Skip to content
MovieCove
Brimstone

Brimstone

Retribution is coming.

2016148 minRMidcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
Director
Martin Koolhoven
Starring
Guy Pearce, Dakota Fanning, Carice van Houten, Kit Harington

In the menacing inferno of the old North-American West, Liz is a genuine survivor who is hunted by a vengeful preacher for a crime she didn’t commit.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Brimstone?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Brimstone streaming on Lionsgate+ via Prime Video, Pluto TV (free), Prime Video, Tubi (free) and ViX via Prime Video and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Brimstone?

Brimstone earns 12 badges, led by Visual feast and Atmospheric.

Show 4 more
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Content

Reception

Is Brimstone worth watching?

Brimstone's Midcredits score is the 77th percentile of all films, from 81K ratings across 6 sources. 72% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

77th percentile

Better received than 77% of films

80th percentile among Drama77th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)71st
Approval (how many liked it)81st

67 /100

71st percentile of all films

74th percentile among Drama70th percentile among 2010s

Critics 45 · Audience 69

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.1 — solid but not unanimous.

72% liked it

81st percentile of all films

83rd percentile among Drama82nd percentile among 2010s
72% rated it 7–1028% rated it 1–6

Critics 45% · Audience 54%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 10 wins / 11 noms overall

Reach

How many have seen it

94th percentile

81K ratings across platforms

95th percentile among Drama94th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 4% in 30 days

Box office

Budget€12M

In euro, not converted to dollars.

Worldwide gross$2.1M

70th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A dark, brutal, and visually stunning Western that is emotionally punishing and difficult to watch.

Fans praised

  • mesmerizing lead performances from Fanning and Pearce
  • beautiful, painterly cinematography and haunting score
  • gripping, non-linear story that is darkly compelling

Detractors panned

  • gratuitous, numbing brutality that overstays its welcome
  • overlong, ponderous pacing and bloated runtime
  • one-dimensional, cartoonishly evil villain undermines realism

What stands out

ActingDivisive85

powerful, immersive performances from Fanning and Pearce

Atmosphere80

relentlessly bleak, immersive, and oppressive

Cinematography80

gorgeous, painterly shots and period detail

Emotional impactDivisive75

devastating, unsettling, leaves viewer disturbed

Originality70

unique, non-linear Western horror hybrid

CharactersDivisive60

Pearce's villain is a memorable monster; other characters are thin

Plot and storyDivisive55

non-linear structure intrigues some, frustrates others with logic gaps

PacingDivisive40

slow burn that drags toward the end for many

Preferred by

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Under-30s

Under-30s scored it 11 points higher than over-30s.

US vs non-US

Preferred by Non-US Viewers

Non-US viewers scored it 21 points higher than US viewers.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 1 point apart
  • Critics vs users 6 points apart

Watch experience

What is Brimstone like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Dark and unsettling: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready for heavy feelings, and you want something dark that stays with you.

It is intense and leaves you devastated. Skip it when you want an easy night.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Room for heavy feelings.

What it feels like

Dark and unsettling.

The answer rests on this: Moods
DreadTense
Heaviest: late
Register
Bleak · 8% of filmsBrutal · 7% of filmsSolemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.
Told as
Nonlinear · 6% of films: Events shown out of chronological order.Chaptered · 1% of films: Told in titled chapters or clearly separate parts.
ToneThe film treats its grim subject matter with unflinching seriousness and never winks at the audience; it is played completely straight with a heavy, raw emotional weight.
The rideThe story likely sustains a tense, dread-filled atmosphere, culminating in a heavy climax.
StructureThe story unfolds across four titled chapters that jump between past and present, revealing Liz's history and the reverend's pursuit.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Devastated.

The answer rests on this: Devastating · 3% of filmsHaunting · 14% of films
Why it leaves you this wayThe relentless cruelty and the protagonist's suffering leave a deep emotional scar, making the film hard to shake long after it ends.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterTyrant
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% (this title) · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Tyrant: A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).

21% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeA mute woman is hunted by a sadistic reverend across the Old West; her fight for survival drives the story towards retribution.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7% (this title): Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% (this title) · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% (this title) · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Power

Oppression · 4% of filmsSurvivalFamily bonds
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film centers on a family living under the threat of a domineering reverend, exploring themes of systemic control, the fight to survive, and the protective bonds of family.
StanceThe film seems to question the abuse of religious power and its effect on a family, rather than celebrating or mourning it outright.

The world

19th centuryRuralDomesticRealistic
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score · Tom Holkenborg
SettingA remote, puritanical frontier community under the influence of a new reverend.
MusicLikely a brooding, tense orchestral score that underscores the film's dread.

Content guide

Is Brimstone okay for kids?

R

Brimstone is rated R: “Rated R for brutal bloody violence, strong sexual content including disturbing behavior, graphic nudity, and language” (MPAA). As of September 28, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at severe (90/100), sexual content at intense (78/100), language at intense (75/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (46/100) and frightening material at severe (88/100). Overall it is heavier than 92% of R-rated films.

Ratings in 21 other countries
  • UK18
  • CanadaR
  • AustraliaMA15+
  • Germany16
  • France16
  • Ireland18
  • JapanR15+
  • South Korea19
  • Brazil18
  • Belgium16
  • FinlandK-16
  • Hungary18
  • Netherlands16
  • Norway15
  • PortugalM/18
  • Russia18+
  • SingaporeR21
  • Spain18
  • Sweden15
  • Türkiye18+
  • UA18
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 95% of all filmsHeavier than 92% of R-rated films
Violence & Gore
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 84%
Sex & Nudity
Intense
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 96%
Profanity
Intense
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 64%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 60%
Frightening / Intense
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 92%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Heavy almost across the board: violence, frightening material, sexual content, and language. Everything else sits at or below what R-rated films usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Brimstone have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Brimstone?

Cast

2 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Guy Pearce
as The Reverend
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Dakota Fanning
as Liz
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Carice van Houten
as Anna
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Kit Harington
as Samuel
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.
Vera Vitali
as Sally
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Emilia Jones
as Joanna
Paul Anderson
as Frank
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.
William Houston
as Eli
Charlotte Croft
as Abigail
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Ivy George
as Sam
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Brimstone?

Movies like Brimstone include Bulbbul (2020), Holy Spider (2022) and A Serbian Film (2010). Of the 12 closest matches, most are revenge thrillers, and several are films about oppression.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

5 of these 12 share its world: western. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Brimstone?

188 other films share the rarest tag below, up against: clergy. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.