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Eden is a film in the historical survival thriller genre that had its premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. It's directed by Ron Howard, who also wrote the story with Noah Pink. The latter also penned the screenplay. It was released theatrically on August 22, 2025.
Here's the official synopsis as per Letterboxd:
"A group of disillusioned outsiders abandon modern society in search of a new beginning. Settling on a remote, uninhabited island, their utopian dream quickly unravels as they discover that the greatest threat isn’t the brutal climate or deadly wildlife, but each other."
The film has now made a comeback on Netflix, and here's why you should be watching it.
Disclaimer: This article is based on the writer's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.
Reasons why you shouldn't miss Ron Howard's Eden on Netflix
Eden follows a group of people who decide to leave their current lives and move to a remote island to start afresh. It's based on the true story of several Europeans who had settled on Floreana Island, in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, before the Second World War. One of them was named Margret Wittmer, who was determined to start a new life.
I believe this film was overlooked despite an anticipated TIFF premiere. It stars Ana de Armas and Sydney Sweeney in the lead roles and has a storyline that, although a thriller, feels existential at times. It has finally made a comeback on Netflix, and you should not miss it. Sweeney plays the real-life Margaret Wittmer, and she manages to give a realistic depiction of the character.
One reason is the tonal shift: The film starts out as a somber storyline of people who want to restart their lives, but quickly transforms into a survival thriller with Ron Howard flexing all his directorial muscles. Another aspect is that the film is a historical drama, and watching Sweeney and de Armas in such a setting and story was refreshing. Both of them go neck deep into their roles and make it convincing to the T. The film was also appreciated for its meticulous historical accuracy.
One can understand why Eden was met with mixed critical response upon release, which might have deterred many people from giving it a chance. According to my observation, a major reason is that the film moves at a deliberate pace, and it takes its time to morph into a thriller. Since the film falls under the historical thriller genre, and is based on a truthful account, the chronology of events leading up to the climax and the eventual predictable conclusion is another factor the film divides audiences. But don't let those fleeting reviews ignore this film. Through Eden, Howard once again proves that he has a grasp on all kinds of genres. Additionally, the ending is bound to surprise you.
Not just Armas and Sweeney, but the entire cast of the film delivers strong performances. There are ample reasons to give this film a try. Despite being a period-set film, it's anything but slow or boring.
Eden is produced by Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Stuart Ford, Bill Connor, Karen Lunder, and Patrick Newall. It's shot by Mathias Herndl, while Matt Villa is the editor. Hans Zimmer has composed the music. So don't waste a minute and rush to Netflix to watch this gem.
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