Sidney Sweeney and Ana de Armas’ R-rated survival thriller Eden is set to arrive on Netflix on December 23, 2025, approximately five months after its theatrical release. Directed by Ron Howard, the film is getting a new chance to reach a wider audience via streaming just in time for the holidays. Netflix recently confirmed the release date, making Eden one of the major additions to the end of the year for fans of intense historical thrillers.
Released in theaters earlier this year, Eden struggled at the box office despite its high-profile cast. It debuted alongside another Sidney Sweeney film, Americana, and both titles failed to gain strong commercial traction. With its Netflix debut, Eden may now see new interest among streaming audiences.
The true story of Eden, cast and plot explained
Eden is based on the real-life accounts of European settlers who moved to the Galapagos Islands in the hopes of building a peaceful new life in the early 1920s. Instead, isolation, power struggles, and personal conflicts turn survival into a brutal challenge. Inspired by true events, some of the historical details depicted in the film have been disputed.
Sydney Sweeney plays Margaret Witmer, while Daniel Brühl plays her husband Heinz. Jude Law plays Dr. Frederick Ritter, with Vanessa Kirby playing Dor Stretch. Ana de Armas appears as Baroness Eloise Bosquet de Wagner Wehrhorn, a role that soon becomes central to the film’s growing tension. The cast also includes Jonathan Tittell, Toby Wallace, Felix Camerer, Ignacio Gasparini and Richard Roxburgh.
Upon release, Eden received mixed reviews. Critics praised its performances, historical setting, and unsettling atmosphere, but raised concerns about the pacing, tonal shifts, and early climax. Nevertheless, many reviews highlighted the cast as a major force.
Why does the Netflix release matter to Sidney Sweeney?
The Netflix release comes at an important time for Sidney Sweeney. His 2025 slate has been busy but tough, with Eden, Americana and sports biopic Christy all underperforming dramatically. Streaming success could help reverse that trend.
Sweeney also has one final release in 2025, The Housemaid, which hits theaters on December 19. If Eden does well on Netflix, it could help it deliver Ron Howard’s underrated thriller on a strong note for audiences it initially missed.
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