Idris Elba’s New Netflix Movie Soars On Rotten Tomatoes As Critics Rave

Idris Elba has a new thriller with Kathryn Bigelow, and early word says it rips. A House of Dynamite is a real-time pressure cooker about a surprise missile launch and the frantic scramble to figure out who fired it. Critics are into the intensity, the craft, and the whole clenched-jaw vibe, and Rotten Tomatoes has already slapped a certified fresh sticker on it.

So, is it good?

Short answer: yeah, pretty much. It is sitting at 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, certified fresh, from 89 reviews. The broad consensus is that Bigelow is back in her sweet spot: rigorous, high-tension storytelling that feels uncomfortably plausible. Reviewers keep calling out the realism, the precision of the staging, and the propulsive editing and camerawork that keep the anxiety up.

It is not wall-to-wall raves. The Associated Press dug the explosive opening but felt the grip loosens as the movie cycles through its beats. Still, most folks are impressed with the execution and the detail baked into the crisis mechanics.

What kind of thriller are we talking about?

This one unfolds in real time as officials race to trace a rogue missile aimed at the United States. Bigelow directs, Noah Oppenheim writes, and the movie sticks close to the procedures and decisions you hope the grown-ups are making when an alarm like this goes off. Idris Elba leads the cast, with Rebecca Ferguson, Jared Harris, and Tracy Letts backing him up. It runs a tight 1 hour and 52 minutes, which fits the ticking-clock setup.

"Nail-biting stuff, agonizing to sit through."

- Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic

What the critics are saying

Across the board, the praise centers on nerve-wracking realism and clean, muscular filmmaking. The Daily Telegraph’s Robbie Collin was all-in on its blade-sharp efficiency. The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw basically described watching it while clenching the armrests. TIME’s Stephanie Zacharek admired how precise and controlled it is from moment to moment. The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney singled out the editing and cinematography for keeping the adrenaline spiking without turning the whole thing into noise.

There’s love for the research and believability, too. Keith Phipps at The Reveal points out that Bigelow and Oppenheim root the chaos in convincing detail. On the flip side, AP’s Jake Coyle liked the taut, real-time setup but thought the intensity fades as the film repeats its rhythm. The overall vibe, though, is that Bigelow has returned to the tight, tension-first mode she does better than almost anyone.

When and where to watch

• US theaters: October 10, 2025
• Netflix: October 24, two weeks after the theatrical opening
• Rotten Tomatoes: 85% certified fresh, based on 89 reviews
• Runtime: 1 hour 52 minutes
• Director: Kathryn Bigelow
• Writer: Noah Oppenheim
• Cast: Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts

Bottom line: if you miss Bigelow’s brand of high-anxiety realism, this looks like the return you wanted. Just know that a few critics think the structure loses some punch as it repeats. Otherwise, clear your schedule for one long, sustained breath-hold.