The Brothers Grimm (film)
A fictional tale of the Brothers Grimm as con artists.
The 2005 fantasy adventure film *The Brothers Grimm*, directed by Terry Gilliam, presents a heavily fictionalized take on the famous siblings. Set in early 19th-century Germany under French occupation, the story follows Will and Jake Grimm (played by Matt Damon and Heath Ledger) as traveling con artists who fake supernatural exorcisms. Along with Lena Headey’s character, they eventually face a genuine fairy-tale curse that demands real courage. The supporting cast includes Peter Stormare, Jonathan Pryce, and Monica Bellucci. A British–Czech co-production, the movie was filmed in the Czech Republic.
The screenplay began as a spec script by Ehren Kruger, which Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer purchased in February 2001. After Gilliam was hired to direct, he and Tony Grisoni rewrote the script, but the Writers Guild of America denied them credit. MGM later withdrew as distributor but continued co-financing the project with Dimension Films and Summit Entertainment, while Dimension handled distribution. Gilliam frequently clashed with Bob and Harvey Weinstein, delaying the original theatrical release by nearly ten months. The film premiered on 26 August 2005, received mixed reviews, and earned $105.3 million worldwide.
In the plot, set in 1811, Will and Jake Grimm travel through French-occupied Germany with their sidekicks Hidlick and Bunst, using Jake’s folklore knowledge to stage fake exorcisms. Italian torturer Mercurio Cavaldi captures them and brings them to French General Vavarin Delatombe, who offers amnesty in exchange for investigating missing girls in Marbaden. The brothers enlist fur trapper Angelika, whose younger sisters were the first to vanish. She leads them to a tower built centuries earlier by a vain Thuringian Queen fleeing the plague. That night, a horse enchanted by a mysterious huntsman swallows a girl named Elsie and flees into the forest. Angelika, the brothers, and Cavaldi chase it but fail; Angelika later meets a wolf that hesitates to attack her.
Cavaldi takes the group back to Delatombe, but they return to Marbaden after convincing him the forest’s magic is caused by German rebels. Jake scales the tower, finding twelve crypts and the aged, decrepit Queen, who nearly seduces him via her magic mirror. In the village, a mud monster absorbs a girl named Sasha, turns into a gingerbread man, and disappears into a well. Sasha reappears in a pond near t
- director
- Terry Gilliam
- release_date
- 26 August 2005
- box_office
- $105.3 million worldwide
- budget
- Projected at $75 million
- production_companies
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Dimension Films, Summit Entertainment
- screenplay_credit
- Ehren Kruger (sole credit)
Quick Facts
- Director
- Terry Gilliam
- Producer
- Charles Roven / Daniel Bobker
- Writer
- Ehren Kruger
- Starring
- Matt Damon / Heath Ledger / Peter Stormare / Lena Headey / Jonathan Pryce / Monica Bellucci
- Music
- Dario Marianelli
- Editing
- Lesley Walker
- Cinematography
- Newton Thomas Sigel
- Studio
- Mosaic Media Group / Daniel Bobker Productions / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures / Atlas Entertainment
- Distributor
- Dimension Films (through Miramax Films)
- Released
- df=yes · 2005 · 08 · 26 · United States · 2005 · 11 · 04 · United Kingdom · 2005 · 11 · 11 · Czech Republic
- Runtime
- 118 minutes
- Country
- United Kingdom / Czech Republic
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The film was developed from a spec script by Ehren Kruger, which Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer purchased in February 2001. Terry Gilliam entered negotiations to direct in October 2002 and rewrote the script with Tony Grisoni, but the Writers Guild of America refused to credit them, leaving Kruger as sole writer. MGM eventually dropped out as main distributor but co-financed with Dimension Films and Summit Entertainment, with Dimension taking over distribution. Gilliam often feuded with brothers Bob and Harvey Weinstein, causing the original theatrical release date to be delayed nearly ten months.
Filming took place entirely in the Czech Republic, primarily at Barrandov Studios in Prague and at Křivoklát Castle. The original start date was April 2003, but filming began on 30 June and principal photography ended on 27 November. The Weinsteins fired cinematographer Nicola Pecorini after six weeks, replacing him with Newton Thomas Sigel. Gilliam described the disputes: 'I'm used to riding roughshod over studio executives, but the Weinsteins rode roughshod over me.' Filming was shut down for nearly two weeks due to tensions.
Reader's Guide
The Brothers Grimm represents a notable example of studio-director conflict in early 2000s filmmaking. Terry Gilliam's vision clashed repeatedly with the Weinstein brothers, resulting in a film that Gilliam later described as 'not the film they wanted and it's not quite the film I wanted. It's the film that is a result.' The film received mixed reviews upon its 26 August 2005 release and grossed $105.3 million worldwide. Despite its troubled production, the film contributed over $300 million to the Czech Republic's economy and provided work for hundreds of local jobs alongside other productions like Alien vs. Predator and Van Helsing. The casting choices—including Matt Damon and Heath Ledger switching roles, and Johnny Depp being Gilliam's first choice for Will Grimm—reflect the complex negotiations behind the scenes.
Did You Know?
- Johnny Depp was Terry Gilliam's first choice for Will Grimm.
- Heath Ledger and Matt Damon originally were cast in opposite roles before asking to switch.
- Nicole Kidman turned down the role of the Mirror Queen due to scheduling conflicts.
- The film was shot entirely in the Czech Republic over budget constraints.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Brothers Grimm (2005) about?
It is a Terry Gilliam-directed fantasy adventure that reimagines the famous German siblings as traveling swindlers in early 19th-century, France-occupied Germany who stage fake supernatural exorcisms until they stumble upon a genuine fairy-tale curse that demands real bravery.
Who plays the Brothers Grimm in the 2005 film?
Matt Damon portrays Will Grimm and Heath Ledger plays his brother Jake, while Lena Headey joins them as a fellow traveler caught up in their schemes.
Who directed The Brothers Grimm and when did it come out?
Terry Gilliam helmed the project, which premiered on August 26, 2005, as a British–Czech co-production shot on location in the Czech Republic.
How does The Brothers Grimm (2005) end?
The duo must face a true fairy-tale curse that their theatrical tricks cannot solve, forcing them to act with genuine courage and ultimately proving they are more than mere con artists.
Why is The Brothers Grimm (2005) notable among fairy-tale adaptations?
Instead of retelling a single story, it satirizes the very mechanics of belief and storytelling by casting the tale-collectors themselves as frauds who must eventually confront real magic. The film earned roughly $105 million worldwide against a projected $75 million budget.
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