Director Brady Corbet Reveals He Earned ‘Zero’ From Oscar-Nominated Film ‘The Brutalist’ | CNN Insights

Director Brady Corbet recently shared that he earned “zero dollars” from his Oscar-nominated film “The Brutalist.” In a chat on the podcast “WTF with Marc Maron,” he revealed the tough financial situation many filmmakers face today.

Corbet mentioned, “I just directed three advertisements in Portugal… it’s the first time that I had made any money really in years.” He and his partner struggled financially, even relying on a paycheck from three years ago. He said, “Both my partner and I made $0 on the last two films that we made.”

Despite the financial struggles, Corbet’s film has been a critical success. “The Brutalist” is a three-and-a-half-hour epic that tells the story of László Tóth, a Hungarian Holocaust survivor who starts anew in the United States. The film has garnered 10 Academy Award nominations and won nearly every major award this season.

Corbet emphasized that he’s not alone in this struggle. He revealed that several filmmakers with nominated films this year also can’t pay their bills. It’s a stark reality in an industry known for its glamour.

After films premiere, directors often go on promotional tours that can last months. This can be exhausting and unpaid, which adds to the financial strain. Corbet noted, “Our film premiered in September, so I’ve been doing this for six months and had zero income because I don’t have any time to work.”

“The Brutalist” was made on a budget of around $10 million, which is relatively low for Hollywood. However, it took Corbet seven years to bring it to life, facing many challenges to gather the necessary funding.

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