Kathyrn Bigelow's Oscar-Winning Political Thriller Is the Perfect Movie to Revisit Ahead of 'A House of Dynamite'

Any dramatization of the decade-long hunt for Osama bin Laden needs to be gripping, honest, and sensitive. A task most directors would cower from, in 2012, the brilliant Kathryn Bigelow stepped forward and crafted the perfect balance of all three, an impressive feat fans are expecting once again with the upcoming release of A House of Dynamite. Starring Jessica Chastain in a performance most still consider her best, Zero Dark Thirty became an instant hit with both critics and audiences, and now, thirteen years since its release, the film is seeking out a new streaming home.

As of October 1, 2025, you can watch Bigelow's masterpiece on Paramount+, as one of several exciting new arrivals to the platform. This includes Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes' darkly comic The Menu, Best Picture winner No Country for Old Men, Martin Scorsese’s historical crime drama Gangs of New York, the acclaimed American Psycho, and much more. Sporting a "certified fresh" 91% from critics and 80% from audiences on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, there's certainly no doubting the universal acclaim Zero Dark Thirty both achieved and deserved. In Collider's review of the movie at the time, Matt Goldberg heaped praise onto Chastain's performance, writing:

"Our lifeline to the emotional heart of the film is Chastain. She is absolutely essential in making Zero Dark Thirty more than a dramatization of the events leading up to Bin Laden's death. She is the face of the hunt, and over the course of the story we see the toll it takes on her. More importantly, we see it without having to take time out for "personal" matters. There's no love-interest, there's no phone call with parents, there's not even a framed picture on her desk. There is only the transformation of someone born into the 9/11 world and then consumed by the hunt for its creator. It is a masterful performance, and it is the key to not only the emotions of the film, but its larger points."

'Zero Dark Thirty' Was an Oscars Darling

In what was a relatively quiet year for the Academy Awards, Zero Dark Thirty was one of the shining lights, earning a huge five nominations. Among these were nods for Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and a Best Actress in a Leading Role nomination for Chastain, who lost to Jennifer Lawrence. Interestingly, the movie is one of the only to ever share an Oscar win, tying with Skyfall in the Best Sound Editing category. Zero Dark Thirty was also one of nine Best Picture nominees, eventually losing to Argo.

Zero Dark Thirty is streaming on Paramount+ this October 1.

Release Date

December 19, 2012

Runtime

157 Minutes

Writers

Mark Boal