Adapted by:
John Tones
WriterI've been writing about culture for twenty-something years and, at Xataka, I cover everything related to movies, video games, TV shows, comics, and pop culture.
Alba Mora
WriterAn established tech journalist, I entered the world of consumer tech by chance in 2018. In my writing and translating career, I've also covered a diverse range of topics, including entertainment, travel, science, and the economy.
The Brutalist is one of the undisputed favorites to win the Oscar for Best Picture this year. While it faces strong competition from titles like Anora, Conclave, and even the chaotic Emilia Pérez, it stands out as a favorite among moviegoers. Its stunning visuals and impressive length have earned it a reputation as one of the year’s standout films, regardless of whether it ultimately wins the Oscar.
Money saver. Despite it appearing to be a large-scale project, The Brutalist had a modest budget of only $9.6 million. In contrast, other films look worse despite much higher budgets. Examples include A Complete Unknown($50-$70 million), Conclave ($20 million), Dune: Part Two ($190 million), Emilia Pérez ($25 million), Nickel Boys ($23.2 million), The Substance ($17.5 million), and Wicked ($150 million).
The only films with similar budgets are Anora ($6 million) and I’m Still Here ($1.8 million), which have far more indie and modest visual styles. Meanwhile, The Brutalist has the polished look of a blockbuster.
How did The Brutalist achieve this? It’s mostly about common sense and controlling expenses. Director Brady Cobert told Slate that to shoot in his chosen format, Vistavision (which hasn’t been used in Hollywood since the 1960s), he decided to forego three days of shooting and instead invest that saved money back into the project.
Cobert believes it’s possible to do this only if you understand how much everything costs. “I really encourage young people to do their own digging on how much things cost. Because it’s so helpful to know the price per foot of film stock this year. How much does it cost to rent a crane? What’s the daily rate? What’s the weekly rate? I’ve gotten to a point where if someone says, ‘We can’t afford that,’ I’m able to respond, ‘Yes, we can. We have to give up this and this,’” he said.
Box office. The Brutalist has grossed an estimated $37.3 million worldwide, which doesn’t even cover the catering costs for Dune: Part Two. The film has surpassed the $12 million mark at the domestic box office. Meanwhile, the highest-grossing countries outside the U.S. have been the United Kingdom, Spain and Germany.
Awards season. The Oscar effect has clearly boosted the film’s box office grosses. The Brutalist premiered in the U.S. in late January, a month before the nominations were announced. By that time, it was already one of the frontrunners in the awards season, having received acclaim at the Venice Film Festival in September 2024.
On Jan. 5, the film won three Golden Globe Awards, including Best Drama. By the end of the month, it had secured four BAFTAs. Additionally, it was released in Europe shortly after the Oscar nominations were revealed. This was the perfect timing, which major studies often find challenging as they need to juggle numerous schedules and commitments.
Outlook for future films. Apart from Oppenheimer in 2024, the Oscars have more enthusiastically favored independent cinema and anti-mainstream features than in the previous decade. Notable examples include Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), CODA (2021), Nomadland (2020), and Parasite(2019).
Anora and The Brutalist are different types of indie films, but both are certainly outside mainstream tastes. Their presence in this year’s awards indicates that these kinds of films might continue to be prevalent in future editions. That is, of course, if Hollywood chooses to honor those who invest significantly more time, effort, and creativity into their filmmaking on Sunday.
Image | A24
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