A House of Dynamite director claps back at Pentagon criticism

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The Pentagon has expressed disapproval of the new political thriller, A House of Dynamite, but director Kathryn Bigelow defends her work, stating she simply presents the facts as they are.

The Netflix thriller, A House of Dynamite, is generating a lot of buzz right now. People are especially discussing its shocking ending and the sensitive topics it explores.

This story explores the aftermath of a nuclear attack on the United States, and how various parts of the government would likely react.

The book A House of Dynamite suggests our current defense system could stop a nuclear missile about half the time, describing it as a gamble. The Pentagon strongly disagrees with this assessment. Be aware that discussing the book involves revealing plot details!

What the Pentagon has said about A House of Dynamite

In the scenario ‘A House of Dynamite’, the United States’ missile defense system is unable to intercept a nuclear missile aimed at Chicago.

Bloomberg obtained a Pentagon memo responding to inaccuracies in a recent film. The memo aims to clarify how the defense system actually works and correct any misunderstandings.

According to a memo, the movie shows interceptors failing to hit their targets, which is meant to create dramatic tension for viewers. However, real-world tests have shown very different results.

The Missile Defense Agency challenges the claim that their systems only work half the time, stating that their current interceptors have successfully hit their targets in testing for over ten years.

Kathryn Bigelow responds to Missile Defense Agency criticism

Director Kathryn Bigelow of House of Dynamite welcomed the discussion sparked by her film, telling The Hollywood Reporter she believes art can influence change. She said she’s pleased the movie is encouraging conversation about the spread of nuclear weapons, stating, “If it leads to dialogue, that’s a very good thing.”

Bigelow explains that her approach to this film is consistent with her previous work. She focuses on presenting reality and authenticity, just as she did with Zero Dark Thirty and The Hurt Locker. While acknowledging both films are fictional, she emphasizes her commitment to realism in storytelling.

I aimed for a very realistic feel with these pieces. We were essentially opening the doors to a highly restricted place like the command center at STRATCOM, so it was crucial to make everything feel genuine and truthful. I believe we succeeded in doing that.

Regarding the claim that the film is 50% accurate, screenwriter Noah Oppenheim explains it’s not a disagreement between the filmmakers and the Pentagon, but rather a debate between the Pentagon and other experts in the field.

Experts like Senator Edward Markey, retired General Douglas Lute, and long-time journalists Tom Nichols and Fred Kaplan—along with the nonpartisan physics organization APS—all agree with what our film shows: the current U.S. missile defense system has significant flaws and isn’t fully reliable.

Following that discussion, the Pentagon claims the system works perfectly. However, we agree with the experts who say it’s really a gamble, as shown in our film. We’re happy this is sparking a broader conversation and debate.

Oppenheim notes that while we can’t know exactly what the memo’s authors were thinking, both he and Kathryn are happy to see policymakers and experts discussing ways to improve global safety.

Honestly, as a fan, it’s really cool to hear the filmmakers say they wanted the movie to spark a bigger discussion. That was a big part of why they made it – to get people talking and thinking about these issues, and I think it definitely did that!

You can now watch “A House of Dynamite” on Netflix. Be sure to also explore other new TV series and movies available for streaming this month.

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2025-10-29 16:19