Brightburn

Critics Consensus

Although Brightburn doesn't fully deliver on the pitch-black promise of its setup, it's still enough to offer a diverting subversion of the superhero genre.

57%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 202

67%

Audience Score

Verified Ratings: 4,331

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Movie Info

After a difficult struggle with fertility, Tori Breyer's dreams of motherhood come true with the arrival of a mysterious baby boy. Brandon appears to be everything Tori and her husband, Kyle, ever wanted -- bright, talented and curious about the world. But as Brandon nears puberty, powerful darkness manifests within him, and Tori becomes consumed by terrible doubts about her son. Once Brandon begins to act on his twisted urges, those closest to him find themselves in grave danger.
  • Rating:
    R (Language|Horror Violence/Bloody Images)
  • Genre:
    horror, mystery and thriller, sci fi
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    David Yarovesky
  • Producer:
    James Gunn, Kenneth Huang
  • Writer:
    Brian Gunn, Mark Gunn
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $$17,259,427
  • Runtime:
  • Production Co:
    Troll Court Entertainment
  • Sound Mix:
    Dolby Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    Scope (2.35:1)

Cast

Elizabeth Banks
as Tori Breyer
David Denman
as Kyle Breyer
Jackson A. Dunn
as Brandon
Meredith Hagner
as Merilee
Gregory Alan Williams
as Sheriff Deever
Steve Agee
as EJ
Becky Wahlstrom
as Erica
Elizabeth Becka
as Principal
Stephen Blackehart
as Travis
Christian Finlayson
as Fauxhawk
Terence Rosemore
as P.E. Teacher
Emmie Hunter
as Caitlyn
Annie Humphrey
as Deputy Ayres
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Critic Reviews for Brightburn

All Critics (202) | Top Critics (29) | Fresh (116) | Rotten (86)

View All Critic Reviews (202)

Audience Reviews for Brightburn

  • Feb 17, 2020
    Produced by James Gunn, Brightburn is a frightening supernatural thriller. When 13-year old Brandon Breyer starts to show superhuman abilities his parents reveal that they rescued him from a crashed spacecraft as a baby. Elizabeth Banks and David Denman lead the cast and give solid performances, and child actor Jackson A. Dunn plays the balance between malicious and afraid and confused quite well. Additionally, writers Brian and Mark Gunn do an impressive job at using superhero tropes and at putting a horror spin on them. And director David Yarovesky heightens the tension and suspense by setting a dark and foreboding tone, which is also reflected in the score. Presenting a creative new vision of the superhero tale, Brightburn is a chilling horror film.
    Dann M Super Reviewer
  • Jan 31, 2020
    The Superman origin story is given an evil turn when the meteor delivered child hits puberty and turns his super powers on anyone coming between him and his desires. Elizabeth Banks and David Denman provide convincing performances as loving parents who slowly become convinced their adopted boy isn't super, but sinister. Jackson A. Dunn plays the horrible anti-hero, The film lacks originality, but is a fairly well-done B-move.
    Aldo G Super Reviewer
  • Dec 06, 2019
    As a subversion of the Superman mythos, Brightburn doesn't quite work. It has a lot of opportunities, but it all happens too abruptly and it goes more for gritty fun than it does for any interesting insight. As a slasher movie where the villain has powers though, it's really quite a bit of fun. Not perfect, not by a long shot, but still quite a bit of fun. I actually really like the idea of the mother not being able to accept her child's turn, that felt really genuine and almost true to how I imagine parents of real killers must feel. When people are approaching him in scenes not knowing he has powers too, there is a tension to knowing something they don't know. Then when we do get to the superpowered killing, it is gritty and over-the-top in it's brutality in a grim and satisfying way. Not to mention, without going into spoilers, the movie ended in a way I really didn't expect. It's not a great movie, it really didn't achieve the potential it could have grabbed at, but it's still a good time for a horror film that's a bit different.
    Michael M Super Reviewer
  • Nov 09, 2019
    I'm going to push back on the notion that this "what if Superman, but evil?" idea was ever all that clever to begin with. It's obvious and honestly Zack Snyder already did this. Regardless, the movie's attempts at horror are lazy and every character is unbearably awful.
    Alec B Super Reviewer
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