Nuremberg on Netflix: Crowe and Malek Face Off

When the architects of the Third Reich stood trial after World War II, history focused on the courtroom. Nuremberg shifts the lens behind prison walls, where the battle was not legal, but psychological.

Now, after a successful theatrical run, the Russell Crowe and Rami Malek-led drama is heading to Netflix, bringing one of 2025’s most talked-about historical thrillers to a wider audience.

Netflix Sets Streaming Date for Nuremberg

Nuremberg (2025), written and directed by James Vanderbilt (Zodiac, Truth), will premiere on Netflix in the United States on Saturday, March 7, 2026. The streaming debut comes exactly 120 days after the film’s theatrical release through Sony Pictures Classics in late 2025, a window that remains longer than many current studio-to-streaming transitions.

The film earned more than $45 million at the global box office, a solid performance for an adult-oriented historical drama in a crowded theatrical marketplace.

Its arrival on Netflix falls under the ongoing “Pay-1” output agreement between Sony Pictures and Netflix, which grants the streamer first-run U.S. rights following a film’s theatrical window. Under the terms of the deal, Nuremberg will remain on Netflix for approximately 18 months before moving to Disney-owned platforms, specifically Hulu.

Netflix India and select international regions are also expected to receive the film in March 2026. However, most other territories will likely have to wait until 2027 or 2028 due to existing licensing structures. Although Netflix has secured a broader global content agreement with Sony Pictures, Nuremberg does not fall within that expanded remit.

A Psychological Duel Behind the Trials

Rather than staging another courtroom procedural, Vanderbilt’s film draws from Jack El-Hai’s acclaimed nonfiction book The Nazi and the Psychiatrist. The story unfolds largely inside a prison cell, where the emotional and intellectual stakes rival anything argued before a judge.

Rami Malek portrays Douglas Kelley, a U.S. Army psychiatrist tasked with evaluating the mental competence of senior Nazi officials ahead of trial. His mission is straightforward on paper: determine whether the accused are fit to stand before an international tribunal.

But Kelley’s primary subject is Hermann Göring, played by Russell Crowe, the former head of the Luftwaffe and one of Adolf Hitler’s most powerful lieutenants.

Göring is depicted not merely as a war criminal awaiting judgment, but as a calculating and charismatic manipulator. Crowe’s performance leans into that unnerving duality: outward charm masking ideological extremism.

The film’s dramatic tension lies in the private exchanges between Kelley and Göring. Each conversation becomes a battle of intellect and ego. Kelley attempts to dissect what he sees as the “anatomy of evil,” while Göring uses psychological deflection, narcissism, and sharp wit to challenge and destabilize his interrogator.

Critical and Audience Response

Nuremberg has resonated strongly with audiences. The film currently holds a 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and carries the platform’s “Verified Hot” label, based on more than 1,000 ratings.

Critics responded more cautiously but still positively, with a 72% approval rating.

Among the more enthusiastic assessments, Empire Magazine’s Barry Levitt described the film as tightly paced and urgently relevant, praising its performances and its broader message about confronting authoritarianism.

The film’s thematic focus, examining how charismatic leadership can distort moral boundaries, has drawn renewed attention amid contemporary debates about extremism and political rhetoric worldwide.

A Cast Anchored by Award Winners

The film’s ensemble is stacked with award-winning and award-nominated talent, lending additional weight to the historical material.

• Russell Crowe (Gladiator) as Hermann Göring

• Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody, Mr. Robot) as Douglas Kelley

• Michael Shannon (Knives Out, Death By Lightning) as Robert H. Jackson, U.S. Chief Prosecutor

• Leo Woodall (The White Lotus) as Sergeant Howie Triest

• John Slattery (Mad Men) as Colonel Burton C. Andrus

• Richard E. Grant (Saltburn) as Sir David Maxwell Fyfe

• Colin Hanks as psychologist Gustave Gilbert

Crowe’s portrayal of Göring has been widely discussed as one of his most commanding performances in recent years, blending menace with unsettling charm. Malek, meanwhile, brings a measured intensity to Kelley, portraying a man increasingly aware of the psychological toll of his assignment.

Michael Shannon’s role as chief prosecutor Robert H. Jackson ties the prison interrogations to the broader historical proceedings, grounding the story in the legal framework that would define international war crimes tribunals for decades.

Why the Film’s Themes Still Matter

The Nuremberg Trials marked a turning point in international law, establishing that state leaders could be held accountable for crimes against humanity.

By focusing on the psychological groundwork that preceded those trials, Vanderbilt’s film raises enduring questions: How does ideology take root? What responsibility does charisma play in shaping mass movements? And can evil be clinically defined, or only morally judged?

In exploring these themes, Nuremberg avoids sensationalism. Instead, it presents a restrained and dialogue-driven examination of power, persuasion, and accountability.

For streaming audiences, the film’s arrival is timely. Historical dramas that examine moral ambiguity often find a second life on digital platforms, where viewers can engage with layered narratives at their own pace.

What the Netflix Release Means

The March 7, 2026 debut places Nuremberg squarely in Netflix’s early spring lineup—a strategic period that often features prestige titles transitioning from awards-season theatrical runs.

Given its critical standing and audience enthusiasm, the film could see renewed awards discussion in streaming categories or year-end retrospectives.

The 18-month window on Netflix ensures sustained accessibility before the title migrates to Hulu, reflecting the increasingly complex licensing landscape between major studios and streaming platforms.

For Sony Pictures, the film’s theatrical-to-streaming trajectory underscores a hybrid strategy that still prioritizes cinemas while leveraging long-tail streaming engagement.

Looking Ahead

Historical dramas tend to age well, particularly when they focus on human psychology rather than spectacle. Nuremberg positions itself in that tradition, less concerned with reenacting history’s headlines than interrogating the minds behind them.

As it transitions to Netflix, the film is poised to reach a broader global audience, inviting viewers to revisit a defining chapter of the 20th century through a more intimate lens.

For Crowe and Malek, the project represents another milestone in careers marked by transformative performances. For viewers, it offers a reminder that history’s most consequential battles are sometimes fought not in courtrooms—but across a table, in conversation.

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