Brazil
“It's only a state of mind.”
Synopsis
Low-level bureaucrat Sam Lowry escapes the monotony of his day-to-day life through a recurring daydream of himself as a virtuous hero saving a beautiful damsel. Investigating a case that led to the wrongful arrest and eventual death of an innocent man instead of wanted terrorist Harry Tuttle, he meets the woman from his daydream, and in trying to help her gets caught in a web of mistaken identities, mindless bureaucracy and lies.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
BRAZIL miniature effects
Type: Behind the Scenes • Published 2026-05-13
Top Cast
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Jonathan Pryce
Sam Lowry
Robert De Niro
Harry Tuttle
Katherine Helmond
Mrs. Ida Lowry
Ian Holm
Mr. Kurtzmann
Bob Hoskins
Spoor
Michael Palin
Jack Lint
Ian Richardson
Mr. Warrenn
Peter Vaughan
Mr. Helpmann
Kim Greist
Jill Layton
Jim Broadbent
Dr. Jaffe
Barbara Hicks
Mrs. Alma Terrain
Charles McKeown
Lime
Derrick O'Connor
Dowser
Kathryn Pogson
Shirley
Bryan Pringle
Spiro
Sheila Reid
Mrs. Buttle
John Flanagan
T.V. Interviewer / Salesman
Roger Ashton-Griffiths
Priest
Release History & Theatrical Window
Turin
Festival / Special Debut
December 18, 1985
Wide Cinema Exhibition
January 1, 1992
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$15M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$10M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.66x
-$5M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Terry Gilliam
- Screenplay & Story
- Tom Stoppard, Charles McKeown, Terry Gilliam
- Original Score
- Michael Kamen, Ary Barroso
- Original Title
- Brazil
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom, United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 23m
- Production Budget
- $15M
- Worldwide Gross
- $10M
- Production Studios
- Embassy International Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Terry Gilliam
Tom Stoppard, Charles McKeown, Terry Gilliam
Michael Kamen, Ary Barroso
Roger Pratt
Julian Doyle
Arnon Milchan, Patrick Cassavetti
Department Leadership Roster
Terry Gilliam
Director
Tom Stoppard
Screenplay
Arnon Milchan
Producer
Patrick Cassavetti
Producer
Roger Pratt
Director of Photography
Norman Garwood
Production Design
Julian Doyle
Editor
Michael Kamen
Original Music Composer
James Acheson
Costume Design
Charles McKeown
Screenplay
Terry Gilliam
Screenplay
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Brazil.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Brazil.
Movie Collection
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (All editions 2003-2024). A cumulative list including films subsequently removed in later editions. Totaling 1,260 films as of Nov 2024. 《1001部死前必看的电影》（2003-2024 全版本累积版）： 包含自2003年首版至2024年11月德语版修订的所有影片。即使在后期版本中被剔除的电影也予以保留。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#019] Lovers Rock (2020) • [#418] Dekalog (1989) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:40:36 UTC+8)*
TSPDT - 1000 Greatest Films
They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? (TSPDT) - The 1,000 Greatest Films. A definitive meta-list aggregating thousands of critics' polls, historical rankings, and director top 10s to represent the ultimate critical consensus in cinema history. TSPDT 影史最伟大的1000部电影： 全球最权威的电影元榜单，由该网站汇总世界各大电影刊物历史评选结果及数千名影评人、学者的个人十佳榜单，通过算法加权计算得出的终极共识。 *片单说明：* 本片单只收录纯电影，以下剧集或迷你剧不予收录： • [#335] Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) • [#514] Twin Peaks: The Return (2017) • [#614] Edvard Munch (1974) • [#703] The Sorrow and the Pity (1969) • [#890] Elephant (1989) • [#925] Heimat (1984) • [#968] Doomed Love (1978) 以下作品在 TMDB 被拆分为多个独立电影条目；本片单按作品/章节顺序连续收录，且每个分拆条目均沿用同一 TSPDT 名次： • [#171] Dekalog (1989) — 展开为 10 部电影 • [#988] Olympia (1938) — 展开为 2 部电影 *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:30:01 UTC+8)*
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Frequently Asked Questions About Brazil
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Brazil about?
Low-level bureaucrat Sam Lowry escapes the monotony of his day-to-day life through a recurring daydream of himself as a virtuous hero saving a beautiful damsel. Investigating a case that led to the wrongful arrest and eventual death of an innocent man instead of wanted terrorist Harry Tuttle, he meets the woman from his daydream, and in trying to help her gets caught in a web of mistaken identities, mindless bureaucracy and lies.
Who directed Brazil?
Brazil was directed by Terry Gilliam.
Who stars in Brazil?
The principal cast of Brazil includes Jonathan Pryce, Robert De Niro, Katherine Helmond, Ian Holm, Bob Hoskins.
When was Brazil released and how long is it?
Brazil was released in 1985 with a total runtime of 2h 23m.
What was the box office and production budget of Brazil?
Brazil had a reported production budget of $15M and grossed $10M at the worldwide box office (0.66 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for Brazil?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Brazil was composed by Michael Kamen, Ary Barroso.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Brazil?
Brazil holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: 12 (Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.); GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).