Three-time Oscar winner The Brutalist is now streaming on Max, giving viewers more control over how they experience the nearly 4-hour film.
One of the most acclaimed films of 2024, The Brutalist, is now streaming on Max, offering audiences a chance to experience the sweeping epic on their own terms. The Oscar-winning film, which earned three Academy Awards including Best Actor for Adrien Brody, was hailed as a cinematic triumph—but its nearly four-hour runtime made it a daunting watch for many moviegoers.
The Brutalist runs three hours and 36 minutes, including a built-in intermission, and follows the story of Laszlo Toth (Brody), a gifted architect who escapes post-war Europe in 1947 to seek a new beginning in the United States. His brilliance eventually catches the attention of a powerful benefactor, played by Guy Pearce, who enlists him for a landmark project. As Laszlo navigates his new life, he faces personal and professional challenges that complicate his pursuit of the American dream. The film also stars Felicity Jones, and was directed and co-written by Brady Corbet, with writing partner Mona Fastvold.
In addition to Adrien Brody’s Best Actor win, The Brutalist took home Oscars for Best Cinematography and Best Score, and was nominated in a total of 10 categories. The film was a Best Picture contender, and both Jones and Pearce earned acting nominations. With a 93% “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it was widely considered one of the definitive cinematic achievements of the year.
Despite its critical success, The Brutalist made a modest impact at the box office, grossing just over $16 million domestically and a little more than $50 million worldwide. Its lengthy runtime was likely a contributing factor to the underwhelming theatrical performance—and even reportedly kept some Oscar voters from finishing the film, leading to a change in Academy voting rules.
Until now, watching The Brutalist outside theaters required purchasing the digital version or rushing through a 24-hour rental window. But with its arrival on Max, viewers can now pause, rewind, and spread out their viewing experience however they like—whether it’s across multiple nights or in one uninterrupted sitting.
That said, fans and critics alike still recommend watching the film in one go to fully appreciate its immersive atmosphere, lush visuals, and compelling score. But the flexibility of streaming may finally remove the biggest barrier that’s kept audiences from engaging with one of 2024’s most ambitious films.
And for those without access to Max—or who aren’t subscribers—the movie remains available for digital purchase or rental on other platforms.
As Max prepares for another rebrand back to its original HBO Max identity, the addition of The Brutalist to its library gives subscribers a powerful reason to revisit one of last year’s most awarded, visually stunning films.
