Netflix and hitting play. This is a prestige A24 release, and they’re handling it with a specific kind of reverence that rewards the patient.
The film stars Adrien Brody as László Tóth, a Hungarian-born Jewish architect who survives the Holocaust and emigrates to the United States. It’s a sprawling, decades-long epic about the American Dream, or maybe the American Nightmare, depending on how you view the crushing weight of capitalism and ego. If you're looking for a quick popcorn flick, this isn't it. If you want a 70mm masterpiece that feels like it was unearthed from a time capsule in 1950, you're in the right place.
The Current Theatrical Landscape for The Brutalist
Right now, the best way—and for a while, the only way—to see this is in a theater. A24 is leaning hard into the "event" nature of this film. Because it was shot on VistaVision and is being projected in 70mm in select cities, the theatrical window is being guarded like a fortress.
You’ll find it playing in major markets first. Think New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and London. In these cities, theaters like the Alamo Drafthouse or the Music Box are often the go-to spots. The reason it matters where you see it is the intermission. Corbet specifically designed a 15-minute break into the film. Most streaming services haven't quite figured out how to handle a hard-coded intermission without it feeling clunky, but in a theater, it’s part of the vibe. You get up, stretch, talk about Brody’s incredible performance, and go back in for the final act.
If you aren't in a major hub, don't panic. The rollout is expanding. Typically, A24 does a platform release. They start small, build the Oscar buzz (which is already deafening for Brody and Felicity Jones), and then move to suburban multiplexes. Check your local listings for "The Brutalist 70mm" if you want the high-end experience, but standard digital projections will eventually hit your local AMC or Regal.
When Will The Brutalist Be Available to Stream?
This is the big question. Everyone wants to know when they can pause the movie at home to grab a snack. Based on the way A24 handled Civil War and Past Lives, we can make some very educated guesses.
Usually, there is a 45 to 60-day exclusive theatrical window. Since The Brutalist is a heavy hitter for awards season, they might stretch that. They want people in seats. They want the box office numbers to justify the nearly four-hour runtime. Expect the digital "Home Premiere" (where you can rent or buy it on platforms like Apple TV or Amazon) to happen roughly two to three months after the initial release date.
The Max Deal
If you’re waiting to watch it for "free" as part of a subscription, you’re looking at Max (formerly HBO Max). A24 has a multi-year output deal with Warner Bros. Discovery. This means The Brutalist will eventually land on Max.
- Digital Purchase/Rental: Likely 60-90 days after theatrical release.
- Streaming on Max: Likely 5-7 months after theatrical release.
Wait. There’s a catch. Big epics like this sometimes get "special edition" treatments. Don't be surprised if the streaming version looks a little different or if they offer a "Director's Cut" vibe with behind-the-scenes looks at the architecture used in the film.
Why You Shouldn't Just Wait for Streaming
I get it. Three and a half hours is a commitment. You’ve got a couch. You’ve got cheap snacks. But The Brutalist is built on scale. The architecture in the film—these massive, concrete structures that László builds—is meant to tower over you. When you watch a 70mm print, the grain of the film and the depth of the shadows do something to your brain that a 4K TV just can't replicate.
Plus, there’s the sound. The score by Daniel Blumberg is jarring and industrial. It’s meant to be loud. In a theater, that sound vibrates in your chest. At home, you’re probably going to be adjusting the volume so you can hear the dialogue without the music waking up the neighbors. That’s not how Corbet intended for you to experience this story.
Decoding the Tech: VistaVision and 70mm
If you see a listing for The Brutalist in VistaVision, go. It’s a vintage format that uses a larger film frame than standard 35mm. It creates an insanely sharp image. For a movie about an architect, clarity is everything. You want to see the texture of the stone and the sweat on the actors' faces.
Some people think 70mm is just a gimmick. It isn't. It’s about the "flicker." There is a warmth to physical film that digital sensors still struggle to copy. If you’re figuring out how to watch The Brutalist and you have the choice between a standard digital screen and a 70mm projection, choose the film every single time. It’s the difference between looking at a painting and looking at a photo of a painting.
Is There a Criterion Release Coming?
Given the film's pedigree, a Criterion Collection physical release is almost a certainty down the line. A24 and Criterion have a healthy relationship. If you’re a collector, you might want to hold off on buying the digital version and wait for the inevitable 4K UHD physical disc. These releases usually include the kind of deep-dive essays and interviews that help explain the historical context of the post-war architecture seen in the movie.
Practical Steps for the Best Experience
Don't just walk into the theater blind. This is a marathon.
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- Check the Intermission: Confirm your theater is actually honoring the 15-minute break. Some lazy theaters might try to cut it out. Don't let them. It’s part of the pacing.
- Pick Your Seat Wisely: Since it’s a long movie, you don't want to be in the front row breaking your neck. Aim for the center, about two-thirds of the way back.
- Hydrate, But Not Too Much: You have an intermission, but three and a half hours is still a long time.
- Research the Era: You don't need a PhD in history, but knowing a little bit about the post-WWII architectural shift toward Brutalism (hence the name) will make the visual metaphors hit a lot harder.
The film is a towering achievement. It’s the kind of movie we don't get very often anymore—uncompromising, expensive, and deeply personal. Whether you catch it in a crumbling independent cinema or wait for it to hit your OLED screen in a few months, just make sure you give it the attention it demands. Turn off your phone. Dim the lights. Let the concrete and the ambition wash over you.
To track the exact release in your specific zip code, your best bet is to follow the official A24 Twitter/X account or sign up for their "AAA24" membership, which usually gives early access to screening tickets and merch. Once the theatrical run begins to wind down, keep an eye on the "New to Rent" section of the Apple TV app, as that is typically where the first high-quality digital signals appear.