Fans of historical drama will have something to look forward to in Train Dreams, releasing on Netflix globally on November 21, 2025, after a limited U.S. theatrical run beginning from November 7, 2025. The period drama film stars Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, Kerry Condon, and William H. Macy, with others in supporting roles.
The film is directed by Clint Bentley and co-written with Greg Kwedar, who is also set to collaborate with Netflix again on the upcoming film, Saturn Return. Train Dreams is adapted from Denis Johnson’s novella of the same name. But what is it about? The story follows a logger during America’s early 20th-century railroad expansion.
Train Dreams: Global Release and Streaming Schedule
Train Dreams will be released on Netflix globally on November 21, 2025. However, it will also get a short theatrical release for 2 weeks. Here’s the release and streaming schedule in greater detail:
| Region | Theatrical Release | Netflix Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| United States | November 7, 2025 (limited) | November 21, 2025 (global) |
| Canada | November 7, 2025 (limited) | November 21, 2025 (global) |
| International | N/A at the time of writing | November 21, 2025 (global) |
The film premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and was received well. As per Netflix, this is the plot of the film:
Train Dreams is the moving portrait of Robert Grainier (Edgerton), whose life unfolds during an era of unprecedented change in early 20th-century America. Orphaned at a young age, Robert grows into adulthood among the towering forests of the Pacific Northwest, where he helps expand the nation’s railroad empire alongside men as unforgettable as the landscapes they inhabit.
The historical film is already rumored to be a possible awards contender if it is received well by critics and audiences alike.
Joel Edgerton
Felicity Jones
William H. Macy
Kerry CondonTRAIN DREAMS. In select theaters November 7 and on Netflix November 21. pic.twitter.com/XJSiqfMyfq
— Netflix (@netflix) September 9, 2025
Also, no additional rental fees will be needed to watch Train Dreams, apart from just subscribing to Netflix.
Meet Train Dreams’ Cast and Creative Team
The cast of Train Dreams is full of acclaimed and established actors. The main cast is:
- Joel Edgerton as Robert Grainier
- Felicity Jones as Gladys
- Kerry Condon as Claire
- William H. Macy as Arn Peeples
- Paul Schneider as Apostle Frank
- John Diehl as Billy
- Nathaniel Arcand as Ignatius Jack
Here are more details about the film below:
| Attribute | Details |
| Name of the Film | Train Dreams |
| Director | Clint Bentley |
| Genre | Period Drama |
| Adapted from | “Train Dreams” novella by Denis Johnson |
| Cast | Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, Kerry Condon, William H. Macy, Nathaniel Arcand, Alfred Hsing, and Will Patton |
| Writers | Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar |
| Release Date | November 7, 2025 (limited theatrical), November 21, 2025 (Netflix global) |
| Runtime | 102 minutes |
| Streaming Platform | Netflix |
Train Dreams could be an immersive experience that takes viewers to a faraway time when life was very different from today. While it is not exactly like Yellowstone, it’s possible that it can emulate its success.
Do you think Train Dreams will be able to reach the level of popularity of Yellowstone? Would you want it to? Let us know your expectations from the upcoming film in the comments below.
Train Dreams will stream on Netflix from November 21, 2025.
