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Sci-fi thriller

Brightburn (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Brightburn (2019) movie poster

Brightburn is a 2019 sci-fi thriller directed by David Yarovesky, starring Elizabeth Banks as Tori Breyer, Jackson A. Dunn and David Denman. It runs 1 hour 30 minutes and earned $33.2 million worldwide on a $6 million budget. Critics gave it 57% on Rotten Tomatoes and 44 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10.

IMDb rating
6.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes
57%
worldwide gross
$33.2M
Echo Score
45
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Brightburn (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 30m (90 min)
Director
David Yarovesky
Genres
Sci-Fi , Drama , Mystery , Thriller
Original language
English
Budget
$6M
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is Brightburn About?

The premise of Brightburn without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

After years of struggling to conceive, Tori and Kyle are overjoyed to welcome Brandon into their lives. As he grows, Brandon displays unusual abilities and a remarkable intelligence. However, as he matures, a disturbing darkness emerges, revealing a sinister nature hidden beneath his seemingly perfect exterior. His extraordinary gifts become a source of terror for his parents and those around him, as he unleashes a malevolent force upon their world.

Brightburn Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • alien
  • superhero
  • gore
  • alien child
  • mother son relationship
  • father son talk
  • evil
  • one word title
  • unrequited crush
  • child murderer
  • evil child
  • school
+38 more
  • heat vision
  • camping
  • hunting
  • murder
  • death of husband
  • death of uncle
  • broken hand
  • falling from height
  • falling to death
  • fictional town
  • puberty
  • super strength
  • disobedience
  • adoption
  • mutilated body
  • scene during end credits
  • jaw ripped off
  • red eyes
  • 12 year old
  • birthday
  • rifle
  • levitation
  • superhero horror
  • human alien
  • airplane
  • husband wife relationship
  • farmer
  • infertility
  • adopted son
  • death of father
  • death of mother
  • telekinesis
  • creepy child
  • violence
  • child murders an adult
  • bullying
  • bad guy wins
  • blood
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Cast & crew

Brightburn Cast & Characters

Elizabeth Banks leads the cast as Tori Breyer, with Jackson A. Dunn as Brandon Breyer and David Denman as Kyle Breyer. Directed by David Yarovesky; 14 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Brightburn

· 10 more
From the director

More from David Yarovesky

More films directed by David Yarovesky, best-rated first: Nightbooks, Locked, Guardians Inferno and The Hive.

Full filmography
Ratings

Brightburn Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Brightburn 57% on Rotten Tomatoes and 44 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10. Our Echo Score gives it 45/100, strongest in sensory experience (75) and weakest in character & emotion (30).

45 /100

Brightburn Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Brightburn struggles to deliver a cohesive horror-supers hybrid, with uneven elements that divide opinion. While several viewers acknowledge the visceral thrills and moments of dark humor, many criticize the thin plotting, shallow characters, and blunt execution. The film’s gore and stylistic intensity offer some entertainment value, but they fail to compensate for its sketchy narrative and lack of emotional depth. In net effect, the movie often feels like a missed opportunity rather than a compelling genre fusion.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 45

    In terms of visual craft and direction, Brightburn exhibits a straightforward aesthetic with limited stylistic innovation. Some reviewers note striking gore set pieces and tight editing in violent sequences, but broader elements like production design and cinematography remain functional rather than distinctive. The film’s visual choices support its grim tone but rarely rise above genre conventions. As a result, the artistic execution feels serviceable without delivering memorable craft moments.

  • Character & Emotion 30

    When it comes to character depth, Brightburn is widely criticized for its one-dimensional portrayals and lack of emotional resonance. Viewers highlight that key figures offer minimal development beyond their archetypal roles, undermining empathy and reducing character chemistry. Despite occasional hints of familial conflict, the performances fail to create engaging relationships or credible motivations. Overall, the character work is shallow and does little to elevate the film’s dramatic stakes.

  • Story & Flow 40

    Regarding story coherence and pacing, Brightburn presents a promising premise that is hampered by predictable plotting and uneven momentum. Multiple critiques note that the central concept of a malignant superpowered child is undercut by thin narrative development and tonal shifts. While moments of tension and shock punctuate the film, these are not woven into a consistently engaging storyline. The result is a superficial narrative that struggles to maintain cohesive engagement.

  • Sensory Experience 75

    On the sensory front, Brightburn delivers visceral intensity through its raw depiction of violence and gore. Critics and viewers alike acknowledge the effectiveness of the film’s brutal imagery, tight editing in kill sequences, and atmospheric tension. The unsettling sound design and sparse musical accents further heighten the unsettling mood. Consequently, its sensory impact stands out as the film’s primary strength, providing a jarring and duly immersive experience.

  • Rewatch Factor 35

    When considering rewatch value, Brightburn offers limited incentive for subsequent viewings due to its narrow focus on shock over substance. While its graphic set pieces may retain appeal for gore enthusiasts, the film’s scant character development and repetitive tonal beats diminish its replay potential. The absence of deeper thematic layers or compelling emotional arcs makes further viewings unlikely to reveal additional enjoyment. Overall, the rewatch factor is notably low.

Plot

Brightburn Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Brightburn from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Tori and Kyle Breyer, a couple longing to start a family, find themselves facing challenges with fertility. Their lives take an unexpected turn when a spaceship crashes in the woods, leading them to a mysterious baby boy they name Brandon. Initially, he seems to embody all their hopes and dreams as he grows into a remarkably bright child who eagerly assists around the farm. With the couple telling him he was adopted, everything appears perfect—until he reaches puberty.

Full summary

The whole story of Brightburn, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Brightburn Box Office & Budget

Brightburn grossed $33.2 million worldwide on a $6 million budget, 5.5 times what it cost. $17.3 million came from the US and Canada and $15.9 million (48%) from the rest of the world.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$33.2M

5.5× its budget

US & Canada
$17.3M
International
$15.9M
Budget
$6M
US & Canada 52% Rest of the world 48%
Videos

Brightburn Trailers & Videos

20 videos: 3 trailers, 5 clips, 3 featurettes and 9 behind-the-scenes videos.

All 20 videos
Trailer #1
  • Trailer Trailer #2
  • Trailer Final Trailer
  • Clip The Meteor Calls To Brandon
  • Clip Waitress Killed By Superhuman Child
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Brightburn?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What do Tori and Kyle initially feel upon Brandon's arrival?

Cars

Cars in Brightburn

8 cars on screen, including the 1975 Chevrolet C-Series and the 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe.

All 8 cars
  • 1975 Chevrolet C-Series in Brightburn 1975 Chevrolet C-Series Important role
  • 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe in Brightburn 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe Minor role
  • 1993 Ford Bronco in Brightburn 1993 Ford Bronco Minor role
  • 1983 Ford Econoline in Brightburn 1983 Ford Econoline Minor role
Details

Brightburn Also Known As

30 alternative titles, including “Brandenburg” and “El hijo de la ocuridad”.

Also known as
  • Brandenburg
  • El hijo de la ocuridad
  • Гори, гори ясно
  • Брайтбьорн
  • Brightburn - L'enfant du mal
  • L'angelo del male - Brightburn
  • Жив огън
  • Brightburn: Zωντανή Κόλαση
  • Brightburn - A lángoló fiú
  • El hijo
  • Syn temnoty
  • 더 보이
+18 more
  • Mirties blyksnis
  • ברייטברן
  • Brightburn - Son of Darkness
  • Brightburn: Syn Ciemności
  • Brightburn - Filho das Trevas
  • Brightburn - O Filho do Mal
  • Brightburn: Hijo de la oscuridad
  • Брајтбурн
  • 靈異乍現
  • Đứa Con Của Bóng Tối
  • 魔童
  • Brightburn: Şeytanın Oğlu
  • เด็กพลังอสูร
  • ブライトバーン/恐怖の拡散者
  • Brīnumbērns, წყეული სუპერგმირი
  • Foc viu
  • ब्राइटबर्न
  • برايتبيرن

Seen Brightburn?

FAQ

Brightburn FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Brightburn, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Brightburn?

Brightburn runs 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).

When was Brightburn released?

Brightburn was released on May 24, 2019.

Who directed Brightburn?

Brightburn was directed by David Yarovesky.

More films by David Yarovesky

Who is in the cast of Brightburn?

Brightburn stars Elizabeth Banks as Tori Breyer, Jackson A. Dunn as Brandon Breyer and David Denman as Kyle Breyer, among 14 credited actors.

How much did Brightburn make at the box office?

Brightburn grossed $33.2 million worldwide ($17.3 million domestic, $15.9 million international) on a budget of $6 million.

How is Brightburn rated?

Brightburn has 6.1/10 on IMDb, 57% on Rotten Tomatoes, 44 on Metacritic and 61% on TMDB.

Does Brightburn have a post-credit scene?

Yes. Brightburn has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.

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