Brazil

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Brazil

R

1985

2h 22m

Comedy

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

62 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Low-level bureaucrat Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce) escapes the monotony of his day-to-day life through a recurring daydream of himself as a virtuous hero saving a beautiful damsel. Investigating a case that led to the wrongful arrest and eventual death of an innocent man instead of wanted terrorist Harry Tuttle (Robert De Niro), he meets the woman from his daydream (Kim Greist), and in trying to help her gets caught in a web of mistaken identities, mindless bureaucracy and lies.

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Critics Consensus

Brazil, Terry Gilliam's visionary Orwellian fantasy, is an audacious dark comedy, filled with strange, imaginative visuals.

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Chris Cabin

Slant Magazine

Through its wildly comic, furiously creative, and intensely moving facade, Terry Gilliam’s 1985 film Brazil ponders a future made to sustain a draconian past molded by inequality.

Jun 10, 2025

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

It's like a stoned, slapstick 1984: a nightmare comedy in which the comedy is just an aspect of the nightmarishness.

Jan 3, 2018

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Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

[A] darkly funny and truly visionary retro-futurist fantasy.

Mar 12, 2011

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Kevin Nguyen

The Verge

Wildly inventive at every turn, Gilliam’s satirical vision of a cruel and violent bureaucracy rings eerily true of this political moment.

Aug 7, 2025

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James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

Assembled from bits and piece of fantasy, science fiction, political fable, slapstick comedy, and social farce, Brazil represents the full flowering of Gilliam’s unique artistic personality

Rated: 4/4

Jul 4, 2025

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Frank J. Avella

The Contending

Brazil is a startling, eye-popping, cacophonous cinematic experience that, for all its flaws, presents a deliciously nihilistic look at a world where most of its citizens have capitulated to an authoritarian regime.

Rated: B+

Jun 25, 2025

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Jake G

This has got to be Terry Gilliam's undisputed masterpiece. This dark comedy set in an authoritarian future perfectly parodies the absurdism of bureaucracy. It's dreamlike qualities make it a wonderful and surreal experience

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/19/25

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Michael D

It's 2025 and you're watching this film wondering how Terry Gilliam knew that in 40 years we would all be subject to the Ministry of Information in our daily lives. While still a comedy and the spectacular cinematic direction, the subtle undertones of the script and plot make you wonder how we let society get to this point.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/08/25

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Frans B

Well, certainly groundbreaking work by Terry Gilliam, very well directed and brought to screen. Weird and wonderful indeed. Amazing cast all excels in character. Very original, somewhat strange, storyline. Lots of intrigue, drama, action, sharp wit and entertainment. Stunning visuals and cinematography. Very memorable movie, highly recommended

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/03/25

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SANDRA D

Took my 7 year old grand daughter. She wanted to leave because it was very complicated. It was boring, I almost fell asleep. Very hard to sat through.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/31/25

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nick s

I appreciated the experimental nature of this movie. Most of the acting was excellent, with some famous actors showing their range, but there was some patchy acting too. Miniatures and special effects were great. I think I would have loved this as a teenager. My only gripe is that it lacked cohesion and some themes dragged a bit. I found myself getting bored.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/14/25

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Stephen C

Funny in 2 hours and 22 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring Robert De Niro as Archibald!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In British English with American English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $3,700,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/04/25

Full Review

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Terry Gilliam

Director

Jonathan Pryce

Sam Lowry

Robert De Niro

Archibald "Harry" Tuttle

Katherine Helmond

Mrs. Ida Lowry

Ian Holm

Mr. M. Kurtzmann

Bob Hoskins

Spoor

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Synopsis

Low-level bureaucrat Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce) escapes the monotony of his day-to-day life through a recurring daydream of himself as a virtuous hero saving a beautiful damsel. Investigating a case that led to the wrongful arrest and eventual death of an innocent man instead of wanted terrorist Harry Tuttle (Robert De Niro), he meets the woman from his daydream (Kim Greist), and in trying to help her gets caught in a web of mistaken identities, mindless bureaucracy and lies.

Director: Terry Gilliam
Producer: Arnon Milchan
Screenwriter: Terry Gilliam, Charles McKeown, Tom Stoppard
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Sci-Fi
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 18, 1985, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Aug 1, 2025
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.7M
Runtime: 2h 22m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Surround, Dolby A
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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