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Brightburn
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDavid Yarovesky
Written by
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMichael Dallatorre
Edited by
  • Andrew S. Eisen
  • Peter Gvozdas
Music byTim Williams[1]
Production
companies
Distributed bySony Pictures Releasing (under Screen Gems and Stage 6 Films)
Release date
  • May 24, 2019 (2019-05-24)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$6 million[2]
Box office$33.2 million[3]

Brightburn is a 2019 American superhero horror film[4][5][6] directed by David Yarovesky, written by Brian and Mark Gunn, and produced by James Gunn and Kenneth Huang, starring Elizabeth Banks, David Denman, Jackson A. Dunn, Matt Jones, and Meredith Hagner. The plot follows Brandon Breyer, a young boy of extraterrestrial origin reared on Earth who discovers he has superpowers, using them with dark intentions. The film was financed by The H Collective, who produced with Troll Court Entertainment.

Brightburn was announced as "Untitled James Gunn Horror Project" in December 2017. Gunn produced the film, while his brother Brian and cousin Mark penned the screenplay, which adapts the concept of Superman for explicit horror. Principal photography began in March 2018 and wrapped in May of that same year.

Brightburn was released in the United States on May 24, 2019, by Screen Gems and Stage 6 Films. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its visual effects, acting performances, cinematography, humor, and score, but felt that it did not deliver on the full potential of its premise. The film grossed $33.2 million against a production budget of $6–12 million and has gained a cult following.

Plot

[edit]

A spaceship crashes in a forest in Brightburn, Kansas. Tori and Kyle Breyer, a couple struggling with fertility, witness the explosion from their house and decide to investigate the crash site. They find the spaceship with a baby inside, whom they adopt and name Brandon.

On Brandon's 12th birthday, he discovers he has super-strength and flight abilities. In middle school, Brandon is an academically exceptional student, despite being socially strange and frequently bullied. Brandon begins to show interest towards his classmate Caitlyn Connor, sneaking into her room at night, scaring her. During a trust exercise in a Physical Education class, Caitlyn lets Brandon fall to the ground, calling him a pervert. Angered by her accusation, Brandon crushes her hand, and is suspended from school after being accosted by Caitlyn's mother, Erika, who wants him arrested.

At night, the spaceship emits an otherworldly language that attracts Brandon to the barn. Tori follows, and sees him levitating, chanting the ship's alien message, before falling and accidentally cutting his hand on the wrecked ship. She reveals the truth of his origin, causing Brandon to angrily storm out of the house, and declare his hatred towards his adoptive parents. Brandon deciphers the spaceship's message ("Take the world"), causing his evil identity to take form. As revenge for being humiliated at school, Brandon uses his powers to torment and kill Erika at the diner.

Police discover a symbol drawn on all diner windows, made visible when the sheriff breathes on one of them while investigating Erika's disappearance. It is the same symbol Brandon is seen drawing in his notebook. Brandon visits his aunt's house to convince her to keep his incident at school a secret, but she refuses. Feeling rejected, Brandon begins to stalk her around the house but gets caught by his uncle, Noah. After Noah threatens to tell his father about his behavior, Brandon frightens and kills him by dropping his truck on a dark road. Brandon reaches into the wreckage and dips his finger in his uncle's blood to draw his notebook symbol on the pavement.

Tori and Kyle inform Brandon of Noah's death, which the police believe was an accident. Brandon attempts to cover up his action by dismissing his involvement. Suspecting him to be the culprit, Kyle finds Brandon's blood-stained shirt, and shows it to Tori, who refuses to believe Brandon is responsible. As a way to get rid of the extraterrestrial, Kyle lures Brandon on a father-son hunting trip in the woods. He attempts to shoot, and kill Brandon with his hunting rifle, but the bullet bounces off the back of his head. Brandon retaliates, and kills Kyle with heat vision.

The sheriff arrives at the Breyers' residence, showing Tori the symbol found at the scenes of Erika's and Noah's deaths, suggesting they are connected. Tori finds Brandon's notebook with drawings of his murders and the message, "Take the world." She calls Kyle, but Brandon answers, saying he is coming for her.

Brandon returns, and begins destroying the house. Tori calls the police, but Brandon swiftly kills the officers before backup can arrive. Remembering that the ship's hull can harm him, Tori runs to the barn, and discovers Erika's eviscerated body near the ship. Brandon pursues her into the barn. When he finds her, Tori tries to reassure the good side of Brandon. Using the distraction as an opportunity to stab him with a metal piece of the ship, Brandon anticipates the attack and catches her. Enraged by her betrayal, he takes her high up to the stratosphere and drops her to her death. After watching her fall, he notices an oncoming airplane, and destroys it.

The following morning, the airplane is revealed to have crashed into the farmhouse, destroying evidence of the murders from the previous night. Brandon's symbol is seen painted on a piece of the plane wreckage as rescue workers attend to him. In the credits, Brandon is seen in news reports over the locations of various disasters as an online conspiracy theorist points out the existence of other superpowered beings, and urges the public to take action before it is too late.

Cast

[edit]
  • Elizabeth Banks as Tori Breyer: Brandon's adoptive mother and Kyle's wife
  • David Denman as Kyle Breyer: Brandon's adoptive father and Tori's husband
  • Jackson A. Dunn as Brandon Breyer / Brightburn: a superpowered alien who is adopted by the Breyer family
  • Meredith Hagner as Merilee McNichol: Tori's sister, Brandon's aunt and Noah's wife who works as Brandon's school counselor
  • Matt Jones as Noah McNichol: Brandon's uncle and Merilee's husband
  • Gregory Alan Williams as Sheriff Jerrold Deever: a local sheriff of the small town
  • Anne Humphrey as Deputy Aryes: Deever's partner
  • Emmie Hunter as Caitlyn Connor: a girl who is initially sympathetic to Brandon but later becomes scared of him
  • Becky Wahlstrom as Erika Connor: Caitlyn's mother who believes Brandon is a menace
  • Jennifer Holland as Ms. Espenschied: Brandon's school teacher
  • Abraham Clinkscales as Royce: a young boy who bullies Brandon
  • Christian Finlayson as Fauxhawk: one of the kids who bullies Brandon
  • Steve Agee as EJ
  • Stephen Blackehart as Travis
  • Elizabeth Becka as Principal Elaine Susko
  • Terence Rosemore as P.E. Teacher
  • Mike Dunston as Reporter
  • Michael Rooker as The Big T: a conspiracy theory blogger who reports on the super-powered beings

Rainn Wilson cameos in a photograph during the credits as his character Crimson Bolt from producer James Gunn's Super (2010).

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]

The film was announced in December 2017, then untitled, with James Gunn as a producer, his brother Brian and cousin Mark writing the script, and David Yarovesky directing; The H Collective was fully financing, and producing with James Gunn's Troll Court Entertainment banner.[7] In March 2018, Elizabeth Banks, David Denman, Jackson A. Dunn, Meredith Hagner and Matt Jones were cast.[8] Gunn was set to appear on a panel to discuss the project at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2018, but his appearance was canceled after news broke that Disney had fired Gunn as director of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) due to offensive tweets;[9] Gunn would later be reinstated by that October, with his return publicly revealed in March 2019.[10]

Filming

[edit]

Principal photography began in March 2018 and wrapped in May of that year in the U.S. state of Georgia.[11] The building collapse portion of the mid-credits scene uses footage taken from the real-life demolition of the Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on July 13, 2014.[12] The middle school scenes were shot at the now-defunct Patrick Henry High School in Stockbridge, Georgia, the same location used for both Hawkins Middle and Hawkins High Schools in the Netflix series Stranger Things.[13]

Release

[edit]

Marketing

[edit]

There were plans to promote the film at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con in July, but it was pulled at the last minute in the wake of James Gunn's removal from the Walt Disney Studios and Marvel Studios, only for Disney and Marvel to reconcile with Gunn nine months later.[10] On December 8, 2018, the first trailer for Brightburn was released online.

Critics viewed the trailer as an "Ultraman horror movie" due to the intentional similarities to Superman's origin story and as a deconstruction of the character.[4][14] Fast Company stated that "although it's not officially a Superman movie, it walks viewers through every step of Clark Kent's origin story before taking a hard left turn".[15][16]

On April 3, 2019, an art contest was launched after the release of the trailer to promote the film, and had concluded on May 20. The winners of the contest had their artworks used in marketing for the film, and received $2,000.[17] On May 21, 2019, IGN promoted the film by uploading a prank of unsuspecting volunteers with the character Brandon Breyer. It was uploaded to their website and YouTube channel.[18][19]

Another art contest was launched on August 5 to promote the home media release of the film titled "Band with Brightburn". Submissions had to depict other supervillains in reference to the ending scene of the film hinting at other superpowered characters. Actor Jackson A. Dunn was the judge of the contest, and it was sponsored by Collider.[20]

Theatrical

[edit]

Brightburn was released in the United States on May 24, 2019.[9][21] It was originally scheduled for November 30, 2018.[22] In the UK, a censored version of the film was released on June 19, 2019, the studio having reduced the level of violence to meet their preferred age certificate.[23]

Home media

[edit]

The film was released on Digital HD on August 6, 2019, and on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K Ultra HD on August 20, 2019.[24] In the UK, the Blu-ray release contained the theatrical censored cut of the film, while the 4K Blu-ray contained the uncut 18 certificate version.[23]

In April 2021, Sony signed a deal with Disney giving them access to their legacy content, including Brightburn to stream on Disney+ and Hulu and appear on Disney's linear television networks. Disney's access to Sony's titles would come following their availability on Netflix. Brightburn had previously been available on Starz and FX.[25][26]

Merchandise

[edit]

In August 2019, it was announced a Halloween costume of Brandon Breyer was going to be sold exclusively by Spirit Halloween in October.[27]

Reception

[edit]

Box office

[edit]

Brightburn grossed $17.3 million in the United States and Canada, and $15.9 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $33.2 million.[3]

In the United States and Canada, Brightburn was released alongside Aladdin and Booksmart, and was projected to gross around $12–16 million from 2,607 theaters in its four-day opening weekend.[28] The film made $3 million on its first day, including $950,000 from Thursday night previews.[29] It ended up underperforming, grossing $7.8 million over three days (and $9.6 million over the four), finishing in fifth.[2] In its second weekend the film made $2.3 million, dropping 70.5% and finishing in ninth.[30]

Critical response

[edit]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 57% based on 206 reviews, with an average rating of 5.7/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "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."[31] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 44 out of 100, based on 31 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[32] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "C+" on an A+ to F scale, while those at PostTrak gave it 2.5 out of 5 stars and a "definite recommend" of 39%.[2][29]

Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "While not exactly original, the premise is certainly effective enough. But Brightburn lacks the visual stylization or wit to elevate it from the realm of the crudely effective B-movie."[6] James White from Empire wrote: "Crossbreeding superhero tropes with horror staples was an idea laden with promise. Brightburn is enlivened by trademark James Gunn black comedy, but hamstrung by sketchy writing and a botched sense of dread."[33]

Alex Arabian from The Playlist wrote: "The film is a gem, especially for anyone yearning for a superhero film that gleefully torches the familiar 'good versus evil' formula and introduces far more sinister sensibilities."[5]

Ed Gonzalez from Slant gave it a negative review: "The way the film shuttles through its 90 minutes, it’s as if it’s been stripped of its most crucial narrative parts."[34]

Possible sequel

[edit]

In May 2019, director David Yarovesky stated that upon the film potentially being a success, the universe of Brightburn would be expanded upon.[35] In a later interview with Collider, Yarovesky confirmed that the film's credits making reference to a half-man/half-sea creature terrorizing the seas, Rainn Wilson's character Frank Darbo / The Crimson Bolt from Super, and a powerful witch who chokes her victims with a rope was intended to set up a sequel, in addition noting that an alternate ending to the film featured Emmie Hunter's "Caitlyn—[ending] with her in a lab fastening a robot arm on her broken arm, and her just pissed off", as well as mentioning "tons" of other such endings as having been discussed, as well as stating that "[i]f we were to expand the Brightburn universe in other installments and in other ways, we would probably be doing it in the exact same way, in total secrecy and then drop a cinematic trailer at some point that kind of teases what that new direction may be".[36]

In June 2019, producer James Gunn stated that discussion of a potential sequel was happening, but he was busy writing and directing DC Extended Universe (DCEU) film The Suicide Squad (2021) and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.[37] In August 2019, Jackson A. Dunn stated in an interview with Screen Rant that he would be interested in reprising his role as Brandon Breyer.[38] In addition, Dunn said he would like to see up-and-coming actors being cast in lead roles in potential future films.[39]

In April 2024, Gunn expressed doubt that a sequel would happen due to rights issues with the H Collective.[40]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Brightburn

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Brightburn is a American horror film directed by David Yarovesky and written by brothers and Mark Gunn. Produced by and , the movie reimagines the as a dark tale of an adopted child with extraterrestrial powers who turns violently against his human family and community. Starring as adoptive mother Tori Breyer, as adoptive father Kyle Breyer, and Jackson A. Dunn as their son Brandon, the film blends elements of , thriller, and in a runtime of 91 minutes. Released theatrically on May 24, , by Releasing under The H Collective, it explores themes of nurture versus nature through Brandon's transformation during adolescence. The story centers on the , a couple struggling with infertility who discover and raise a mysterious boy arriving via a crashed , only to face terror as his emerging abilities—super strength, flight, heat vision, and invulnerability—manifest destructively. Supporting cast includes Matt Jones as school principal Noah McNichol, as his wife Merilee, and younger actors like Abraham Clinkscales and Christian Finlayson in key roles. Shot primarily in Georgia, the production emphasized practical effects for its graphic violence, earning an R rating for disturbing thematic content and gore. Critically, Brightburn received mixed reviews, with a 57% approval rating on based on 206 critics' assessments, praised for its bold but critiqued for uneven pacing and underdeveloped characters. Audiences were more favorable, giving it a 67% score from over 2,500 verified ratings, appreciating its fresh take on familiar tropes. The film grossed $17.3 million domestically against a $6 million . As of November 2025, it is available on streaming platforms like and , and will stream on starting December 1, 2025. While no major awards followed, it has been noted for influencing discussions on toxic masculinity and the dark side of power in narratives.

Synopsis

Plot

In rural Brightburn, , farmers Tori and Kyle Breyer, who have been struggling with for years, witness a meteor crash on their property in 2006. Investigating the site, they discover a small containing a baby boy, whom they adopt and name Brandon, raising him as their own son. Twelve years later, as Brandon approaches his 12th birthday, strange occurrences begin. He sleepwalks to the barn where his parents have hidden the , hearing an eerie voice repeating an alien phrase that translates to "Take the world." The ship displays cryptic symbols, which Brandon eventually deciphers as a directive to conquer and destroy , subverting traditional tales of benevolent alien arrivals by revealing his origins as a harbinger of doom. Around this time, his abilities awaken: he demonstrates invulnerability by stopping a lawnmower blade with his bare hand, exhibits super strength by hurling the machine across a field, develops heat vision that glows from his eyes, and later achieves flight. Symbolic signs of his emerging appear, such as broken toys scattered around his room and a blanket he clings to, his villainous transformation. At , Brandon's powers lead to his first violent outburst when he accidentally—or perhaps intentionally—crushes classmate Caitlyn's hand during a , fracturing it severely and drawing concern from teachers and his parents. Tori and Kyle attribute the incident to and , but tensions rise as Brandon's behavior deteriorates; he slaughters the family's chickens with his uncontrolled heat vision, leaving charred remains that horrify Tori. His rage intensifies toward those who slight him, including Caitlyn's mother, Erica, a who mocks him. Brandon's descent accelerates as he embraces his destructive impulses. He stalks and murders Erica by blasting heat vision through the diner window, melting her face in a gruesome display witnessed only by her daughter. Seeking revenge on familial figures who question him, he sabotages his uncle Noah's truck—Kyle's brother-in-law—causing it to veer off a bridge and explode, killing Noah instantly. These acts mark Brandon's shift from accidental harm to deliberate terror, driven by the spacecraft's message urging domination. Suspecting the truth after finding bloodied clothes, Kyle confronts Brandon in the woods, attempting to shoot him with a hunting rifle to protect the family. The bullet harmlessly ricochets off Brandon's invulnerable skin, prompting Kyle's horrified apology, but Brandon retaliates by firing heat vision through his father's , killing him on the spot. Returning home, Tori pieces together Brandon's alien heritage from the spacecraft's symbols and calls . The sheriff and deputy arrive but are swiftly killed by Brandon. Pleading with him to resist his violent urges, Tori arms herself with a shard from the and stabs Brandon in a desperate bid to end the threat, but it only wounds him slightly. Enraged, he grabs her, flies high into the clouds, and drops her to a fatal fall back to . Fully embracing his destiny, Brandon fashions a crude costume from his red blanket and declares himself "Brightburn." To cover his tracks, he causes a passenger plane to crash into the family farmhouse, killing all aboard and destroying evidence of the deaths. The film's credits depict escalating chaos: news footage shows Brightburn terrorizing cities, lasering through buildings, and causing mass destruction, with reports of millions dead as he begins his conquest. A mid-credits scene features a conspiracy theorist (played by ) warning about Brightburn and hinting at other super-powered beings, such as a manfish terrorizing ships and a forest witch, implying a larger of threats.

Cast

The principal cast of Brightburn includes the following actors in their respective roles:
ActorRoleDescription
Jackson A. DunnBrandon Breyer / BrightburnThe adopted alien child who becomes the film's central antagonist after developing superpowers during his 12th year. Dunn was 14 years old during in early 2018.
Tori BreyerBrandon's devoted adoptive mother and a worker.
Kyle BreyerBrandon's adoptive father and a farmer.
Matt L. JonesNoah McNicholTori's coworker at the diner and Brandon's uncle.
Merilee McNicholNoah's wife.
Emmie HunterCaitlynBrandon's classmate whose hand he crushes.
EricaCaitlyn's mother and a waitress.
DeeverThe local investigating the incidents.
Annie Humphrey AryesThe assisting the .

Production

Development

The screenplay for Brightburn was written by Brian and Mark Gunn, the brother and cousin, respectively, of producer , who drew inspiration from their personal experiences with and parenting fears to reimagine the origin story as a horror narrative about a malevolent alien . The script, completed on spec in 2017, initially lacked overt elements like masks and capes, which were later incorporated during revisions with input from and director David Yarovesky to heighten the genre subversion. The project was publicly announced in December 2017 as an "Untitled Horror Project," with attached as producer alongside The H Collective, a founded by . David Yarovesky, a longtime collaborator of Gunn, was brought on as director shortly thereafter, envisioning the film as a blend of tropes and horror, influenced by classic stories and the psychological terror of from a parental perspective. Creative choices emphasized gore and dread over heroism, including setting the protagonist's age at 12 to underscore themes of adolescent rebellion turning destructive, while the ending teased a broader through subtle news clippings referencing other figures. Financing came from The H Collective with a modest $6 million , allowing for practical effects to drive the film's visceral horror sequences. In May 2018, at the Film Market, secured worldwide distribution rights in a mid-seven-figure deal through its and labels, marking the company's first major acquisition. Leading roles were cast with as the adoptive mother and as the father, rounding out the initial team before commenced.

Filming

Principal photography for Brightburn took place primarily in the state of Georgia, , from March to May 2018. Key filming locations included rural farms around to capture the isolated countryside settings, such as the Breyer Farmhouse at 2295 Poplar Road in Newnan, as well as interior scenes shot at local schools like Stockbridge Middle School in Stockbridge and Darbo's Family Grill in Jonesboro. A single sequence involving a building collapse was filmed in , , . The production emphasized a mix of practical effects and to depict the protagonist's emerging powers, with wire work used for flight sequences to allow the young lead actor, Jackson A. Dunn, to perform dynamic aerial movements safely via a double for more hazardous . Practical makeup and prosthetics handled gore elements, such as injuries from , while contributed to destruction scenes; however, heat vision beams and the alien spacecraft were created through VFX by Trixter Studios, with planning integrated during to guide on-set compositions. Michael Dallatorre shot the film on Arri Alexa Mini cameras with T-Series lenses, employing and desaturated colors to cultivate a gritty, foreboding atmosphere that amplified the horror elements derived from sequences in the Gunn brothers' screenplay. safety protocols were strictly enforced, including on-set tutors, limited work hours, and supervised coordination to protect Dunn during intense action scenes. Filming presented challenges in maintaining the film's horror tone with a 12-year-old lead, requiring director David Yarovesky to balance Dunn's performance through rehearsals that incorporated practical effects for tangible references, helping the young actor immerse in the villainous role without psychological strain. The collaborated closely with VFX supervisors from the outset to ensure practical shots aligned with digital enhancements for the destruction sequences, minimizing reshoots while adapting to the logistical demands of rural locations.

Release

Marketing

The marketing campaign for Brightburn, overseen by , focused on highlighting the film's innovative fusion of superhero origin tropes with horror elements to generate buzz among enthusiasts. With a estimated at $6–12 million, the promotion positioned the movie as a subversive take on familiar alien-child narratives, leveraging producer James Gunn's reputation in both films and horror to draw audiences. Trailers and posters were released progressively starting in late 2018, building anticipation ahead of the May 24, 2019, theatrical release. Key promotional materials included a series of trailers that gradually revealed the film's violent twists. The first official trailer debuted on December 8, 2018, teasing the Superman-like premise before shifting to horror in its second half. An extended version followed on March 29, 2019, shared by Gunn on , while the second trailer on March 6, 2019, amplified the mystery of the protagonist's powers. A red-band clip emphasizing gore was released on May 8, 2019, and the final trailer on May 20, 2019, focused on the character's destructive rampage to underscore the horror- blend. Posters featured Jackson A. Dunn as the hooded, caped Brandon Breyer with glowing eyes, using the "Evil has found its " to evoke dread without direct superhero allusions. Social media teasers on official and accounts, including trailer drops and thematic posts, engaged fans by encouraging shares and discussions around the "what if" evil-alien concept. The campaign avoided explicit references to sidestep legal concerns, instead subtly nodding to the archetype through visual homages like Man of Steel-inspired fonts in early materials. Targeting horror and fans, promotions leaned into Gunn's horror credentials from films like Dawn of the Dead and , with the debut trailer unveiled at Brazil's Comic-Con Experience to capitalize on international events.

Theatrical release

Brightburn had its world premiere on May 19, 2019, in , where cast members including , , and Jackson A. Dunn appeared on the , generating early buzz for the film. The event featured photo calls and interviews with the cast and crew, highlighting the film's unique horror premise. The film received an R rating from the of America (MPAA) for horror violence/bloody images, and language, which influenced its distribution strategy toward adult audiences. Releasing, under its label, handled domestic distribution, launching a in the United States on May 24, 2019, across 2,607 screens in to capitalize on the weekend. Internationally, the rollout began earlier in select markets, with theatrical releases in countries like the , , , and on May 9, 2019. The film expanded to on May 23, 2019, via Releasing Australia, and to the on June 19, 2019, where a censored version was shown to adjust for local classification standards. Additional circuit screenings following the helped build anticipation in key territories.

Home media

Brightburn was released on digital HD platforms on August 6, 2019, followed by Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD, and DVD formats on August 20, 2019, distributed by . The editions include special features such as by director David Yarovesky and key crew members, featurettes on blending horror and elements, practical effects breakdowns, and vignettes hosted by . In its initial weeks of release, the physical versions sold approximately 136,900 units in the United States, generating over $2.85 million in revenue, with Blu-ray accounting for the majority at 101,500 units and $2.21 million. Following its theatrical run ending in July 2019, the film became available on various streaming platforms, including in select regions from around 2020 to 2022. Brightburn transitioned to Peacock in 2023 and experienced a notable resurgence in viewership in 2025, reaching the top 10 movies on the platform during September after its re-addition on September 5. It is scheduled to return to on December 1, 2025. Internationally, region-specific home media releases included the Blu-ray and DVD on October 21, 2019, through .

Reception

Box office

Brightburn was produced on a of $6 million. The film grossed $17.3 million in the and $15.9 million in other international markets, for a worldwide total of $33.2 million. It opened on May 24, 2019, earning $7.8 million over its first three days from 2,607 theaters, finishing fifth at the domestic behind Aladdin, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Avengers: Endgame, and Pokémon: Detective Pikachu. The film's theatrical performance showed a strong per-screen average of $3,009 during its debut weekend, reflecting solid audience interest in select markets despite the . Grosses declined sharply thereafter, dropping 68.7% to $2.5 million in the second week and 76.7% to $571,000 in the third, before stabilizing somewhat in limited release; it remained in theaters for five weeks overall. With its modest production costs, Brightburn achieved profitability theatrically, augmented by an estimated $4.7 million in domestic sales. Released amid the competitive 2019 summer season dominated by major blockbusters, Brightburn underperformed initial projections of a $10–12 million opening but succeeded as a low-budget indie horror entry, recouping costs multiple times over through global earnings.

Critical response

Upon its release, Brightburn received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its subversive take on the while criticizing its execution and depth. On , the film holds a 57% approval rating based on 206 reviews, with an average score of 6.1/10. The site's consensus reads: "Although Brightburn doesn't fully deliver on the pitch-black promise of its setup, it's still enough to offer a diverting of the ." On , it has a weighted average score of 44 out of 100 based on 31 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews." Audiences surveyed by gave the film a C+ grade on an A+ to F scale. Critics frequently commended the film's innovative premise of an evil Superman-like figure, highlighting how it effectively twists familiar tropes into horror territory. The Guardian's described it as an "effectively nasty horror [that] subverts " and called it a "snappy, and mostly entertaining, antidote to fatigue." Jackson A. Dunn's performance as the young Brandon Breyer was a standout, with reviewers noting his ability to convey menace and disturbance; praised Dunn for pulling off a "very disturbing performance" that made the character "menacing and off-putting." The atmospheric buildup in the early acts also drew acclaim for creating tension, bolstered by David Yarovesky's direction, which No Ripcord credited for impressive handling of the material despite its limitations. However, many reviews faulted the film for uneven pacing, particularly in the third act, where the narrative rushed toward its conclusion without building sufficient emotional weight. The Independent's Clarisse Loughrey noted that, "despite its simplicity, Brightburn's premise is filled with potential, but it struggles to find anything meaningful to say." Supporting characters were often seen as underdeveloped, serving primarily as fodder for the plot's violence, and the script was criticized for tonal inconsistencies that shifted abruptly from subtle dread to graphic horror. Roger Ebert's Simon Abrams called it a "watchable but super-silly mix of superheroics and evil-child horror that mashes together singularly uninspired ideas from both," faulting its reliance on gore over substantive . Overall, while the film's bold concept earned points for originality, its failure to explore deeper themes left many feeling it prioritized shocks over coherence.

Legacy

Franchise plans

Following the release of Brightburn, which grossed $33.2 million worldwide, producer indicated interest in expanding the story into a . In July 2019, Gunn confirmed that discussions were underway for a , building on the film's post-credits references to other super-powered threats, including a witch-like who strangles victims with a rope woven from human hair and a disfigured, vampiric figure draining blood from patients in a setting. These elements were envisioned as origin stories within the franchise, with Gunn producing and his brother and cousin Mark Gunn handling writing duties. Development faced significant hurdles due to ownership complications involving co-owners The H Collective and . In September 2023, The H Collective announced early development on a under its new H3 Entertainment banner, but the reveal sparked backlash over plans to incorporate AI, , and technologies into the project, including rumors of AI-assisted scripting. Gunn quickly debunked the AI scripting claims on , calling them "fake news" and emphasizing that any continuation would adhere to traditional creative processes. By 2024, Gunn expressed pessimism about the project's viability, stating in an that legal entanglements made a "unlikely" to ever materialize, as rights were "all fucked up" between the parties involved. Despite fan interest reignited by the film's addition to Peacock in September 2025, where it saw renewed streaming success, Gunn has confirmed there are "no plans at all" for any franchise expansion as of late , with no active production as of November 2025.

Cultural impact

Brightburn has been recognized as a pioneer in the "evil superhero" subgenre, blending horror elements with traditional superhero origin narratives by reimagining a Superman-like figure as malevolent from the outset. The film explores the dark potential of abilities in a small-town American setting, influencing subsequent works that deconstruct heroic archetypes, such as the gritty tone in later DC projects tied to producer James Gunn's involvement. The movie has cultivated a dedicated , particularly through online discussions framing its protagonist as an "evil ," which has sustained interest years after its release. This legacy includes renewed popularity in 2025, when Brightburn ranked among the top-streamed films on Peacock, and its addition to in November 2025, marking continued streaming resurgence for the once-underperforming title. Thematically, Brightburn delves into adoption trauma and the nurture-versus-nature debate, portraying the alien child's destructive turn as a commentary on familial bonds and inherent otherness in rural America. Scholarly analyses have examined these elements within broader , highlighting the film's role in critiquing heroism through horror lenses. Beyond cinema, Brightburn inspired pitches for adaptations that remained unrealized, while Gunn's horror roots in the project have been referenced in video essays analyzing his evolution from genre-blending films to mainstream fare.

References

  1. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/brightburn
  2. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7752126/
  3. https://www.fandango.com/brightburn-216076/movie-overview
  4. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/brightburn/cast-and-crew
  5. https://www.movieinsider.com/m16538/brightburn
  6. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/brightburn
  7. https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt7752126/
  8. https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/brightburn-review-1203223201/
  9. https://www.highonfilms.com/brightburn-2019-movie-ending-explained-themes-analysed/
  10. https://filmschoolrejects.com/brightburn-ending-explained/
  11. https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2472263/brightburn-ending-what-happened-and-what-it-means
  12. https://www.inverse.com/article/56117-brightburn-ending-explained-spoilers-how-credits-set-up-a-new-universe
  13. https://themoviespoiler.com/movies/brightburn/
  14. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7752126/fullcredits/
  15. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7752126/locations/
  16. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6676262/bio/
  17. https://www.comicsbeat.com/brighburn-writers-interview/
  18. https://anthemmagazine.com/qa-with-david-yarovesky/
  19. https://deadline.com/2024/04/kenny-huang-charmed-hollywood-then-vanished-1235893442/
  20. https://collider.com/brightburn-ending-explained/
  21. https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3221521921/
  22. https://deadline.com/2018/10/sony-james-gunn-brightburn-screengems-the-possession-of-hannah-grace-holmes-and-watson-the-intruder-1202478914/
  23. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7752126/fullcredits
  24. https://horror-explorer.com/2022/05/08/brightburn-2019/
  25. https://en.kinorium.com/1693933/info/
  26. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7752126/technical/
  27. https://www.artofvfx.com/brightburn-dietrich-hasse-vfx-supervisor-trixter/
  28. https://nofilmschool.com/brightburn-dp-michael-dallatorre-interview
  29. https://www.instagram.com/p/DNPKMXVRT-Z/
  30. https://collider.com/brightburn-jackson-a-dunn-david-denman-interview/
  31. https://www.postmagazine.com/Publications/Post-Magazine/2019/May-June-2019/-I-Brightburn-I-director-David-Yarovesky.aspx
  32. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-7045739/Elizabeth-Banks-stuns-black-floral-print-dress-red-carpet-Brightburn-premiere.html
  33. https://www.gettyimages.com/editorial-images/entertainment/event/sony-pictures-brightburn-photo-call/775341377
  34. https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Brightburn-%282019%29
  35. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7752126/releaseinfo/
  36. https://www.eventcinemas.com.au/Movie/Brightburn
  37. https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Brightburn-(2019)#tab=video-sales
  38. https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Brightburn-Blu-ray/243431/
  39. https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/297085/jaw-dropping-special-features-revealed-for-brightburn-blu-ray-release-in-august/
  40. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/brightburn-blu-ray-release-features-silly-drinking/1100-6469159/
  41. https://www.netflix.com/title/81042819
  42. https://flixpatrol.com/top10/peacock/united-states/2025-09-10/
  43. https://creepycatalog.com/peacock-is-adding-more-than-50-horror-titles-to-stream-in-september-2025-heres-the-whole-list/
  44. https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/coming-soon/first-look-at-whats-coming-to-netflix-in-december-2025/
  45. https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-chart/weekend/2019/05/24
  46. https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3221521921/weekend/
  47. https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2019/05/28/brightburn-james-gunn-box-office-jurassic-superman-alita-hellboy-jem/
  48. https://screenrant.com/brightburn-movie-box-office-success-opening/
  49. https://www.horrornewsnetwork.net/brightburn-cant-light-up-box-office-with-fifth-place-finish/
  50. https://www.joblo.com/brightburn-what-happened/
  51. https://www.metacritic.com/movie/brightburn/
  52. https://www.facebook.com/CinemaScore1/photos/a.309314605910436/1222927091215845/?type=3
  53. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/may/22/brightburn-review-james-gunn-superhero-origin-story
  54. https://www.reddit.com/r/HorrorReviewed/comments/bnuuhx/brightburn_2019_scifi_horror/
  55. https://www.noripcord.com/reviews/film/brightburn
  56. https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/brightburn-review-horror-film-superman-evil-james-gunn-cast-director-a8966511.html
  57. https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/brightburn-2019
  58. https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2472144/brightburn-reviews-are-in-heres-what-the-critics-think
  59. https://sciencefiction.com/2019/07/08/james-gunn-says-discussions-are-underway-for-a-sequel-to-brightburn/
  60. https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3571233/brightburn-2-james-gunn-says-talks-potential-sequel/
  61. https://deadline.com/2023/09/brightburn-sequel-hcollective-ai-web3-metaverse-company-1235542789/
  62. https://screenrant.com/brightburn-2-movie-script-ai-james-gunn-response/
  63. https://www.superherohype.com/movies/572356-brightburn-2-james-gunn-explains-why-a-sequel-is-unlikely
  64. https://collider.com/james-gunn-brightburn-peacock-streaming-success-september-2025/
  65. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/can-brightburn-inspire-a-dark-superhero-universe-trailer-1192675/
  66. https://archive.junkee.com/brightburn-superhero-horror/203964
  67. https://www.superherohype.com/news/639022-brightburn-superman-horror-movie-james-gunn-netflix
  68. https://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/bitstreams/6af5ae59-4316-4160-9f0e-ab36a64115ab/download
  69. https://ew.com/movies/2019/05/26/brightburn-miracleman-comic/
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