Brazil
A weary government clerk haunted by heroic fantasies discovers a fatal clerical error that condemned an innocent man, and when he meets the mysterious truck driver who mirrors his dream woman, he must outwit a ruthless bureaucracy to protect her and expose the truth before the system silences them both.
“It's only a state of mind.”
Synopsis
Sam Lowry, a low-level bureaucrat, escapes the monotony of his routine through a recurring daydream in which he envisions himself as a virtuous hero rescuing a beautiful damsel. While investigating a case involving the wrongful arrest and subsequent death of an innocent man, mistaken for the wanted terrorist Harry Tuttle, he encounters the woman from his daydream. In his efforts to assist her, he becomes entangled in a complex web of mistaken identities, senseless bureaucracy, and deception.
Credits
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How many hands made this film
The scale of the collaboration
A crew of 217+ credited
Why a floor?
This is a minimum, not a total. We only count the credits we’ve captured so far, and coverage is uneven — a blockbuster might show a few hundred names while another of the same size shows a couple dozen. The real crews all ran into the thousands. The number here only grows as full credits are enriched — so we frame it as a floor, never a headcount.
Craft leads on file
Edited by Julian DoyleShot by Roger PrattScored by Michael KamenDesigned by Norman GarwoodSound by Paul CarrCostumes by James Acheson Nm0009807
Box Office
1985 · Box office
📉 Underperformed — grossed 0.7× its budget
Why 2.5×?
Cinemas keep roughly half of every ticket sold, and a wide release’s marketing often costs about as much again as the film — so a movie needs to gross around 2.5× its production budget just to break even theatrically. It’s a rule of thumb, not the studio’s ledger (home video and streaming come later).
Worldwide gross
$10.0M
US & Canada: $9.9M — 100% of worldwide · International: $25K (0%)
Opening weekend: $30K — 0% of its US run. It had legs — it kept earning long after opening weekend.
Peak 1 theaters
Full synopsis
Versions & cuts
- director's cut· 142 min
- edited· 94 min
Also known as
- (Bulgarian)Бразилия
Release dates around the world5 countries · showhide
- GermanyFeb 1, 1985
- FranceFeb 20, 1985
- United KingdomFeb 22, 1985
- NetherlandsFeb 28, 1985
- ItalyMar 13, 1985
Companies
Community tags
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Cast & Crew
217 unique people credited
Top billed cast
Jonathan Pryce
as Sam Lowry
Kim Greist
as Jill Layton
Robert De Niro
as Harry Tuttle
Katherine Helmond
as Mrs. Ida Lowry
Ian Holm
as Mr. Kurtzmann
Bob Hoskins
as Spoor
Michael Palin
as Jack Lint
Ian Richardson
as Mr. Warrenn
Peter Vaughan
as Mr. Helpmann
Jim Broadbent
as Dr. Jaffe
Barbara Hicks
as Mrs. Terrain
Charles Mckeown
as Lime
Supporting cast
71Derrick O Connor
as Dowser
Kathryn Pogson
as Shirley
Bryan Pringle
as Spiro
Sheila Reid
as Mrs. Buttle
John Flanagan
as T.V. Interviewer, Salesman
Ray Cooper
as Technician
Brian Miller
as Mr. Buttle
Simon Nash
as Boy Buttle
Prudence Oliver
as Girl Buttle
Simon Jones
as Arrest Official
Derek Deadman
as Bill - Dept. of Works
Nigel Planer
as Charlie - Dept. of Works
Terence Bayler
as T.V Commercial Presenter
Gorden Kaye
as M.O.I. Lobby Porter
Tony Portacio
as Neighbour in Clerk's Pool
Bill Wallis
as Bespectacled Lurker
Winston Dennis
as Samurai Warrior
Toby Clark
as Small Sam Double
Diana Martin
as Telegram Girl
Jack Purvis
as Dr. Chapman
Elizabeth Spender
as Alison, Barbara' Lint
Antony Brown
as Porter - Information Retrieval
Myrtle Devenish
as Typist in Jack's Office
Holly Gilliam
as Holly
John Pierce Jones
as Basement Guard
Ann Way
as Old Lady with Dog
Don Henderson
as First 'Black Maria' Guard
Howard Lew Lewis
as Second 'Black Maria' Guard
Oscar Quitak
as Interview Official
Harold Innocent
as Interview Official
John Grillo
as Interview Official
Ralph Nossek
as Interview Official
David Gant
as Interview Official
James Coyle
as Interview Official
Patrick Connor
as Cell Guard
Roger Ashton Griffiths
as Priest
Russell Grant
as Young Gallant at Funeral
Mark Holmes
as Performer: 'Forces Of Darkness
Lynne Brotchie
as Performer: 'Forces Of Darkness
Janet Hampson
as Performer: 'Forces Of Darkness
Judith Morse
as Performer: 'Forces Of Darkness
Jo Phillips
as Performer: 'Forces Of Darkness
Connie Thomas
as Performer: 'Forces Of Darkness
Sue Hodge
as Performer: 'Forces Of Darkness
Noel Butler
as Performer: 'Forces Of Darkness
Christopher Barr
as Performer: The 'Expediters
Ray Hatfield
as Performer: The 'Expediters
Paul Hillier
as Performer: The 'Expediters
Saul Jephcott
as Performer: The 'Expediters
Colin Stepney
as Performer: The 'Expediters
David Straun
as Performer: The 'Expediters
Paul Waller
as Performer: The 'Expediters
Rojer Whieldon
as Performer: The 'Expediters
Nicole Appleton
as Girl in department store
Frances Baker
as Party Guest
Russell Brook
as Suitor
Les Conrad
as Servant
Sadie Corre
as Midget Woman
Margarita Doyle
as Answering Machine
Dominic Ffytche
as Office Boy
Terry Forrestal
as Running Trooper
Terry Gilliam
as Smoking Man at Shangri-La Towers
John Hasler
as Naughty Little Boy
Frank Jakeman
as Stormtrooper
Sergio Kato
as Interview Official
Ronald Nunnery
as Man in Street
Henry Roberts
as Man in Street
Peter Sands
as Ida's Boyfriend
Guy Standeven
as Restaurant Patron
Captain Tuttle
as Captain Tuttle
Fred Wood
as Giant Man with Bottle
Directors
1Writers
4Producers
5Other crew
133Sarah Teboul
accounting assistant (uncredited)
Christopher Newman
additional assistant director
Kevin Westley
additional assistant director
Terence Fitch
additional assistant director
Brian Herlihy
additional camera assistant
Andy Jackson
additional music recording
Mark Holmes
arranger: 'Forces Of Darkness]
John Beard
Art Directors
Keith Pain
Art Directors
Lesley Broderick
assistant accountant
Dennis Bosher
assistant art director
Francoise Benoit Fresco
assistant art director: French unit (as Françoise Benoit)
Parents Guide
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Ratings & reviews
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Where to watch
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