Brain on Fire

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1:55

Brain on Fire

PG-13

2016

1h 35m

Biography

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

13%

Tomatometer

15 Reviews

68%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Susannah Cahalan, an up-and-coming journalist at the New York Post becomes plagued by voices in her head and seizures. As weeks progress and Susannah quickly moves deeper into insanity, her behaviors shift from violence to catatonia. After a series of tantrums, misdiagnoses, and a lengthy hospital stay, a doctor's last-minute intervention enables him to give her a diagnosis and a chance to rebuild her life.

David Rooney

The Hollywood Reporter

We watch Chloe Grace Moretz's epic meltdown from a bored distance, until the drama remembers its lost calling as a disease-of-the-week movie. At that point, we receive the abrupt news of a cure with an indifferent shrug.

Sep 19, 2016

Full Review

Wendy Ide

Screen International

Despite the fact that Susannah eventually manages to claw her way back from the brink of madness, this is a downbeat slog of a film which tells a not particularly involving story.

Sep 19, 2016

Full Review

Peter Debruge

Variety

It's the sort of role for which the Razzies were invented, and what little audience it finds will almost certainly be heckling as they watch Moretz implode.

Sep 18, 2016

Full Review

Alec Bojalad

Den of Geek

Brain on Fire is like a virus itself, trying to infect an otherwise interest story with its own mediocre movie clichés.

Rated: 2.5/5

Mar 1, 2019

Full Review

Renee Schonfeld

Common Sense Media

Brain condition ravages young reporter's life; swearing.

Rated: 2/5

Jun 27, 2018

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Kahron Spearman

The Daily Dot

Despite its best efforts... Brain on Fire is a 90-minute shrug.

Jun 27, 2018

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Takamo W

Chloë acting is another level. This review is only support her role on this film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/11/25

Full Review

Audience Member

I watched this as a result of a recommendation from a friend who knows someone who has personally experienced this condition. Very well done. Definitely worth watching. Impressive acting.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/27/25

Full Review

Alice S

As someone who went through very similar medical issues, this movie did a great job showing what she went through. I felt like I was reliving the worst part of my life watching the movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/12/25

Full Review

Hailee B

This was a movie. I love Chloe Grace she just does so well at acting and her performance in hospital scenes is just so Legendary. Great movie great story telling i believe there was a book for this movie.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/12/24

Full Review

Vishnu M

OMG! the perfomance of Chloe was mind blowing, she is the real star of the movie, the story was awsome I really enjoyed. Bit slow in places but overall interesting and brings light to something important.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/10/24

Full Review

Hei D

I admit I had to press the forward button a few times during the various melt-downs. But it's a must-see both for the topic itself and great acting.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/01/24

Full Review

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Gerard Barrett

Director

Chloë Grace Moretz

Susannah Cahalan

Thomas Mann

Stephen

Jenny Slate

Angela

Richard Armitage

Tom Cahalan

Carrie-Anne Moss

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Brain on Fire: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Susannah Cahalan, an up-and-coming journalist at the New York Post becomes plagued by voices in her head and seizures. As weeks progress and Susannah quickly moves deeper into insanity, her behaviors shift from violence to catatonia. After a series of tantrums, misdiagnoses, and a lengthy hospital stay, a doctor's last-minute intervention enables him to give her a diagnosis and a chance to rebuild her life.

Director: Gerard Barrett
Producer: Charlize Theron, Beth Kono, Lindsay MacAdam, Rob Merilees, A.J. Dix
Screenwriter: Gerard Barrett
Production Co: Foundation Features, Broad Green Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Elements|Partial Nudity|Brief Language)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 22, 2018
Runtime: 1h 35m