Netflix has offered up the first image from its upcoming original political thriller, “A House of Dynamite.” And just when I thought my excitement levels were already maxed out, this initial glimpse at Rebecca Ferguson’s part in the drama has got my anticipation levels climbing even higher. I’m trying to keep my expectations in check, but this one could be really special.
The movie comes from director Kathryn Bigelow, the filmmaker behind “The Hurt Locker” and “Zero Dark Thirty,” which I rank as two of the best war movies of the 21st century. She was also the first woman to win the Academy Award for Best Director, for the former movie, which also went on to win Best Picture, beating out the favorite James Cameron’s “Avatar.”
The logline for “A House of Dynamite” is seriously hooky: “A group of White House officials scramble to deal with an incoming missile attack on the U.S.” Tell me that doesn’t sound like a compelling setup for a politically charged thriller.
Even better, this first image has me wondering if the movie will take place mostly in a single location, a “war room” within the heart of the United States' government. I love single-location movies, so if that prediction proves to be accurate, I’ll be even more delighted.
I’ve not even touched upon the cast either, which is seriously stacked. Alongside Ferguson, you’ve got Idris Elba, Anthony Ramos, Moses Ingram, Greta Lee, Jason Clarke, Willa Fitzgerald, Kyle Allen, Kaitlyn Dever, and more. That's serious star power there. Plus, the flick is written by Noah Oppenheim, who has form in this genre, having co-written Netflix’s “Zero Day” limited series released earlier this year. Granted to middling reviews.
Mix all these ingredients together, and it sure does sound like a Netflix Original that everybody is going to watch and talk about when it lands on the streaming service on October 24. It will also receive a limited theatrical release the same month, so I’m hoping it appears at a multiplex near me, because it sounds worth seeing on the biggest screen possible.
Netflix needs a high-quality original movie
The other reason I’ve already got “A House of Dynamite” near the top of my Netflix watchlist is that the streaming service could really do with a win right now after serving up subscribers a summer of slop. Sorry to be harsh, but Netflix’s recent movie output has been particularly poor.
In recent months, we’ve been treated to (or should that be punished with) a movie like "The Electric State," "The Life List," “Tyler Perry’s Straw,” “The Old Guard 2,” “Madea’s Destination Wedding,” and “My Oxford Year,” not to mention underwhelming international movies like “Brick,” "iHostage," and “Wall to Wall.”
After so many disappointments, I’m seriously craving a Netflix movie that I can recommend without any caveats, and that could even have a shot at getting into my favorite movies of the year list (at present, there’s not a single Netflix original remotely near making the cut).
Could “A House of Dynamite” be the movie that reminds me that Netflix is still a platform where fantastic original movies can be found? I hope so, but I’m not going to get ahead of myself. We haven’t even got a trailer yet, so while the signs are promising, I won’t be declaring it a guaranteed hit just yet. Cautiously optimistic is my current approach.
In the meantime, while waiting for “A House of Dynamite” to begin streaming, you can check out our guide to everything new on Netflix in August 2025 for some picks that you can start streaming this week.
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