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Kathryn Bigelow’s Nuclear Thriller ‘A House of Dynamite’ Debuts on Netflix to Strong Reviews and Debate

The near–real-time procedural earns plaudits for taut realism, with some viewers pushing back on its triptych structure.

Overview

  • The film began streaming worldwide on Netflix on Oct. 24 following a limited theatrical run and festival stops in Venice and New York.
  • Directed by Kathryn Bigelow from Noah Oppenheim’s script, it dramatizes an unattributed nuclear threat in near real time through three distinct perspectives.
  • Idris Elba stars as the U.S. president alongside Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos and Greta Lee.
  • Critics broadly praise the tension, procedural detail and performances, while noting reservations about the repeated structure and a divisive conclusion.
  • The rollout positions the film for awards consideration and has prompted wider discussion of nuclear deterrence and high-pressure decision-making.