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Brick (film)

Brick is a 2005 American neo-noir mystery thriller written, edited, and directed by Rian Johnson in his feature directorial debut.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Brick is a 2005 American neo-noir mystery thriller written, edited, and directed by Rian Johnson in his feature directorial debut. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the film follows a teenager who investigates his ex-girlfriend’s disappearance and becomes entangled in a high-school crime underworld. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2005 and received a theatrical release in 2006.

Plot

The film centres on a teenager who searches for his missing ex-girlfriend and is drawn into a drug-related criminal network at his high school.

Production

Brick was written, edited, and directed by Rian Johnson as his first feature film, marking the start of his career as a film director.

Release and reception

After screening at Sundance in 2005, the film was released theatrically in 2006 by Focus Features and was widely praised by critics. At Sundance, it won the Special Jury Prize for Originality of Vision.

Legacy

Brick developed a reputation as a cult film and is often noted for applying hard-boiled noir conventions to a modern high-school setting. It has been regarded as a cult classic.

Key facts

  • Brick was Rian Johnson’s feature directorial debut.
  • The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a high-school student investigating his ex-girlfriend’s disappearance.
  • Its title refers to a block of heroin compressed roughly to the size and shape of a brick.
  • The film won the Special Jury Prize for Originality of Vision at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.
  • Brick received positive reviews and is considered a cult classic.
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Canadian context

Brick has had Canadian relevance mainly through film-festival and critical-cinema audiences, where it is discussed as an influential example of modern neo-noir filmmaking.

Frequently asked questions

What is Brick about?
It follows a teenager who investigates the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend and uncovers a drug-crime network at his high school.
Who directed Brick?
Rian Johnson wrote, edited, and directed the film.
Who stars in Brick?
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is the lead actor.
When was Brick released?
It premiered in 2005 at Sundance and opened theatrically in the United States in April 2006.
What genre is Brick?
It is generally classified as a neo-noir mystery thriller.
Why is the film called Brick?
The title refers to a brick-sized block of heroin.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brick_(film)
    Supports: Basic identification, director, cast, release history, Sundance award, title meaning, and cult-classic status.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/brick
    Supports: Synopsis, genre, director, cast, theatrical and streaming release details.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0393109/
    Supports: Release date and country of origin.