Netflix’s New Movie Ignites Firestorm Over Questionable Accuracy
Kathryn Bigelow’s Netflix thriller A House of Dynamite has the Pentagon bristling, balking at a pivotal scene that pegs U.S. missile defenses at roughly 50 percent against a surprise nuclear strike—a bleak claim voiced on-screen by Jared Harris that’s prompting pushback from defense officials.
Kathryn Bigelow made a Netflix thriller about a nuclear launch, and the Pentagon is not amused. The debate is basically this: the movie says America might only stop a missile half the time, the Pentagon says their latest tests look perfect, and everyone agrees the film amps up the drama. Here is what is actually going on.
What the movie shows
'A House of Dynamite' is about the U.S. government scrambling after an unidentified adversary fires a nuclear missile. In one early scene, Jared Harris plays Reid Baker and drops a blunt stat: U.S. missile defenses supposedly have just a 50% chance of intercepting an ICBM, even after roughly $50 billion spent. It is a great line for tension. It is also the line that lit the fuse at the Pentagon.
What the Pentagon says
In an internal memo obtained by Bloomberg, the Defense Department pushes back on that 50% claim. They say that number comes from older prototype systems, not the current setup. According to the memo, modern interceptors have shown a '100% accuracy rate in testing for more than a decade.' The memo also notes the movie is making a point that deterrence can fail and that a miss onscreen is a deliberate dramatic choice, but argues the film does not reflect real-world test results. Bottom line from their side: the system is there to keep Americans safe, and they want the public to know it.
Why Bigelow did not call the Pentagon
The Pentagon says the production never approached them for consultation. When asked why, Bigelow told CBS News she wanted to preserve independence while still getting the details right. Her reasoning:
It is my responsibility as a filmmaker, if I am presenting an environment that really exists, to be as authentic as possible. I felt that we needed to be more independent. But that being said, we had multiple tech advisors who have worked in the Pentagon. They were with me every day we shot.
One of those advisors was retired Lt. Gen. Dan Karbler. He did not expect to end up on a film set, but once there, he treated the cast like a real unit and says the intensity got surprisingly close to the real thing.
If Bigelow sounds comfortable in this space, it is because she has been here before: she won Best Director for 2009's 'The Hurt Locker,' becoming the first woman ever to take that Oscar.
The reception so far
Despite the Pentagon dust-up, the movie rolled out with a limited theatrical run and then hit Netflix, pulling in strong notices. Critics currently have it at 79% on Rotten Tomatoes. The overall read: Bigelow builds the scenario so tightly that you walk away rattled and weirdly captivated. It is a starry ensemble, the perspective jumps between key players, and the whole thing leans into the nightmare of having minutes to make a world-altering decision. Whatever you think about the math, the thriller part is working.
- Title: A House of Dynamite
- Director: Kathryn Bigelow
- Writer: Noah Oppenheim
- Release date: October 10, 2025
- Where to watch: Streaming now on Netflix (after a limited theatrical run)
I get why the Pentagon wants to fact-check the numbers, and I get why a filmmaker wants clean dramatic stakes. Different jobs. If you saw it, where did you land: convincing thriller, irresponsible stat, or both?