Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Documentary

The Brink (2019): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

The Brink (2019) movie poster

The Brink is a 2019 documentary directed by Alison Klayman, starring Nigel Farage, Paul Lewis and Raheem Kassam. It runs 1 hour 31 minutes and earned $106,057 worldwide. Critics gave it 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and 71 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.4/10.

IMDb rating
6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes
84%
worldwide gross
$106.1K
Echo Score
65
Loading streaming availability…
The Brink (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 31m (91 min)
Director
Alison Klayman
Genre
Documentary
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Brink About?

The premise of The Brink without spoilers.

Following the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Steve Bannon became a significant figure in American politics. No longer bound by official duties, he actively promoted far-right ideology internationally, positioning himself as the leader of a populist movement. The documentary explores his strategies during the 2018 midterms and European Parliamentary elections, revealing how his self-promotion and media manipulation cultivated a controversial public image, generating both fervent support and widespread condemnation.

The Brink Themes & Keywords

· 15 tags
  • mission
  • fascism
  • populism
  • manipulation
  • demagogue
  • hate speech
  • antisemitism
  • racism
  • disinformation
  • nationalism
  • misinformation
  • white house
+3 more
  • venice italy
  • american politics
  • politics documentary
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

The Brink Cast

Nigel Farage leads the cast, with Paul Lewis and Raheem Kassam. Directed by Alison Klayman; 17 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Alison Klayman

More films directed by Alison Klayman, best-rated first: Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry, 11/8/16, Unfinished Business and Jagged.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Brink Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Brink 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and 71 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 65/100, strongest in art & craft (80) and weakest in rewatch factor (40).

65 /100

The Brink Echo Score Breakdown

The Brink offers a meticulously assembled portrait of Steve Bannon that balances urgent pacing with a critical vantage. Critics highlight its queasily fascinating nature and the director’s adept handling of vérité access, while users note its surface-level analysis and familiar narrative. The film maintains consistent momentum, though its perspective may reaffirm existing biases rather than provoke new insights. Ultimately, The Brink stands as an engaging political study that conveys immediacy but stops short of profound revelation.

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

  • Art & Craft 80

    Art & Craft is a pronounced strength of The Brink, exemplified by Klayman’s cinéma vérité direction and judicious editing. In terms of cinematography, the fly-on-the-wall style captures raw imagery without intruding on the subject. The measured pacing and tight assembly of sequences underpin a coherent visual narrative. Overall, the film’s production design and editorial choices contribute to a compelling and disciplined aesthetic.

  • Character & Emotion 55

    In terms of character depth and emotional resonance, The Brink delivers a candid portrait of its subject but stops short of deeper psychological exploration. Viewers witness Bannon’s own words revealing his motivations, yet the documentary’s surface-level framing limits empathy and nuance. While the film effectively unmasks public personas, it offers minimal emotional layering. Consequently, the exploration of personal complexity feels adequate but ultimately restrained.

  • Story & Flow 70

    When it comes to story coherence and pacing, The Brink moves at a brisk tempo that sustains audience attention throughout its unfolding narrative. Critics note the tight structure and logical progression of events, from Bannon’s White House exit to his European engagements. However, user feedback suggests the film reiterates familiar information without surprising developments. Overall, the storytelling is engaging and clear, though it lacks novel revelations.

  • Sensory Experience 65

    In terms of sensory experience, The Brink relies on understated sound design and a restrained visual palette to support its vérité approach. The soundtrack remains unobtrusive, allowing ambient noise and offhand remarks to resonate. Visually, the film favors natural lighting and minimal framing shifts, reinforcing authenticity. These aesthetic choices enhance observational immersion but lack notable auditory or visual flourishes, resulting in a restrained sensory atmosphere.

  • Rewatch Factor 40

    In terms of rewatch value, The Brink offers limited incentive for repeat viewing. The film’s urgent pacing and journalistic focus sustain immediate engagement, but its predictable structure and lack of deeper insight provide few surprises on subsequent watches. Viewers are unlikely to uncover new perspectives or emotional layers beyond the initial experience. As a result, the documentary’s lasting appeal is moderate and does not strongly support multiple viewings.

Box office

The Brink Box Office

The Brink grossed $106,057 worldwide.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$106.1K

US & Canada
$106.1K
Videos

The Brink Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Brink.

The Brink - Official Trailer

Seen The Brink?

FAQ

The Brink FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is The Brink?

The Brink runs 1 hour 31 minutes (91 minutes).

When was The Brink released?

The Brink was released on March 29, 2019.

Who directed The Brink?

The Brink was directed by Alison Klayman.

More films by Alison Klayman

Who is in the cast of The Brink?

The Brink stars Nigel Farage, Paul Lewis and Raheem Kassam, among 17 credited actors.

How much did The Brink make at the box office?

The Brink grossed $106,057 worldwide.

How is The Brink rated?

The Brink has 6.4/10 on IMDb, 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, 71 on Metacritic and 64% on TMDB.

Does The Brink have a post-credit scene?

No. The Brink has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app