DirectorBrady Corbethas directed four movies since his directorial debut in 2008, and though they vary in terms of critical ratings and success, each film may be worth checking out. In 2025, Corbet received significant attention for his film,The Brutalist,which has raked in numerous awardsand nominations, and is a top contender for Best Picture of the Year. However,beforeThe Brutalist,Corbet directed three other moviesthat deserve a rewatch after the director’s newfound success. These movies differ in terms of genre and content, but each has Corbet’s artistic signature.
Although Corbet is currently being recognized for his directing abilities, he actually started out his career as an actor. Beginning in the early 2000s,Corbet made a name for himself in projects such asThirteen, Mysterious Skin,andFunny Games.Soon after, Corbet made his directorial debut with a short film entitledProtect You + Me.Unfortunately, it wasn’t until 2015 that Corbet was able to transition to directing feature films, alongside collaborator and screenwriter Mona Fastvold. However, it seems that the wait was worth it, asThe Brutalistcampaigns for ten Academy Awardsthis season.
4Protect You + Me (2008)
A Man Is Driven Into Dangerous Action
When diving into Corbet’s directorial filmography, an easy place to start would be with his first-ever movie,Protect You + Me.This 10-minute short film followsa young man who goes out to dinner with his mother. However, the evening goes awry when he remembers an event that he had blocked out of his memory, causing him to take unexpected and dangerous action. Though short,Protect You + Meis a great introduction to Corbet’s style.
After watchingProtect You + Me,audiences will be able to see how a young Corbet’s storytelling translates into the kinds of movies he is making nowadays.
Protect You + Meis far from Corbet’s best work, but it gives a sneak peek at what is to come for the director. In just a few minutes, Corbet showcases his unique style and his love for extremes. His characters do not function on realism as much as epic emotions. After watchingProtect You + Me,audiences will be able to see how a young Corbet’s storytelling translates into the kinds of movies he is making nowadays.
The next Corbet movie to check out isVox Lux.Released in 2018,this musical dramafollows the come-up of Celeste, a young girl who survives a horrifying school shooting, only to be recognized for her incredible musical talent soon afterward. Eighteen years later, Celeste is attempting to make a comeback in her career, but is bogged down by scandals and personal struggles. The movie stars Natalie Portman, Jude Law, and Willem Dafoe.
Brady Corbet is releasing another movie in 2025 calledAnn Lee,which follows the founding of the Shakers religion.
Despite its interesting premise,Vox Luxis unfortunately not Corbet’s most lauded movie. With a 62% critics score and 37% audience score, many felt thatVox Luxtried to do too much without nailing much of anything. For example, the narration by Dafoe was deemed unnecessary by most viewers. However, these flaws should not totally deter new viewers.Vox Lux,through trauma and celebrity, tries to unpack the effects of an individual’s paston their present. The movie may not be for everyone, but it is still worth checking out.
The movie that put Corbet on the map as a director is 2015’sThe Childhood of a Leader.In this film,a young American boy lives with his parents in France in the years following World War I. Face to face with the Treaty of Versailles and other governmental changes, the boy absorbs troubling beliefs, and eventually develops a terrifying ego. The movie is based on a short story of the same name by Jean-Paul Sartre. It stars Robert Pattinson.
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UnlikeVox Lux, The Childhood of a Leaderhas an impressively high critical rating. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film boasts a 90% critics score, with reviewers praising the film for its eerie storytelling and disconcerting style. Just like the Sartre story,Corbet’s movie elicits fears and worries that are all-too-relevant, even a century later. The only downfall ofThe Childhood of a Leaderis its audience score: 54%. Some viewers found the movie to be confusing, irritating, and slow-paced. Yet, even then,The Childhood of a Leaderis arguably Corbet’s second-best film.
Finally, there is little doubt that Corbet’s best movie so far isThe Brutalist.This movie starsAdrien Brody as László Tóth,a Hungarian and Jewish immigrant who flees Europe following the end of World War II.Hoping for a new start for himself and his wife, Tóth searches for success as an architect in the United States. His desires quickly become reality once he becomes close to a wealthy American businessman, Harrison Lee Van Buren.
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There is a reason whyThe Brutalisthas earned so many nominations and accolades since its release at the end of 2024. The movie is an epic that delves deep into the American dream and the cost of capitalism. With a Certified Fresh 94% on Rotten Tomatoes,The Brutalistshowcases incredible performances and a moving storythat has plenty of connections to modern America. All in all, this isBrady Corbetat his finest, and is a movie that all audiences should try their best to see.
