Brazil (1985)
Kernel Score: 84% · 3,625 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Comedy, Science Fiction
Released: 1985-02-20
Runtime: 143 minutes
Is Brazil worth watching?
Must-watch. A mild clerk in a bureaucratic nightmare escapes into daydreams, then gets caught by the system. Terry Gilliam's dystopian comedy is dark, funny and visually inventive, and it's bleaker than it first looks.
Watch it if you
- like dark satire about bureaucracy
- enjoy imaginative production design
- want a cult sci-fi comedy
Skip it if you
- want a straightforward plot
- dislike bleak endings
Best for: Weird cinema night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Brazil
- Free with ads: YouTube Free
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Low-level bureaucrat Sam Lowry 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, he meets the woman from his daydream, and in trying to help her gets caught in a web of mistaken identities, mindless bureaucracy and lies.
Movies like Brazil
If you liked Brazil, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Twelve Monkeys (1995) — 87%: Same director, a time-travel puzzle with a bleak edge.
- A Clockwork Orange (1971) — 90%: Cold, stylish dystopian satire.
- Children of Men (2006) — 85%: A bleak future seen through a rough, human lens.
- The Fisher King (1991) — 83%: Gilliam's gentler, more humane fantasy.
- Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) — 89%: Gilliam's first big comedy, silly and inventive.
- Poor Things (2023) — 85%: A modern surreal fantasy with a bold look.
Director
Cast
- Jonathan Pryce as Sam Lowry
- Robert De Niro as Harry Tuttle
- Katherine Helmond as Mrs. Ida Lowry
- Ian Holm as Mr. Kurtzmann
- Bob Hoskins as Spoor
- Michael Palin as Jack Lint
- Ian Richardson as Mr. Warrenn
- Peter Vaughan as Mr. Helpmann
- Kim Greist as Jill Layton
- Jim Broadbent as Dr. Jaffe
Brazil FAQ
Is Brazil worth watching?
Must-watch. A mild clerk in a bureaucratic nightmare escapes into daydreams, then gets caught by the system. Terry Gilliam's dystopian comedy is dark, funny and visually inventive, and it's bleaker than it first looks.
Where can I watch Brazil?
In the US you can watch it free with ads on YouTube Free and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
What is Brazil rated?
Brazil is rated R.
What movies are like Brazil?
If you liked Brazil, try Twelve Monkeys, A Clockwork Orange, Children of Men and The Fisher King.