Bright Leaves (2004): cast, story & where to watch
2004 · Film · ★ 6.9
Released in 2004, Bright Leaves is a documentary film directed by Ross McElwee, running about 108 minutes.
What it’s about. Ross McElwee travels through the North Carolina tobacco belt in search of the ancient southern traditions associated with tobacco growing and use, while comparing his filmmaking to commercial cinema, represented by Bright Leaf, a melodrama directed by Michael Curtiz in 1950, starring Gary Cooper, apparently based on the life of his great-grandfather.
Who’s in it. Bright Leaves stars Ross McElwee as Himself - Narrator (voice), Brian Baucom, Susan Bennett and Ed Bivens, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.9/10, Bright Leaves has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Philo, OVID and Cineverse Amazon Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Bright Leaves page.
If you liked it. Fans of Bright Leaves tend to enjoy One Direction: This Is Us, Burn the Stage: The Movie, BTS World Tour: Love Yourself - Japan Edition and Senna.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Bright Leaves (2004)?
- In US, Bright Leaves is available to stream on Philo, OVID and Cineverse Amazon Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Bright Leaves worth watching?
- Bright Leaves holds an audience score of 6.9 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy documentary. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Bright Leaves?
- Bright Leaves stars Ross McElwee, Brian Baucom, Susan Bennett, Ed Bivens and R. Bullock.
- When was Bright Leaves released?
- Bright Leaves was released in 2004, with a runtime of about 108 minutes.