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2w ago

Kathryn Bigelow’s A House of Dynamite Opens in U.S. Theaters to Divided Early Reviews

Told as three overlapping viewpoints, the 18-minute real-time thriller probes the limits of missile defense under nuclear pressure.

Rebecca Ferguson in a scene from “A House of Dynamite.” 
Idris Elba in a scene from “A House of Dynamite.” 
Anthony Ramos in a scene from “A House of Dynamite.” 
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Overview

  • The film begins a limited U.S. theatrical run on Oct. 10, with a global Netflix release scheduled for Oct. 24.
  • Bigelow and writer Noah Oppenheim replay the same roughly 18-minute window from different vantage points, spanning an Alaska missile-defense unit, the Situation Room and the top of the chain of command.
  • Critics praise the tension, technical craft and standout turns from Rebecca Ferguson and Idris Elba, while many cite a repetitive triptych structure and a withholding conclusion.
  • The production emphasizes procedural realism through interviews with current and former U.S. officials and on-set military advising by Lt. Gen. Daniel Karbler.
  • Coverage underscores sobering realities including the difficulty of intercepting a warhead—likened to hitting a bullet with a bullet—and the limited rehearsal presidents receive on nuclear protocols.