







Rebecca Ferguson portrays Captain Olivia Walker in ‘A House of Dynamite’. Image Credit: Eros Hoagland/Netflix © 2025.‘A House of Dynamite’, the newest intense thriller from acclaimed director Kathryn Bigelow, known for her previous works like ‘The Hurt Locker’ and ‘Zero Dark Thirty’, is set to hit select theaters on October 10th and will be available globally on Netflix starting October 24th.Release Date: Oct 10, 2025 Run Time: 1 hr 55 minThis upcoming film features an extensive ensemble cast, including Rebecca Ferguson (‘Mission: Impossible –– Rogue Nation’), Idris Elba (‘Luther: The Fallen Sun’), Jared Harris (‘Chernobyl’), Gabriel Basso (‘Super 8’), Greta Lee (‘Past Lives’), and Tracy Letts (‘Lady Bird’).Related Article: Rebecca Ferguson joins Cillian Murphy in the ‘Peaky Blinders’ Movie
First Impressions

From left to right: Tracy Letts as General Anthony Brady and Gbenga Akinnagbe as Major General Steven Kyle in ‘A House of Dynamite’. Image Credit: Eros Hoagland/Netflix © 2025.Kathryn Bigelow is an ideal choice to helm such an intensely gripping and potent military thriller, unfolding in what feels like near-real time. This isn’t just a war film; it’s more a narrative focused on the escalating tensions before a potential conflict, marking her successful return to filmmaking after the somewhat lukewarm reception of her 2017 feature, ‘Detroit’.Indeed, a talent of her caliber deserved to be back in action rather than on the sidelines for so many years.
Screenplay and Direction

Kathryn Bigelow at the Netflix film ‘A House of Dynamite’ NYFF Main Slate Premiere and Q&A on September 28, 2025, in New York City. Photo by Jason Mendez/Getty Images for Netflix.Noah Oppenheim, a veteran from NBC news with writing credits for films like ‘Jackie’ and the recent Netflix series ‘Zero Day’, masterfully builds suspense. He employs a unique three-act structure that resets the timeline, revisiting the same central event – a missile launched at the US by an unidentified aggressor – from various perspectives across the chain of command, from isolated military installations to the high-stakes environments of the White House and the Pentagon.While this shifting focus means some characters receive more development than others, and a few “movie-like” glances into personal lives occasionally verge on sentimentality, the approach ultimately works.Bigelow keeps the cinematography dynamic and the suspense consistently high throughout, significantly enhanced by Volker Bertelmann’s ominous, evolving musical score. This stands as the director’s strongest work in years and is definitely a film that warrants viewing.
Cast and Performances

Idris Elba as POTUS in ‘A House of Dynamite’. Image Credit: Eros Hoagland/Netflix © 2025.Considering the extensive cast that needs to be effectively utilized, it’s remarkable how many significant actors Bigelow has assembled here. Notable performances include Rebecca Ferguson as a resolute yet humane operations officer at the White House, Jason Clarke as her superior, Gabriel Basso as a nervous National Security Advisor suddenly burdened with immense responsibility, and Jared Leto as Secretary of Defense Baker, who is simultaneously furious about the inefficiency of his country’s response and terrified for his estranged daughter (portrayed by an underutilized Kaitlyn Dever).If there’s a slight misstep in the casting, it’s Idris Elba, whose portrayal of the President doesn’t quite fully convince.
Concluding Thoughts

From left to right: Anthony Ramos as Major Daniel Gonzalez and Abubakr Ali as Specialist Dan Buck in ‘A House of Dynamite’. Image Credit: Eros Hoagland/Netflix © 2025.Bigelow makes a triumphant return with this new cinematic offering.You might find yourself needing something light and pleasant to watch or do once the credits roll; chances are, you’ll be quite tense.‘A House of Dynamite’ earns a score of 85 out of 100.

Gabriel Basso as Deputy National Security Advisor Jake Baerington in ‘A House of Dynamite’. Image Credit: Eros Hoagland/Netflix © 2025.
What is the plot of ‘A House of Dynamite’?
When a single, unidentified missile is launched towards the United States, a critical race against time begins to identify the culprit and determine the appropriate response.Who comprises the cast of ‘A House of Dynamite’?
Idris Elba as the President of the United StatesRebecca Ferguson as Captain Olivia Walker
Gabriel Basso as Deputy National Security Advisor Jake Baerington
Jared Harris as Secretary of Defense Reid Baker
Tracy Letts as General Anthony Brody
Anthony Ramos as Major Daniel Gonzalez
Moses Ingram as FEMA official Cathy Rogers
Jonah Hauer-King as Lieutenant Commander Robert Reeves
Greta Lee as Ana Park, the NSA’s North Korea expert
Jason Clarke as Admiral Mark Miller, the senior Situation Room official

Kyle Allen as Captain Jon Zimmer in ‘A House of Dynamite’. Image Credit: Eros Hoagland/Netflix © 2025.
Other Films Directed by Kathryn Bigelow:
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