Missed the Oscars but a Netflix hit. Discover why critics say Nuremberg's gripping trial drama is a must-watch this March.
- March 24, 2026
AceShowbiz - Nuremberg premiered late in 2025, clearly aiming for awards season recognition. Although it ultimately missed out on Oscar nominations, the film has found fresh momentum through its arrival on Netflix. Despite its heavy subject matter, Nuremberg is rapidly climbing the streaming charts, drawing viewers intrigued by its gripping portrayal of one of history’s most infamous trials.
Netflix subscribers can now access this compelling movie, and streaming critics at Watch With Us have highlighted three key reasons why Nuremberg deserves your attention this March. Its mix of psychological tension, outstanding performances, and relevant themes suggest that it will remain a popular choice for audiences for some time.
March is shaping up to be a particularly strong month for Netflix, with a lineup so packed it feels like a celebration of multiple holidays at once. Alongside the return of popular TV shows like Virgin River, the platform is solidifying its status as the go-to destination for new and engaging content. Nuremberg fits perfectly into this strategy with its intense, thought-provoking drama.
One of the smartest decisions by writer and director James Vanderbilt was to frame Nuremberg as a psychological thriller rather than a straightforward historical drama. This approach injects a sense of unpredictability into events that, historically, ended decades ago after World War II. The film focuses on the trial of top Nazi leaders charged with crimes against humanity, but it does so with a tension that feels immediate and uncertain.
The characters depicted in Nuremberg are far from traditional heroes. Take Douglas Kelley, portrayed by Rami Malek, a psychiatrist assigned to the Nazi prisoners. Kelley’s motives are complicated—he sees the assignment as an opportunity to profit by writing a tell-all book, showing a flawed and self-interested side even amid such grave circumstances. Similarly, the film’s depiction of lawyer Robert H. Jackson, played by Michael Shannon, reveals moral grey areas, including scenes where Jackson resorts to blackmail, notably involving Pope Pius XII, portrayed by Giuseppe Cederna. The film does not shy away from showing that no one involved in this chapter of history is without fault.
Perhaps the standout element of Nuremberg is the performance by Russell Crowe, who plays Hermann Göring. It has been 25 years since Crowe won the Best Actor Oscar for Gladiator, and many critics believe his portrayal of Göring should have earned him another nomination. Göring is depicted as unapologetic and self-deluded, refusing to acknowledge the severity of his crimes. Crowe imbues the character with a disturbing charisma, making Göring’s manipulations and warped justifications chillingly believable.
The relationship between Göring and Kelley is particularly fascinating. Although Kelley approaches Göring with ulterior motives, their interactions take on an almost hypnotic quality. This is not a romantic dynamic but rather a portrayal of how Göring frames his actions during the war as natural and justifiable, maintaining the delusion that he remains the hero of his own story despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
Beyond its dramatic elements, Nuremberg offers a sobering reflection on the nature of evil and the conditions that enable it. The film features moments where Göring attempts to explain why so many Germans followed Adolf Hitler’s fascist regime without question. These explanations carry uncomfortable echoes of modern political developments worldwide, where extremist parties have adopted similar authoritarian and nationalist rhetoric.
The film does more than revisit a historical trial; it serves as a cautionary tale about how easily fascism can resurface when nationalism and totalitarianism gain traction. This message remains especially pertinent today as societies grapple with political extremism and the lessons of history risk being forgotten.
Nuremberg is now streaming on Netflix, inviting viewers to engage with a powerful story that combines historical insight, psychological depth, and a warning about the dangers of political complacency. For anyone interested in history, legal drama, or compelling performances, this film presents a strong case for viewing.
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