It’s rare for a film boasting a cast this impressive to fly under the radar, but that’s exactly what happened to Sydney Sweeney’s latest venture into the thriller genre. Despite one of the most impressive A-list casts in recent memory, which also includes Ana de Armas, Jude Law and Vanessa Kirby, the Ron Howard-directed survival drama had a brutal box-office showing during its limited theatrical run. Now, after one of the most disappointing performances, the star-studded flop will seek redemption on its new streaming home after receiving an official Netflix premiere date.
Inside ‘Eden’: The Survival Thriller That Couldn’t Survive the Box Office
Even with an impressive cast and intriguing storyline, Eden proved to be one of the biggest box office flops of the year. The movie is based on a wild true story from the 1930s, which features a group of Europeans on the remote island of Floreana in the Galapagos. They’re forced to run for their lives, but the greatest danger proves not to be the deadly wildlife, but instead each other.
Law plays Dr. Friedrich Ritter, who’s joined by his wife Dore (Vanessa Kirby), and the two begin to set up shop and create a new life. Their plans get turned upside-down when Heinz and Margret Wittmer arrive, played by Daniel Bruhl and Sydney Sweeney. Shortly after is the arrival of de Armas, who, along with her two partners, plans to build a high-end hotel.
Although the film received solid reviews from fans, critics weren’t on board with the final result. Eden earned a 73 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes from fans, but only a 57 percent critics’ score. This earned the movie a “rotten” label shortly after its August 2025 theatrical release.
Eden had a budget of roughly $55 million, which dropped to $35 million following Australian incentives. However, even with the interesting concept, big names and plenty of potential, it pulled in just over $2.8 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.
When Will Sydney Sweeney’s New Movie Arrive on Netflix?
Following the box-office disappointment, Eden will now leap to Netflix and arrive just in time for Christmas. As What’s on Netflix reported, the movie will make its streaming debut on Dec. 23, 2025, giving it a chance to pull in viewers during the wind-down times of days like Christmas Eve and Christmas.
Here’s a look at part of the cast of Eden:
- Jude Law: Friedrich Ritter
- Vanessa Kirby: Dore Strauch
- Sydney Sweeney: Margret Wittmer
- Daniel Bruhl: Heinz Wittmer
- Ana de Armas: Baroness
- Jonathan Tittel: Harry Wittmer
- Felix Kammerer: Rudolph Lorenz
- Toby Wallace: Robert Phillipson
Whether it can capture the interest of fans on Netflix will be a big question mark. However, after barely making a dent at the box office, Eden faces a significant uphill climb to drive interest. On a positive note, the solid reviews from viewers could be enough for those seeking feedback on the streaming release.
Regardless, it’s hard to argue that there’s a better-timed move to Netflix for its streaming debut than just before the holidays.
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