You've likely heard the buzz by now. A 215-minute immigrant epic shot in a dead film format that somehow manages to feel more alive than anything else hitting the multiplex. It's called The Brutalist, and honestly, trying to track down exactly when it’s playing in a city near you has been a bit of a headache for some. That’s mostly because A24—the studio that picked this up after its massive win at Venice—is playing the long game with the rollout.
If you’re wondering when will The Brutalist be released, the answer depends entirely on where you live and whether you’re a "70mm or bust" kind of person.
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The Theatrical Rollout: Where and When
The movie officially landed in the United States on December 20, 2024. But it wasn't a "everywhere all at once" kind of deal. A24 opted for a limited release first, hitting the prestige houses in New York and Los Angeles before creeping out into other major markets throughout January 2025.
For the folks across the pond in the UK and Ireland, the wait was a bit longer. Focus Features handled the distribution there, setting the date for January 24, 2025.
- Venice Premiere: September 1, 2024 (Where it bagged the Silver Lion).
- US Limited Release: December 20, 2024.
- US Wide Expansion: Mid-to-late January 2025.
- UK/International Release: January 24, 2025.
If you're reading this in 2026, you might be looking for the "victory lap" screenings. Because the film was shot on VistaVision and designed for 70mm, many independent cinemas (like the Music Box in Chicago or the Prince Charles in London) have kept it in rotation for special event screenings. Basically, it’s the new Interstellar—a movie that people will pay to see in a theater once a year just for the sheer scale of it.
Digital and Home Media: When Can You Stream It?
Not everyone wants to sit in a theater for nearly four hours with a 15-minute intermission, even if there is a literal "intermission" card built into the film. Life happens.
For the home viewers, the digital release (TVOD) happened on February 18, 2025. This is when you could finally buy or rent it on platforms like Apple TV, Amazon, and Fandango.
The physical media release was actually a pretty big deal for this one. Since Brady Corbet (the director) is such a film purist, the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray editions were meticulously overseen. Those hit the shelves on March 25, 2025 in the US and April 28, 2025 in the UK.
Why the Release Schedule Was So Weird
Hollywood usually dumps big movies into 3,000 theaters and hopes for the best. The Brutalist didn't do that. Why? Because it’s a $10 million movie that looks like it cost $100 million.
It’s an "event" film for people who love architecture, history, and Adrien Brody looking very, very stressed. By keeping the release limited at first, A24 built up that "you have to see this" energy that eventually led to its 10 Academy Award nominations. You’ve got Guy Pearce playing a wealthy, somewhat terrifying patron and Felicity Jones as an immigrant wife dealing with the literal weight of history. It’s heavy stuff.
The film follows László Tóth, a Hungarian architect who survives the Holocaust and moves to Pennsylvania. He's poor, he's struggling, and then he meets a tycoon who wants a monument built. It’s a 30-year saga. You can't just throw that on a Tuesday afternoon at a mall and expect it to work. It needed the festival hype to survive.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 70mm Release
There’s this misconception that you have to see it in 70mm or you’ve missed the point. While Corbet would probably prefer you see it on film, the digital 4K transfers are actually stunning. The VistaVision format (which runs the film through the camera horizontally) provides a level of detail that looks incredible even on a high-end OLED TV at home.
Don't feel like a "fake fan" if you missed the theatrical run. The sound design alone—that roaring, industrial score by Daniel Blumberg—is worth the price of a good pair of headphones.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you missed the initial wave or just want to experience it again, here is how you can actually watch it right now:
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- Check Specialty Theaters: Use sites like In70mm.com to see if any "Roadshow" versions are playing. They keep a live log of which theaters globally are still running 70mm prints.
- Physical is Better: If you have a 4K player, get the disc. Streaming bitrates often crush the grain of the VistaVision film stock, making it look a bit "mushy." The 4K Blu-ray preserves that texture.
- Track the Awards: If you're a completionist, look for the "Director's Cut" rumors. While the theatrical version is already massive, Corbet has mentioned in interviews that there were even longer sequences of the architectural builds that didn't make the final edit.
The journey of The Brutalist from a "risky" independent project to a modern classic is pretty wild. It proves that audiences actually will sit still for three and a half hours if the story is big enough. If you haven't sat down with it yet, clear your afternoon. You're going to need the time.