‘The Brutalist’ Has Made ‘Zero Income,’ Says Director

The Brutalist director Brady Corbet is getting honest about filmmaking finances. 

Speaking with Marc Maron on his podcast WTF in a candid episode published Monday, Feb. 17, the Oscar nominee — currently in contention for writing, directing and Best Picture at the upcoming Academy Awards — said the amount of money The Brutalist has made him is a simple number: “zero.” 

“I just directed three advertisements in Portugal,” said Corbet, 36. “It’s the first time that I had made any money in years.” He and Mona Fastvold, his wife and co-writer, “made zero dollars on the last two films that we made.”

The Brutalist, starring Adrien Brody as a Hungarian immigrant fleeing the aftermath of the Holocaust to find work as an architect in the U.S., has earned critical praise and prestigious accolades alike. Its 10 Oscar nominations include recognition for supporting stars Felicity Jones and Guy Pearce, as well as leading man Brody, who has won this awards season’s Golden Globe, Critics Choice Award, BAFTA and more. 

When a surprised Maron, 61, clarified that the film has netted Corbet no income, the recent BAFTA winner responded, “Yes. Actually, zero. We had to just sort of live off of a paycheck from three years ago.”

Noting that filmmakers are “not paid to be promoting a film,” he added, “if you look at certain films that premiered in Cannes [Film Festival], that was almost a year ago … I mean, 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 go to work.”

Corbet also likened the promotion around releasing and campaigning for The Brutalist to “a six-month interrogation.” Press interviews are “boundless,” he said. “It’s constant travel, and you’re also working Saturdays and Sundays. I haven’t had a day off since the Christmas break.”

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Lack of income is not a challenge exclusive to him, Corbet continued. “I’ve spoken to many filmmakers that have the films that are nominated this year that can’t pay their rent. I mean, that’s a real thing,” he said.

Corbet and Maron’s interview also covered the filmmaker’s decision to step behind the camera after years of working as an actor. He made his directorial debut with 2015’s The Childhood of a Leader before 2018’s Natalie Portman-starring Vox Lux. The Brutalist, which he said took eight years to develop and film, is his third feature-length project.

The Brutalist is in theaters now.