Nuremberg on Netflix: Russell Crowe's WWII Thriller Cracks Top 3 in Two Days
Russell Crowe's most talked-about performance in years is now streaming — and audiences are responding in a massive way. Nuremberg arrived on Netflix on March 7, 2026, and has already smashed into the top three after only one day on the platform. The psychological WWII courtroom drama is dominating streaming just two days after its Netflix debut.
What Is Nuremberg?
Crowe plays Hermann Göring, Adolf Hitler's second-in-command and one of the most powerful figures in the Nazi regime. Göring is portrayed not as a one-dimensional villain but as a highly intelligent narcissist who, even in captivity, remains convinced he will escape punishment for his crimes. Rami Malek stars as Douglas Kelley, a U.S. Army psychiatrist assigned to evaluate 22 high-ranking Nazi prisoners before they face trial. What begins as a professional assignment slowly takes on a more unsettling character when Kelley finds himself locked in a complex psychological battle with Göring.
The film is based on the 2013 book "The Nazi and the Psychiatrist" by Jack El-Hai, directed and written by James Vanderbilt, and arrived on Netflix as part of a Sony Pictures "Pay-1" licensing agreement following its September 2025 theatrical premiere.
Full Cast
The ensemble cast includes Russell Crowe as Hermann Göring, Rami Malek as Lt. Col. Douglas Kelley, Michael Shannon as chief prosecutor Robert H. Jackson, Leo Woodall as interpreter Howard Triest, John Slattery as prison warden Burton Andrus, Colin Hanks as court psychologist Gustave Gilbert, Richard E. Grant as British prosecutor David Maxwell-Fyfe, and Mark O'Brien as prosecutor John Amen.
Scores and Critical Consensus
Nuremberg holds a 72% critics score and an outstanding 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, earning the Verified Hot label based on over 1,000 ratings. Empire Magazine's Barry Levitt called it "well-paced, expertly performed, and an urgent call to stand up to fascism."
The critical consensus reads: "Driven by a commanding performance from Russell Crowe, Nuremberg is a handsomely crafted historical drama, but its measured pacing and emotional restraint keep it from fully realizing the complexity of its subject." The audience reaction, however, is running far warmer than the critical one — audiences are calling it one of the best films of the year.
Russell Crowe's Transformation
Crowe inhabits the portly, pompous Reichsmarschall with such cunning psychological depth that critics are calling it his best performance in years. The film marks a dramatic departure showcasing Crowe's range like never before.
Crowe is described as portly and imposing with slicked-back hair and a low-voiced German accent that expresses implacable self-satisfaction. Audiences consistently single him out as the reason to watch, with many calling for an Oscar campaign.
Box Office and What Is Next for Russell Crowe
Nuremberg grossed $45 million at the global box office against a reported production budget of around $10 million — a strong profit margin that helped validate the film's difficult road to distribution.
Crowe is currently filming the Highlander reboot alongside Henry Cavill and is set to star in a new sci-fi adventure film called The Weight with Ethan Hawke, which is complete but still awaiting distribution. His next theatrical release, Beast, is set for April 10, 2026.
