Brightburn 2019

Movie · 90 min · English · May 24, 2019

Horror thriller Science fiction horror Superhero

Directed by David YaroveskyWritten by Brian Gunn, Mark Gunn

Starring Elizabeth Banks, David Denman, Jackson A. Dunn, Meredith Hagner, Matt Jones

Brightburn is a 2019 American superhero horror film that reimagines the Superman origin story with a dark twist. Directed by David Yarovesky, the movie was written by Brian and Mark Gunn and produced by James Gunn and Kenneth Huang. The cast includes Elizabeth Banks, David Denman, Jackson A. Dunn, Matt Jones, and Meredith Hagner. In the story, Brandon Breyer, a young alien boy raised on Earth, discovers his superpowers and uses them for violence and murder instead of heroism. Financing came from The H Collective, who worked alongside Troll Court Entertainment to produce the project.

The film was initially announced as "Untitled James Gunn Horror Project" in December 2017. Producer Gunn collaborated with his brother Brian and cousin Mark on the screenplay, adapting Superman's concept into a horror narrative. Principal photography commenced in March 2018 and concluded in May of that year.

Released in the United States on May 24, 2019 by Screen Gems and Stage 6 Films, Brightburn received mixed critical reviews. Critics appreciated its visual effects, acting, cinematography, humor, and soundtrack but felt it failed to fully realize its premise. The movie earned $33.2 million at the box office, with a production budget ranging from $6 to 12 million.