It’s not been a banner few months for Netflix when it comes to new original movies. The streaming service served up subscribers a summer of mostly subpar efforts, and even the breakout success of “KPop Demon Hunters” was only a brief respite. After being very disappointed with recent originals “The Thursday Murder Club” and “The Woman in Cabin 10” (and while “Steve” was good, it was not great, as I'd hoped), my attention turned to “A House of Dynamite,” which was among my most anticipated Netflix movies of 2025.
In the weeks leading up to its release date, my excitement was quickly turning into caution as Netflix’s cold streak continued, but much to my delight, “A House of Dynamite” did not let me down. I’m relieved to report that this is one Netflix original movie that I can recommend wholeheartedly, and it’s been quite a while since I could say that.
Marking the return of Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow, eight years after her last movie, this political thriller chronicles the American government's panicked response to an unidentified missile heading straight for the continental United States. If you’re like me and have been disappointed with Netflix’s movie output recently, here’s why “A House of Dynamite” is a much-needed and well-timed win for the streaming service.
What is ‘A House of Dynamite’ about?
“A House of Dynamite” centers on a fairly simple, but practically unthinkable, situation. An unidentified state has fired a single nuclear missile at the United States of America. Its impact is imminent, and the U.S. government must scramble to figure out who is responsible and how to react in the face of an unprecedented and potentially devastating attack.
These dramatic events are shown from multiple perspectives within the U.S. government, from the White House Situation Room to the heart of the country's nuclear program in Omaha, Nebraska. And all the while, the clock is ticking down as the missile’s detonation looms.
The Netflix movie also packs a strong cast list, including Rebecca Ferguson, Idris Elba, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos, Moses Ingram, Greta Lee and Jason Clarke. And there are even brief roles for Willa Fitzgerald and Kaitlyn Dever.
‘A House of Dynamite’ is the most tense Netflix movie of the year
Kathryn Bigelow proved with “The Hurt Locker“ (which scooped Best Picture and Best Director Oscars) and “Zero Dark Thirty,” an ability to craft extreme tension on the battlefield, but in “A House of Dynamite,” the territory under imminent siege is the home front. Almost the entire movie takes place in government boardrooms, military facilities and presidential vehicles, but the stakes feel as high as if you’re watching soldiers fighting in the trenches.
Perhaps it’s the plausibility of “A House of Dynmaite” that makes every second that ticks by feel so nerve-racking. In a nuclear-armed world, an enemy could launch a missile at the United States (or its allies), and Bigelow (alongside screenwriter Noah Oppenheim) plays up this fact. I can’t verify its authenticity as an outsider, but the events on screen certainly feel like what would happen if this nightmare scenario occurred in reality. With high stakes and a plausible plot, it’s little wonder that the tension reaches a fever pitch.
At this point, I want to address what I suspect will be “A House of Dynamite’s” most divisive element. The movie is neatly split into three chapters, each given its own title card. To avoid spoilers, let’s just say when things reach a crescendo, the events flash back to the very beginning, and we see the same situation play out again from a new perspective. This jump back happens twice, and I can absolutely see some viewers finding it a momentum killer.
I can’t deny that it results in an oddly paced movie (and reminded me of The Last of Us Part 2 video game, which employs a similar structure), but it also allows viewers to see a brief window of time from several perspectives, with each new setting getting its moment in focus. Writer Noah Oppenheim also uses the structure to create some interesting payoffs. For example, an off-screen moment in the first chapter is revealed to viewers in the third.
Bigelow also makes several smart creative decisions that make following along with government and military protocol a breeze. The cast often speaks in streams of acronyms, which could have been confusing, but every time a new one is uttered, on-screen texts break the initials down to ensure you don’t have to watch with a government department dictionary at your side. “A House of Dynamite” might just give you a lesson in government bureaucracy and how federal bodies interlock and work together in a crisis.
And in all of the talk about the movie’s structure and tension, I’ve not even touched upon the performances. Because of all the leaping around departments (and parts of the country), viewers don’t get to spend quite as much time with each character as I’d have liked. But Rebecca Ferguson stands out as a senior official in the White House Situation Room. And speaking of POTUS, Idris Elba plays the leader of the free world, and as you might guess, he’s extremely well-suited for that role (even if he is English).
Stream ‘A House of Dynamite’ on Netflix now
“A House of Dynamite” is a movie that I’ve not stopped thinking about since I watched it (and I attended an early theatrical screening, so I saw it several weeks ago at this point). In a year where Netflix’s movie output has missed significantly more than it has hit the mark, this tense, ultra-riveting political thriller stands out as a much-needed win for the streaming service.
Bigelow wrings every ounce of drama from a compelling premise, and the stacked cast rises to the occasion. There are a few caveats: I could see its narrative structure being off-putting for some viewers (though it totally worked for me), and its subject matter will have you grimly reflecting on the volatile political climate that surrounds us. But these are minor quibbles. “A House of Dynamite” is the high-quality Netflix original I’ve wanted all year.
Watch "A House of Dynamite" on Netflix now
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