A House of Dynamite – Movie Review | Netflix (4/5)

A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE is a Netflix thriller from Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow, with a star-studded cast. It does get a bit repetitive, but in a way that highlights the story. Read our full A House of Dynamite movie review here!

A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE is a new Netflix thriller that should keep you glued to the screen from the very first second. The plot alone would do that, but the cast of this movie is so impressive that they will also keep you engaged.

Also, it comes from the Academy Award-winning director of The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty. In many ways, this is the movie that rounds out a war trilogy for filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow. And yes, this is yet another stress-inducing movie… with heartbreak!

Continue reading our A House of Dynamite movie review below. Find it in select theaters globally from October 10, and on Netflix from October 24, 2025.

The fear of your world ending

A House of Dynamite follows a crisis unfolding in near real-time. We’re in Washington, DC, where everything is business as usual. Yes, even for those monitoring whether a country is yet again doing a missile or nuclear test of some kind.

Or, well, it was a normal day right until a base in Alaska picks up on a single unattributed missile. The point of origin is unclear due to a satellite mishap, but it is heading for the United States.

Naturally, this results in a lot of procedures going into immediate effect. Everything is happening extremely fast, and before long, the entire world is reacting. Especially anyone officially against the U.S., who is getting ready for any sort of retaliation.

Then the evacuation orders start being sent out to bring key members of the government to safety. It’s enough to give you heart palpitations from the very beginning.

Watch it again to understand the impact

Just as everything is reaching a critical point, the screen turns black, and time is rolled back, so we see it all play out again. This time, however, we will be focusing on other characters in the story.

Anyone in the background now comes to the front, so we understand their expertise and point of view. The movie will move past the point where the other ended, but not in the way you might expect.

I can already foresee two things viewers will probably focus on once this movie is out on Netflix, so let’s just get to it: First, there are repetitions as we see the same story play out from three different angles. Second, the ending isn’t definitive.

I know anything that even hints at open endings drives people crazy. But hey, in life, nothing is very definitive, and something always comes after the credits. Figuratively speaking, I mean.

Reacting and acting under pressure

I absolutely adored seeing all these characters react in very different ways. No matter their role or responsibilities, some people are just better under pressure than others.  You can never be sure who will be able to stay calm under pressure.

One person in particular definitely does not react how you would expect, but can you blame them? I mean, yes, you can, as they have jobs to do, but on a human nature level? No, you can’t really.

Plus, some people have more to lose or become acutely aware of what they may lose. Oh yes, A House of Dynamite is definitely a tearjerker as well.

Who is in the brilliant A House of Dynamite cast?

A House of Dynamite truly does feature an ensemble cast worth noting. The fact that we see the story play out from multiple angles also means there’s room for a very large cast. Yes, despite a runtime of under two hours (1 hour and 52 minutes, specifically).

You can look forward to seeing Rebecca Ferguson (Doctor Sleep, Silo), Idris Elba (Luther, Hijack), Gabriel Basso (The Night Agent), Jared Harris (Chernobyl), Willa Fitzgerald (Strange Darling), and Tracy Letts (Deep Water).

Also, Anthony Ramos (Twisters), Jonah Hauer-King (I Know What You Did Last Summer 2025), Moses Ingram, Greta Lee (Russian Doll), Jason Clarke (The Devil All the Time), Brian Tee (Reacher), and Brittany O’Grady (The Consultant).

Finally, I want to mention Gbenga Akinnagbe (The Thicket), Renée Elise Goldsberry (Altered Carbon), Kyle Allen (XX), and Kaitlyn Dever (Unbelievable, Apple Cider Vinegar).

Watch A House of Dynamite on Netflix (or in a theater)

A House of Dynamite is one of those Netflix movies that you have the chance to watch in a movie theater. If you can, I absolutely recommend this, as I was able to watch it on the big screen and am very happy that I did. If not, make sure you watch it on Netflix.

Of course, when you get a star-studded movie directed by an Oscar-winning director, it would be a shame not to try your hand at a theatrical release as well.

As mentioned already, the director is Kathryn Bigelow, who previously directed Zero Dark Thirty and The Hurt Locker. The screenplay comes from Noah Oppenheim, who also created and wrote the Netflix series Zero Day.

This is the third movie in what could be called Kathryn Bigelow’s war trilogy, and it is very much about what may come next. Not what has already happened or is already taking place now. And that is terrifying!

A House of Dynamite is in theaters globally from October 10 and on Netflix from October 24, 2025.

Details

Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Script: Noah Oppenheim
Cast: Rebecca Ferguson, Idris Elba, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos, Moses Ingram, Jonah Hauer-King, Greta Lee, Jason Clarke