Netflix’s latest political thriller, A House of Dynamite, has been the talk of the TV world this week, as the highly anticipated film left fans frustrated with an intense cliffhanger – one that even led some to question whether it was worth the watch. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, the movie follows a race against time after a single, unattributed missile is launched at the United States. Told in three parts, the story unfolds from three perspectives: the White House Situation Room, the United States Strategic Command and the president (played by Idris Elba). Hitting the streamer on 24 October, the movie catapulted to the number-one spot – but not everyone believes it’s worth the hype.

While some viewers have branded the ending a “waste of time” and even reconsidered their subscriptions, Kathryn has offered a thoughtful explanation – and as a TV writer, I stand by her reasoning. High-stakes thrillers like the Mission: Impossible, Bond and Bourne franchises are popular for a reason: they deliver the kind of adrenaline-filled storylines most of us will never experience. While A House of Dynamite may appear to promise a similar payoff, its unfinished ending – we never find out if the bomb detonates – is deliberately unsettling. It forces viewers to confront the real-world dangers of nuclear escalation. It’s confusing and unsatisfying, but that’s the point: it leaves you questioning what the “right” outcome would be in a world where this could actually happen.

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A House of Dynamite ending, explained

Despite efforts to intercept the missile, both counter-strikes fail – the first doesn’t detach, and the second misses its target – leaving the bomb hurtling toward Chicago. In the final moments, the president faces an impossible decision: allow the missile to strike the city, killing millions but averting global war, or trigger a counter-strike that could ignite one.

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The camera pans to the president, who reads out the verification code that would authorise a nuclear launch, just as the missile reaches Chicago. With a final, gut-wrenching scene of people fleeing to the Pennsylvanian Raven Rock bunker, the film cuts to the end credits.

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The reason behind that cliffhanger ending

The main reason behind the cliffhanger ending is simple: it invites the viewer to decide for themselves: “What would I want to happen?”

Speaking to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, director Kathryn explained: “I felt like the fact that the bomb didn’t go off was an opportunity to start a conversation. With an explosion at the end, it would have been kind of all wrapped up neat, and you could point your finger [and say] “it’s bad that happened.” But it would sort of absolve us, the human race, of responsibility. And in fact, no, we are responsible for having created these weapons, and in a perfect world, getting rid of them.”