Kathryn Bigelow has once more achieved an Oscar-worthy turnout with A House of Dynamite. The film, based on the threat of nuclear fallout and the impending apocalyptic urgency, is now one of the most-watched films with 22.1 million views in its first 3 days on Netflix [The Wrap].
This is in accordance with the film beating another Netflix launch, The Perfect Neighbor, in viewership hours. The latter currently stands at a lower 20.2 million views in its second week. In the case of both these films, the visibility matters, not only because of the weight of the stories but also the message that they want to impart.
However, when it comes to comparing the two, with its current ranking at the top of the most-watched movie list on the streamer, Bigelow’s film has squarely beaten its best competitor of 2025, The Perfect Neighbor, which currently ranks at a near-perfect 99% on Rotten Tomatoes
A House of Dynamite Stuns Netflix With Impressive Opening Viewership
A nuclear epic is meant to open big with the viewers, but the reality of Kathryn Bigelow’s film hitting a vein with the modern audience did not seem like a real possibility until very recently.
Unlike other similar films like Oppenheimer and Dr. Strangelove, A House of Dynamite does not shy away from depicting the ugly human aftermath of a potential nuclear disaster. Although Bigelow’s film is not explicit about it, she makes the bleak message loud and clear in the film’s haunting closing moments as all hope ceases to exist against the backdrop of the setting sun.
Rightfully, the film has earned its place at the top of Netflix’s viewing history with 22.1 million views within the first three days of its launch. The numbers matter, both as testament to the film’s importance and to the message that it urgently needs to convey to its audience.
How Kathryn Bigelow’s Nuclear Epic Stands Out from The Perfect Neighbor
The Perfect Neighbor is a jarring documentary that draws from the true story of the tragic killing of Ajike Owens in June 2023. Told through police bodycam footage, the documentary is more than simply another chilling examination of societal prejudice, racism, and injustice.
There may never be enough films, documentaries, and TV series to sift through the accumulated trauma of these tragedies. There may never be enough protests and rallies to put a stop to such killings. The Perfect Neighbor holds that truth up to the light to speak for itself. And the audience hears every word.
On the other hand, Kathryn Bigelow’s A House of Dynamite is a fictional problem set in a possibly not-so-distant future. The subject of nuclear war has been on the table since the advent of the atom bomb, but the threat has never felt so imminent. Bigelow’s film doesn’t add much to the conversation except to demonstrate how inept a government can be in the face of a major calamity.
When it comes to the subject of the Oscars, however, the conversation takes a drastic turn. While there have been no rumblings about The Perfect Neighbor being a contender in the race, Dynamite has been in the running ever since the film’s trailer was released. But the reality of the situation is much worse.
The Netflix viewership numbers are only a small blip in the major list of check boxes that determine whether a film is worthy of standing tall at the Oscars or falling embarrassingly short at the last minute. A House of Dynamite may have every frame rapt in perfect cinematic storytelling, alongside a stellar script and strong performances, but the box office reception still counts.
The Academy has historically leaned toward big, commercially successful projects with tangible global results to show for itself. Dynamite‘s Netflix release throws that option out of the window very quickly with its limited theatrical and streaming release. Although this doesn’t undermine the film’s shot at the Oscars, it considerably weakens its chances more than usual.
It does not help that the movie itself has a low critical score, ranking only at 78% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Below is a list of all the essential details on the aforementioned films:
Which of the above two films resonated with you the most? Let us know in the comments below.
A House of Dynamite and The Perfect Neighbor are currently streaming on Netflix.
