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The Brutalist Intermission: Everything You Need To Know About The 15-Minute Break

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The question on every moviegoer's mind for any epic-length feature is simple: will there be a break? As of the latest screenings in December 2025, the answer is a definitive and intentional Yes. Director Brady Corbet’s monumental period drama, The Brutalist, not only includes an intermission but was specifically designed around a mandatory 15-minute break to separate its two major narrative halves.

This decision to bring back the classic cinematic intermission is a direct acknowledgment of the film's significant runtime and epic scope. With a total running time of 215 minutes (3 hours and 35 minutes) of film, plus the 15-minute break, audience members should plan for a total theatrical experience of approximately four hours. This article breaks down exactly when the break occurs, why it's a critical part of the experience, and the essential details of this Oscar-contending feature.

The Brutalist: Key Film Profile and Cast

The Brutalist is an epic period drama that has garnered significant attention since its premiere at the 81st Venice Film Festival. Directed and co-written by Brady Corbet, alongside Mona Fastvold, the film is a sweeping portrait of an immigrant architect’s struggle for recognition in post-WWII America.

Core Film Details

  • Title: The Brutalist
  • Genre: Epic Period Drama, Historical War Drama
  • Director: Brady Corbet
  • Screenplay By: Brady Corbet & Mona Fastvold
  • Film Runtime: 215 minutes (3 hours, 35 minutes)
  • Intermission Length: 15 minutes
  • Premiere: 81st Venice Film Festival (2024)
  • Cinematography: Shot on Vista Vision
  • Distribution: A24

Main Cast and Characters

The film boasts a robust ensemble cast of Academy Award winners and nominees, providing the necessary gravitas for such a profound narrative.

  • Adrien Brody as László Tóth: A Jewish-Hungarian architect and Holocaust survivor who emigrates to the United States with a singular vision.
  • Felicity Jones as Erzsébet Tóth: László's wife, who shares his journey and struggles in the new world.
  • Guy Pearce as Harrison Lee Van Buren: A wealthy and influential patron of the arts who hires László, setting the stage for their complex relationship.
  • Joe Alwyn as Harry Lee Van Buren: The son of Harrison Lee Van Buren.
  • Raffey Cassidy as Audre: A key supporting role in the narrative.

The 15-Minute Intermission: Why It’s Essential

The inclusion of a 15-minute intermission is not a mere convenience for a restroom break, though it certainly serves that purpose for a 3-hour-plus film. It is, by the director's design, a structural element that enhances the storytelling, formally dividing the epic into two distinct parts.

A Deliberate Narrative Pause

Co-writers Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold confirmed that the break is built into the viewing experience to separate Part 1 and Part 2 of the story. The film’s narrative follows László Tóth, a respected architect trained at the Bauhaus, as he arrives in Pennsylvania in 1947, traumatized by his experiences as a Holocaust survivor. The first half details his struggle to rebuild his life and career, culminating in a pivotal moment that the intermission allows the audience to process.

The Intermission Experience

During the 15-minute break, the theater lights will brighten, and the screen will not simply go dark. Instead, the break features a brief visual element—a photo of the Tóth family—followed by a countdown timer, ensuring everyone knows exactly when the second half of the 215-minute feature will resume. This intentional pause allows viewers to reflect on the intense themes of the first part, which explores the brutality of time and the trauma of the past, before diving into the second act’s dramatic developments.

The Brutalist Runtime and The Return of The Epic Film

In an era dominated by streaming and shorter attention spans, The Brutalist stands as a bold statement on the potential of the epic film. Its runtime of 3 hours and 35 minutes, or 215 minutes, places it among the longest and most ambitious cinematic releases of the year.

The Significance of Length

The length is necessary to fully explore the complex themes of the film: the hypocrisy of mid-century America, the immigrant experience, and the philosophical underpinnings of the Brutalist architectural movement itself. The film uses its extended runtime to delve deeply into the character of László Tóth and his relationship with his patron, Harrison Lee Van Buren, creating a rich tapestry of post-war ambition and trauma.

The 70mm Experience

Adding to the film's monumental scale is the fact that select screenings of The Brutalist are being presented in the glorious 70mm film format. This choice, combined with the Vista Vision shooting format, emphasizes the visual grandeur and architectural focus of the story, making the four-hour theater commitment a truly immersive cinematic event. The 15-minute break becomes a necessary respite to absorb the sheer scale and detail of the production.

Final Verdict: Planning Your Brutalist Viewing

If you are planning to see The Brutalist in a theater, rest assured that the question of "does The Brutalist have an intermission" is settled: it does, and it’s a planned 15-minute event. This break is a crucial part of the experience, offering a chance to stretch, refresh, and mentally prepare for the conclusion of László Tóth's epic journey. Given the film's length and intensity, arriving promptly is also recommended, as some theaters are skipping previews to start the film right on time.

This commitment to the epic format, complete with a formal intermission, is a deliberate artistic choice by Brady Corbet to honor the grand, sweeping narratives of classic cinema, while delivering a fresh, complex, and deeply moving historical drama for modern audiences.

The Brutalist Intermission: Everything You Need to Know About the 15-Minute Break
does the brutalist have an intermission
does the brutalist have an intermission

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