You’ve probably seen the headlines about the 215-minute runtime. Or maybe you heard about the 12-minute standing ovation at Venice. Honestly, Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist is the kind of movie that feels like it shouldn’t exist in 2025, yet here we are, obsessing over a three-and-a-half-hour immigrant epic shot on VistaVision 70mm film. It’s massive. It’s exhausting. It’s also the movie everyone is currently trying to find a link for, but figuring out how to stream The Brutalist is a bit of a moving target because of how A24 handles their prestige rollouts.
The film follows László Tóth, a Hungarian-born Jewish architect played by Adrien Brody, who survives the Holocaust and arrives in America in 1947. It’s a story of grit, the American Dream’s dark underbelly, and a mysterious, wealthy patron played by Guy Pearce. If you're looking for a quick Friday night popcorn flick, this isn't it. But if you want a sprawling masterpiece that critics are already calling one of the best of the decade, you need to know the release roadmap.
The A24 Factor: Why You Can’t Stream The Brutalist Just Yet
A24 isn't Netflix. They don't just dump a $40 million-looking epic onto a server and hope for the best. They’re old school. They want you in a theater seat, preferably one with a projector capable of showing 70mm. Because they bought the US distribution rights for a reported $10 million after its festival run, they are incentivized to squeeze every cent out of the box office before it hits your living room.
Most people get this wrong: they think a "limited release" means it’ll be on Max or Hulu the following week. It won't. A24 usually adheres to a strict theatrical window of at least 45 to 60 days. For a behemoth like this, they might even stretch it. If the film starts raking in Oscar nominations—which it almost certainly will for Brody and Felicity Jones—they will keep it in theaters as long as possible. We’re likely looking at a PVOD (Premium Video on Demand) release about two or three months after the initial December theatrical launch.
Breaking Down the Digital Timeline
Think back to Past Lives or The Zone of Interest. Those films took their sweet time. Usually, you’ll see the film pop up for digital purchase on platforms like Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Vudu first. This is the "buy it for $19.99" phase. Only after that sales window starts to dry up does it move to a subscription streaming service.
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Which Streaming Service Will Eventually Get The Brutalist?
This is where things get interesting for your wallet. In late 2023, A24 signed a massive multi-year deal with Warner Bros. Discovery. This means that for the foreseeable future, the "streaming home" for A24 films in the United States is Max (formerly HBO Max).
If you’re waiting to watch it as part of a subscription you already pay for, Max is your destination.
But don't go canceling your other subs just yet. International rights are a total patchwork. In some territories, Focus Features or local distributors have the rights, meaning it could end up on Sky in the UK or various regional streamers in Europe. But for US-based viewers? It’s Max or bust.
What about the "Intermission"?
Here’s a weird detail: the theatrical version has a built-in 15-minute intermission. When you finally do stream The Brutalist, it’s unclear if the digital file will keep that break or if it’ll be edited into one continuous 215-minute stream. Historically, home releases of "intermission movies" like Ben-Hur or Lawrence of Arabia keep the intermission music over a black screen. It gives you a chance to pee without hitting pause. It's classy.
Why the 70mm Experience Actually Matters More Than Streaming
I know, I know. You want to watch it on your couch. But The Brutalist was specifically composed for the massive VistaVision format. The resolution of 70mm film is roughly equivalent to 18K. Your 4K TV—even that fancy OLED—cannot actually reproduce the level of detail Brady Corbet and cinematographer Lol Crawley captured on those giant frames of celluloid.
There's also the sound. The score by Daniel Blumberg is jarring and industrial. It’s meant to rattle your ribcage. Most home setups just don't have the "oomph" to deliver that kind of sonic punishment. If you have a local independent cinema showing this in 70mm or even standard 35mm, go. It’s a physical experience. Streaming it later is for the second viewing when you want to analyze the architecture of the sets.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Plot
People hear "architect" and "post-war America" and they think it’s a dry, boring biopic. It’s not a biopic. László Tóth is a fictional character. The movie is a work of historical fiction that feels so real people are literally Googling "László Tóth buildings" only to find out they don't exist.
It’s actually a movie about power dynamics. It’s about how a wealthy man can "own" an artist. It’s about the Jewish experience in a country that claims to welcome you but often just wants to use your talent. It’s brutal. The title isn't just about the "Brutalist" style of architecture; it’s a descriptor of the life these characters lead.
Performance Peaks
- Adrien Brody: This is his best work since The Pianist. It’s quiet, physical, and deeply sad.
- Felicity Jones: She plays Erzsébet, László’s wife, and her performance is the backbone of the film’s second half.
- Guy Pearce: He plays the patron Harrison Lee Van Buren. He is terrifyingly charming.
Critical Reception and Oscar Buzz
Usually, when a movie is this long, critics sharpen their knives. But The Brutalist currently sits with a staggering score on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic. The consensus isn't just "it's good," it's "it's a landmark."
The Academy loves a comeback story, and Brody’s return to the Best Actor conversation is the narrative of the season. Plus, the sheer technical ambition—the film used custom lenses and a specific chemical process for the film stock—makes it a lock for technical nominations like Cinematography and Production Design. When a movie has this much heat, the streaming release becomes a major "event" for the platform that lands it.
The Logistics: Preparing for a 4-Hour Movie at Home
When the time comes to stream The Brutalist, you have to treat it like an event. You can't just "put it on."
- Check your bandwidth: If you’re streaming in 4K on Max, you need at least 25 Mbps of consistent speed. A24 films are known for having a lot of "film grain," and low-bitrate streaming can make grain look like digital mush (blocking).
- Sound settings: Turn off your TV's "speech enhancement" or "night mode." You want the full dynamic range.
- The Intermission: If the streaming version doesn't force a break, give yourself one at the two-hour mark. The film is divided into chapters for a reason.
Comparison of Viewing Options
| Feature | Theatrical (70mm) | Digital Rental (VOD) | Streaming (Max) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Availability | Dec 2024 / Jan 2025 | Approx. Feb/March 2025 | Approx. April/May 2025 |
| Visual Quality | Absolute Peak (18K equivalent) | High (4K HDR) | Variable (Compressed 4K) |
| Cost | Ticket Price ($15-$25) | One-time fee ($19.99) | Monthly Sub ($10-$20) |
| Comfort | Theater Seat | Your Couch | Your Couch |
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're dying to see this, don't just sit around waiting for a Netflix notification that will never come. Here is your game plan to ensure you catch The Brutalist in its best possible form.
First, check the 70mm tracker. Sites like In70mm.com or the official A24 film page often list the specific theaters equipped to play the film on actual celluloid. This is a dying art, and seeing a new 70mm print is a rare opportunity. Even if you have to drive an hour, it's worth it for this specific film.
Second, set a Google Alert. Create an alert for "The Brutalist digital release date." A24 tends to announce these dates only a week or two in advance. By setting an alert, you’ll be among the first to know when the pre-order goes live on Apple TV or Amazon.
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Third, watch Brady Corbet’s previous work. To understand his style, watch The Childhood of a Leader or Vox Lux. They are much shorter but give you a sense of his uncompromising, sometimes abrasive filmmaking style. It’ll prepare you for the tone of The Brutalist.
Finally, don't pirate it. Seriously. A film like this relies on every single digital sale and stream to prove to studios that "serious," long-form cinema is still viable. If the data shows that people are willing to pay for a 4-hour epic, we get more movies like this. If everyone steals it, we get more superhero sequels. Make the choice that keeps cinema alive.
Wait for the Max release or shell out the twenty bucks for the high-quality VOD file. Your eyes—and the filmmakers—will thank you.