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Documentary

Saving Brinton (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Saving Brinton (2018) movie poster

Saving Brinton is a 2018 documentary directed by Andrew Sherburne and Tommy Haines, starring Michael Zahs, Serge Bromberg and Carey Bostian. It runs 1 hour 30 minutes and earned $56,218 worldwide. Critics gave it 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and 78 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10.

IMDb rating
7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes
93%
worldwide gross
$56.2K
Echo Score
75
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Saving Brinton (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 30m (90 min)
Genre
Documentary
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Saving Brinton About?

The premise of Saving Brinton without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

In a quiet Iowa town, Michael Zahs discovers a remarkable collection of forgotten films. Driven by passion, he dedicates himself to restoring and preserving this cinematic treasure, which includes rare newsreels, cherished home movies, and lost classics. His efforts bring these pieces of history back to life, allowing a new audience to experience the stories of the past.

Saving Brinton Themes & Keywords

· 1 tag
  • teacher
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Cast & crew

Saving Brinton Cast

Michael Zahs leads the cast, with Serge Bromberg and Carey Bostian. Directed by Andrew Sherburne and Tommy Haines; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Saving Brinton

· 6 more
From the directors

More from Andrew Sherburne and Tommy Haines

More films directed by Andrew Sherburne and Tommy Haines, best-rated first: Hockeyland and Pond Hockey.

Ratings

Saving Brinton Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Saving Brinton 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and 78 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 75/100, strongest in character & emotion (80) and weakest in rewatch factor (55).

75 /100

Saving Brinton Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Saving Brinton delivers a warmly engaging portrait that balances archival enthusiasm with occasional narrative drift. Critics and users alike praise the film’s affectionate focus on its central figure and the clearly restored vintage footage, though several note that the emphasis on Mike Zahs comes at the expense of deeper historical context. Visually, the documentary brings early cinema to life, and its brisk editing sustains interest despite uneven focus. The result is a modestly compelling documentary with a heartfelt spirit.

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

  • Art & Craft 75

    In terms of Art & Craft, Saving Brinton excels in its presentation of restored archival material. The documentary’s visual design showcases the early prints with careful color grading and unobtrusive editing transitions. Direction retains a straightforward observational style that occasionally loses narrative focus but generally highlights the film history artifacts. Overall, it offers a pleasing visual composition.

  • Character & Emotion 80

    When it comes to Character & Emotion, the film centers on Mike Zahs’s affable presence. His warm demeanor and enthusiastic storytelling generate genuine emotional resonance, and his curiosity invites viewers into the archive world. While his personal narrative sometimes overshadows the broader historical figures, the central figure’s honesty and charm create a heartfelt connection throughout the documentary.

  • Story & Flow 65

    In terms of Story & Flow, Saving Brinton presents a coherent narrative around Zahs’s quest to preserve early cinema, maintaining a brisk pace throughout much of its runtime. However, the focus occasionally drifts into extended local vignettes, which can disrupt momentum and dilute the historical context. Ultimately, the documentary remains engaging despite these uneven segments.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    For Sensory Experience, the documentary delivers clear sound design that supports the archival footage without distraction. The musical accompaniment is subtle and respectful of the period material, and the visual restoration offers consistent image quality. These elements work together to immerse the audience in early film artifacts with cohesion and clarity.

  • Rewatch Factor 55

    Regarding Rewatch Factor, Saving Brinton offers niche appeal for cinephiles and history enthusiasts who value archival content. Its affectionate portrayal of Zahs and restored film clips provide points of renewed interest on subsequent viewings. Nevertheless, viewers less invested in preservation may find limited new insights upon repeat watches, tempering its broader replay value.

Plot

Saving Brinton Plot Summary

What happens in Saving Brinton from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Set within the quiet confines of a farmhouse basement in the Iowa countryside, the story follows the eccentric collector Michael Zahs as he stumbles upon a truly remarkable cinematic discovery. He finds a vast collection of showreels created by the man responsible for bringing the magic of moving pictures to the heart of America.

Among these recovered treasures are several historically significant pieces of film, including:

  • Rare, early footage of President Teddy Roosevelt.
  • The very first moving images captured in Burma.
  • A long-lost relic from the legendary godfather of magical special effects, Georges Méliès.

Full summary

The whole story of Saving Brinton, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Saving Brinton Box Office

Saving Brinton grossed $56,218 worldwide.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$56.2K

US & Canada
$56.2K
Videos

Saving Brinton Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Saving Brinton.

Saving Brinton - Exclusive Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Saving Brinton?

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

Who is the eccentric collector that stumbles upon a remarkable cache of early cinema treasures in a farmhouse basement?

Cars

Cars in Saving Brinton

23 cars on screen, including the 2011 Chrysler 200 Convertible and the Mercedes-Benz E 350 W213.

All 23 cars
  • 2011 Chrysler 200 Convertible in Saving Brinton 2011 Chrysler 200 Convertible Important role
  • Mercedes-Benz E 350 W213 in Saving Brinton Mercedes-Benz E 350 W213 Important role
  • 1966 Shelby GT 350 in Saving Brinton 1966 Shelby GT 350 Important role
  • Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner C2 in Saving Brinton Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner C2 Minor role
Details

Saving Brinton Also Known As

Also known as “브린튼 구하기”.

Also known as
  • 브린튼 구하기

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FAQ

Saving Brinton FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Saving Brinton?

Saving Brinton runs 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).

When was Saving Brinton released?

Saving Brinton was released on May 18, 2018.

Who directed Saving Brinton?

Saving Brinton was directed by Andrew Sherburne and Tommy Haines.

Who is in the cast of Saving Brinton?

Saving Brinton stars Michael Zahs, Serge Bromberg and Carey Bostian, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Saving Brinton make at the box office?

Saving Brinton grossed $56,218 worldwide.

How is Saving Brinton rated?

Saving Brinton has 7.5/10 on IMDb, 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, 78 on Metacritic and 70% on TMDB.

Does Saving Brinton have a post-credit scene?

No. Saving Brinton has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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