Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Motherless Brooklyn

  • 20192019
  • RR
  • 2h 24m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
56K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,257
504
Bruce Willis, Alec Baldwin, Willem Dafoe, Edward Norton, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Motherless Brooklyn (2019)
Set against the backdrop of 1950s New York, 'Motherless Brooklyn' follows Lionel Essrog (Edward Norton), a private detective living with Tourette Syndrome, as he ventures to solve the murder of his mentor and only friend, Frank Minna (Bruce Willis). Armed only with a few clues and the engine of his obsessive mind, Lionel unravels closely-guarded secrets that hold the fate of the whole city in the balance.  In a mystery that carries him from gin-soaked jazz clubs in Harlem to the hard-edged slums of Brooklyn and, finally, into the gilded halls of New York's power brokers, Lionel contends with thugs, corruption and the most dangerous man in the city to honor his friend and save the woman who might be his own salvation.
Play trailer2:40
8 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Mystery
In 1950s New York, a lonely private detective afflicted with Tourette's Syndrome ventures to solve the murder of his mentor and only friend.In 1950s New York, a lonely private detective afflicted with Tourette's Syndrome ventures to solve the murder of his mentor and only friend.In 1950s New York, a lonely private detective afflicted with Tourette's Syndrome ventures to solve the murder of his mentor and only friend.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
56K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,257
504
  • Director
    • Edward Norton
  • Writers
    • Edward Norton(written for the screen by)
    • Jonathan Lethem(from the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Edward Norton
    • Gugu Mbatha-Raw
    • Alec Baldwin
Top credits
  • Director
    • Edward Norton
  • Writers
    • Edward Norton(written for the screen by)
    • Jonathan Lethem(from the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Edward Norton
    • Gugu Mbatha-Raw
    • Alec Baldwin
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 436User reviews
    • 186Critic reviews
    • 60Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 15 nominations

    Videos8

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:40
    Official Trailer
    Motherless Brooklyn
    Trailer 2:32
    Motherless Brooklyn
    Motherless Brooklyn
    Trailer 2:40
    Motherless Brooklyn
    Edward Norton Talks 'Motherless Brooklyn,' Great Actors, and Creative Obstacles
    Clip 7:55
    Edward Norton Talks 'Motherless Brooklyn,' Great Actors, and Creative Obstacles
    Everything You Need to Know for TIFF 2019
    Clip 7:03
    Everything You Need to Know for TIFF 2019
    How Edward Norton Relied on Alec Baldwin, Willem Dafoe, and Cherry Jones
    Full Episode 6:35
    How Edward Norton Relied on Alec Baldwin, Willem Dafoe, and Cherry Jones
    How Edward Norton Got Inspiration From Directors, Lawyers, and NBA Players
    Video 3:54
    How Edward Norton Got Inspiration From Directors, Lawyers, and NBA Players
    This Is What Happens When You Judge a Film by Its Logline
    Video 2:26
    This Is What Happens When You Judge a Film by Its Logline

    Photos392

    Edward Norton and Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Motherless Brooklyn (2019)
    Seth Rogen at an event for Motherless Brooklyn (2019)
    Edward Norton and Gugu Mbatha-Raw at an event for Motherless Brooklyn (2019)
    Willem Dafoe at an event for Motherless Brooklyn (2019)
    Edward Norton and Gugu Mbatha-Raw at an event for Motherless Brooklyn (2019)
    Willem Dafoe, Edward Norton, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw at an event for Motherless Brooklyn (2019)
    Willem Dafoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw at an event for Motherless Brooklyn (2019)
    Willem Dafoe at an event for Motherless Brooklyn (2019)
    Willem Dafoe at an event for Motherless Brooklyn (2019)
    Motherless Brooklyn (2019)
    Bruce Willis, Alec Baldwin, Willem Dafoe, Edward Norton, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Motherless Brooklyn (2019)
    Edward Norton in Motherless Brooklyn (2019)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Edward Norton
    Edward Norton
    • Lionel Essrogas Lionel Essrog
    Gugu Mbatha-Raw
    Gugu Mbatha-Raw
    • Laura Roseas Laura Rose
    Alec Baldwin
    Alec Baldwin
    • Moses Randolphas Moses Randolph
    Willem Dafoe
    Willem Dafoe
    • Paul Randolphas Paul Randolph
    Bruce Willis
    Bruce Willis
    • Frank Minnaas Frank Minna
    Ethan Suplee
    Ethan Suplee
    • Gilbert Coneyas Gilbert Coney
    Cherry Jones
    Cherry Jones
    • Gabby Horowitzas Gabby Horowitz
    Bobby Cannavale
    Bobby Cannavale
    • Tony Vermonteas Tony Vermonte
    Dallas Roberts
    Dallas Roberts
    • Danny Fantlas Danny Fantl
    Josh Pais
    Josh Pais
    • William Liebermanas William Lieberman
    Radu Spinghel
    • Giant Manas Giant Man
    Fisher Stevens
    Fisher Stevens
    • Louas Lou
    Peter Gray Lewis
    Peter Gray Lewis
    • Mayoras Mayor
    • (as Peter Lewis)
    Robert Wisdom
    Robert Wisdom
    • Billy Roseas Billy Rose
    • (as Robert Ray Wisdom)
    Michael Kenneth Williams
    Michael Kenneth Williams
    • Trumpet Manas Trumpet Man
    Isaiah J. Thompson
    • King Rooster Piano Playeras King Rooster Piano Player
    Russell Hall
    • King Rooster Bassistas King Rooster Bassist
    Joe Farnsworth
    • King Rooster Drummeras King Rooster Drummer
    • Director
      • Edward Norton
    • Writers
      • Edward Norton(written for the screen by)
      • Jonathan Lethem(from the novel by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    The Good Liar
    6.7
    The Good Liar
    Just Mercy
    7.6
    Just Mercy
    Richard Jewell
    7.5
    Richard Jewell
    Paper Birds
    9.5
    Paper Birds
    Dark Waters
    7.6
    Dark Waters
    Keeping the Faith
    6.4
    Keeping the Faith
    Pride and Glory
    6.6
    Pride and Glory
    25th Hour
    7.6
    25th Hour
    The Mule
    7.0
    The Mule
    Trauma Center
    4.1
    Trauma Center
    All the Money in the World
    6.8
    All the Money in the World
    10 Minutes Gone
    3.6
    10 Minutes Gone

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Edward Norton met and consulted many members of the Tourette's Association of America to prepare for the role. The film has received approval from the organization as well.
    • Goofs
      When Lionel enters the club at night to find a dead body, we can see two crew members and boom mics on the left side.
    • Quotes

      Lionel Essrog: But there's no upside in lyin' to a woman who's smarter than you, so, I told her the truth.

    • Crazy credits
      Shauna Lyn... this is yours as much as mine.
    • Connections
      Featured in CTV News at 11:30 Toronto: Episode dated 10 September 2019 (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      Daily Battles
      Written by Thom Yorke

      Performed by Thom Yorke and Flea (as Michael Balzary)

    User reviews436

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Great Acting
    Edward Norton has Tourette's Syndrome, which comes out when he is stressed, which does not include driving a car, or getting into a gunfight or walking into a strange location when you expect them to kill you. He works for Bruce Willis, who runs a detective agency out of Brooklyn. Willis gets kidnapped and shot, so Norton is the man in the shop who is supposed to track down the killer. This leads him on a tour of an alternate 1956 New York City, which seems to be populated by great actors like Willem Dafoe, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Cherry Jones, Bobby Cannavale and Alec Baldwin as a megalomaniac closely modeled on Robert Moses. One of them is the bad guy. Guess which and why.... I had it figured out four minutes before Norton did, but then, I don't have Tourette's. Still, that means it's a fair mystery.... not who, but why.

    Mostly, though, it's a chance for actors to strut their stuff, and none more so than Norton, who besides having Tourette's has an eidetic memory, smokes pot to control his symptoms, and will never be rich. No one seems to be put off by his tics, including touching women, making comments which are mildly lewd, making noises while jazz musicians play, and in one scene where he is trying to light a lady's cigarette, repeatedly lighting a match and blowing it out before it can get to the cigarette. Everyone is astonishingly enlightened, except, of course, Baldwin. Being evil, he hates poor people, and Blacks in particular.

    Good acting, but when I want to visit 1956 New York City, I don't want everyone there to be from 2019. Still, some great acting, some great locations, and the CGI recreation of Penn Station revives my anger towards the morons who tore it down.
    helpful•24
    9
    • boblipton
    • Nov 10, 2019

    FAQ2

    • Surely Tom Waits the news stand owner at 35mins 35 sec...?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 1, 2019 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Isputlockers [usa]
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Khu Mồ Côi Brooklyn
    • Filming locations
      • Washington Square Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros. Pictures
      • Class 5 Films
      • MWM Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $26,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $9,277,736
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,500,454
      • Nov 3, 2019
    • Gross worldwide
      • $18,477,736
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 24 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • IMDb Answers: Help fill gaps in our data
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in July
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    The Best Movies Coming This Summer
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.