Following its release on Max (formerly HBO Max) on Friday, 16 May, The Brutalist topped the HBO US Top 10 over the weekend and remained at the top of the list at the time of writing on Monday. The Academy Award-winning hit, directed by Brady Corbet, is currently ranking fourth across all streaming platforms in the United States.
The three-and-a-half-hour drama follows the journey of a Jewish Hungarian architect, László Toth, who emigrates to the United States after the Second World War. Since its unofficial premiere in 2024, the film has received widespread critical acclaim, with Adrien Brody earning both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Actor for his extraordinary performance as László Toth.
A Controversial Alteration
The streaming version of The Brutalist was altered to be more comfortable for home viewing. The original theatrical release featured a 15-minute intermission—much discussed even prior to the film’s debut—which has been shortened to just one minute in the home release. During the intermission, a poignant photograph is displayed, depicting László and his wife Erzsébet’s wedding day, while a countdown clock ticks on screen.
However, the alteration was not without controversy. Critics have argued that the original 15-minute interlude provides a necessary respite within the film’s 215-minute runtime, allowing viewers to process its complex narrative and emotional weight. ‘The intermission was one of the little charms and throwbacks to classic cinema that made The Brutalist such a unique theatrical experience,’ wrote CinemaBlend’s Philip Sledge in his review of the streaming version.
Hungary and The Brutalist
The Brutalist has several connections to Hungary. Although László Toth is a fictional character, as noted in one of our most-read articles of 2025, at least two Jewish Hungarian architects fit the mould: Marcel Lajos Breuer and Ernő Goldfinger.
According to his own words, Adrien Brody drew inspiration from his mother, photographer Sylvia Plachy, for his portrayal of László Toth, saying the character was ‘one that I felt immediate kinship and understanding for.’ He explained:
‘She fled Hungary in 1956 during the Hungarian Revolution and was a refugee who immigrated to the United States, much like László, starting over and pursuing a dream of becoming an artist. I understand a great deal about the repercussions of that on her life and her work as an artist, which I think is a wonderful parallel with László’s creations—how they evolve and how post-war psychology influences his work.’
Moreover, the film was edited by Dávid Jancsó, a Hungarian film editor and son of director and screenwriter Miklós Jancsó, an iconic figure in the Hungarian film industry. The Brutalist was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Film Editing; however, the award ultimately went to Anora, directed by Sean Baker. Anora also won Best Picture ahead of The Brutalist in March.
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