Deemed one of the best films of the year by the American Film Institute, The Brutalist has awed critics and generated high awards season buzz. The historical drama follows Hungarian-Jewish architect László Tóth (Adrien Brody), who survives the Holocaust and emigrates to America, only to find the “American Dream” isn’t what it seems.
The Brutalist offers a dazzling performance by Brody, a heartfelt tribute to the immigrant experience, and an intriguing examination of the fallacy of the American Dream. Viewers looking for more films that tackle art, the American Dream, and immigration can use our guide to stream the 10 best movies like The Brutalist.
Armageddon Time
Armageddon Time follows Paul Graff (Banks Repeta), a young Jewish-American boy growing up in New York City in the 1980s. While his family is financially stable and has high hopes for his future, Graff starts to become disillusioned with his lifestyle and private school after witnessing the unfair treatment of his African-American friend, Johnny Davis (Jaylin Webb). Like The Brutalist, Armageddon Time is a moving and poignant film that critically examines the American Dream and what it means in a country where not everyone is treated equally.
Flee
Flee is an animated documentary. Through interviews and vivid animation, Amin Nawabi tells his story about his harrowing journey from Afghanistan to Denmark for the first time. He also reveals a secret and trauma that has prevented him from settling into his adult life with his partner, Kasper. Beautifully animated and profoundly moving, Flee poignantly captures the immigrant experience, including the lasting impacts of trauma and family separation.
I’m No Longer Here
I’m No Long Here tells the story of Ulises Sampiero (Juan Daniel García Treviño), a teenage boy who flees Mexico to America to avoid gang violence. However, life in America is plagued by homesickness and homelessness as Sampiero is drawn to drugs and unable to provide for himself through his talent for dancing. Like The Brutalist, I’m No Longer Here delves into how immigrants’ struggles exist in both their new and old lives, and, though they may be fleeing violence and persecution, they don’t always find a better life in America.
In America
In America is a strong alternative to The Brutalist for those seeking a realistic but more hopeful depiction of the immigrant experience. The film follows Johnny (Paddy Considine) and Sarah Sullivan (Samantha Morton), who move to America with their daughters so Johnny can pursue an acting career. However, the family struggles under financial strain and lingering grief over their son’s passing. In America offers a moving tale of an immigrant family’s struggles while also exploring their connections and triumphs.
Minari
Minari is a semiautobiographical film by director Lee Isaac Chung that explores the immigrant experience of the Yi family. South Korean immigrants Jacob (Steven Yeun) and Monica Yi (Han Ye-ri) and their children move to Arkansas, where their pursuit of the American Dream hits numerous roadblocks as they struggle to sustain their farm and family. The film is bittersweet and heartwrenching, deconstructing the American Dream while offering a little hope as it delves into the inspiring story of a family’s resilience.
Past Lives
Past Lives follows Nora Moon (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), two schoolchildren who fell in love but were separated when Nora moved to America. Years later, the pair meet again as adults and muse about their past lives and what-ifs. Past Lives leans more into romance and melancholy than The Brutalist, offering a lighter, alternative look into immigration that focuses on what is left behind.
Problemista
Like The Brutalist, Problemista is a film where art and the immigrant experience meet. The film is an excellent lighthearted alternative to The Brutalist as it follows Alejandro (Julio Torres), an immigrant who begins working for eccentric artist Elizabeth (Tilda Swinton) in his desperation to make his dream of becoming a toy maker come true before his work visa expires. Problemista leans into absurdist humor as it poignantly pays tribute to the immigrant experience and the absurdity and confusion that often abound when navigating the U.S. immigration system.
The City
Through four vignettes, The City tells the story of several Latino immigrants who struggle to find work and fair wages in their various occupations as day laborers, puppeteers, and sweatshop workers. Like The Brutalist, The City offers a gritty and realistic look at the immigrant experience, especially regarding how hardworking and talented individuals struggle to follow the American Dream when their talents and work ethic are frequently taken advantage of.
The Joy Luck Club
The Joy Luck Club follows the eponymous club of Chinese immigrants, Lindo Jong (Tsai Chin), Ying-Ying St. Clair (France Nuyen), An-Mei Hsu (Lisa Lu), and Suyuan Woo (Kieu Chinh), who meet regularly to play mahjong. During their meetings, the women recall their stories, recounting the trials and trauma of their pasts, their new lives in America, and the difficulty they have in bonding with their Chinese-American daughters. Like The Brutalist, The Joy Luck Club delves into trauma, cultural divides, and the immigrant experience but does so from the female perspective.
The Kite Runner
The Kite Runner follows Amir (Khalid Abdalla), an Afghan-American writer forced to return to his birth country, where he must confront his trauma and shame over letting down his childhood friend Hassan (Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada). Similar to The Brutalist, The Kite Runner is a brutal, gritty, and emotional look at friendship, trauma, and abuse.
Where to watch movies like The Brutalist streaming online
Check out our list below to find out where to watch movies like The Brutalist online in the U.S.!
