Acclaimed horror novelist Stephen King has given his thoughts on Kathryn Bigelow’s terrifying new political thriller, A House of Dynamite. King praised the film, all while managing to get a dig in at Donald Trump.
King shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) page his thoughts on the film, which stars Idris Elba and Rebecca Ferguson. “Terrifying, especially given the unprincipled, waffling nitwit now occupying the White House…or what remains of it,” King wrote — likely referencing recent news of the demolition work being done on the East Wing of the White House as Trump plans to construct a ballroom in the area. A House of Dynamite had its global streaming debut on Netflix on Oct. 24, and it’s been enjoying similar rave reviews from other critics.
The apocalyptic thriller sees Elba as the President of the United States, with Ferguson starring as a senior officer in the White House Situation Room. Chaos descends when the U.S. government must navigate its official response after a single nuclear missile was launched at Chicago by an unknown enemy. The film has already been earning praise from critics for its ‘nerve-wracking plausibility.’
On Rotten Tomatoes, A House of Dynamite is Certified Fresh with a score of 79% from over 180 critics’ reviews. Audiences have similarly enjoyed the film, and it currently sits at 76% on the Popcornmeter from over 100 verified user ratings. Critics have praised Elba and Ferguson’s performances, while also noting that Bigelow’s tight direction keeps things tense and thrilling. The film, which had its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival back in September, is also proving its power when it comes to accolades; it was nominated for the prestigious Golden Lion at the festival.
It’s not just critics who have had praise for the film — nuclear experts have deemed it ‘required viewing’, praising the film’s story for how it depicts the intensity of the rapidly-changing situation, should a real nuclear situation ever develop. “A House of Dynamite pulls back the curtain on the rigid, secretive system that operates around us every day,” Jennifer Knox from The Union of Concerned Scientists wrote. “No matter how much we prepare, no matter how much money we invest, no matter how many weapons we have, we will always be vulnerable as long as we rely on a system that threatens catastrophic destruction for our security.”
Idris Elba’s Performance as POTUS Has Earned Critical Acclaim
While A House of Dynamite features an ensemble cast and showcases multiple perspectives on the government’s response to potential nuclear war, at the heart of the story is Idris Elba’s President of the United States. The actor has been earning praise for the depth of his performance, and he even admitted how emotional he was when watching the film for the first time. “It was a good seven minutes afterwards, and I didn’t say a word,” he said. “I sat in that cinema, super quiet. I couldn’t speak. I just was like, ‘Wow, what on Earth?'”
A House of Dynamite may have left Elba speechless, but he did put careful thought and consideration into his performance as POTUS. He also talked about being conscious of playing the U.S. President as a British actor. “I was super conscious of it,” he shared. “But you know […] my granddad’s American, and I was raised in America for a long time, so I kind of got over it.”
A House of Dynamite is now streaming on Netflix.
- Release Date
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October 3, 2025
- Runtime
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113 minutes
- Director
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Kathryn Bigelow
- Writers
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Noah Oppenheim
- Producers
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Brian Bell, Greg Shapiro
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Rebecca Ferguson
Captain Olivia Walker
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