In a concerted effort to counteract the industry’s recent financial crises, Hollywood is abuzz over the latest triumph in low-budget filmmaking, "The Brutalist." With a mere $10 million budget, director Brady Corbet has single-handedly shattered the illusion that blockbuster films must cost an arm and a leg — leaving audiences and studio executives baffled and a tad jealous. Critics have begun heralding "The Brutalist" as a masterpiece, with some even suggesting that it may have been made using nothing more than spare change and a few rolls of duct tape. "It’s as if Corbet has cracked the code to filmmaking,” remarked one slightly bewildered film analyst, clutching a cup of overpriced coffee from a nearby café. “Why spend millions on special effects when you can just show a few dramatic facial expressions? Who needs CGI when you have Adrien Brody’s nose?" Sources reveal that the star-studded cast, which includes Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, and Joe Alwyn, were convinced to sign on after being promised a generous supply of artisanal gluten-free snacks and perhaps a chance to partake in a yoga retreat led by the director himself. "I didn’t know what ‘brutalism’ meant at first,” admitted Jones, “but once Brady explained it involved minimalist concepts and a lot of introspection, I was on board. No set pieces? No problem!” The film’s plot — a sweeping examination of one man’s life — comes across as remarkably engaging, despite Corbet’s tight-fisted approach to production. Word on the street is that he transformed his own living room into a set, replacing lavish surroundings with floor cushions and a strategically placed houseplant. “Hollywood needs to take notes,” said a rival director who preferred to remain unnamed. “I’m rethinking my entire $200 million budget for that upcoming superhero trilogy. Maybe it’s just all about the emotional journey? Or at least about slapping a decent couch and a thrift store lamp in the background.” The marketing campaign for "The Brutalist" has also been unapologetically frugal. Instead of the traditional red carpets and star-studded premieres, Corbet opted for an old-school picnic in the park where fans could bring their lunch while the cast played charades to promote the film – a strategy that reportedly increased social media engagement tenfold. A promotional tweet from the film's account simply reads: "Look how nice our grass is! Also, Adrien Brody is here!" Fans are now clamoring for a sequel, but producers are concerned about how to recreate the unexpected magic of such cost-efficient filmmaking. “If we go above $10 million, we might lose the essence of the film,” said one producer anxiously examining his bank statements. “What happens if we have to buy any more than one houseplant? Will we lose that raw authenticity?” As Hollywood reevaluates its fiscal strategies, one thing is clear — if "The Brutalist" teaches us anything, it’s that sometimes the best films are the ones made with the money you have left over after paying your Netflix subscription. So gather those pennies, folks! The future of blockbuster cinema might just depend on a little creativity and a lot of thrift.