Is ‘House Of Dynamite’ Based On True Event? What’s Real, What’s Fiction, And Will There Be A Sequel?

Kathryn Bigelow’s latest Netflix thriller, A House of Dynamite, has taken the internet by storm immediately after its release. And no, it is not just for the tense plotline like any other thriller, but instead for following a realistic problem in the storyline. The film is based around the members of the US government as they try to deal with an unidentified nuclear missile headed straight for Chicago. They have just 18 minutes to act, and with every tick of the clock, the fate of millions of people lies in their hands. However, it is the real-world references and political backdrop that have left viewers wondering whether A House of Dynamite is inspired by real events or not.

What is real and what is fiction in A House of Dynamite?

According to NPR and The Post, the storyline of A House of Dynamite is completely fictional, as no nuclear threat has ever occurred in real life. However, the details surrounding the event, such as the US missile defence system and the procedures in the Situation Room, are based on real-world military operations. The film accurately covers all the points, and the credit for it partly goes to the film’s screenwriter, Noah Oppenheim. For those unaware, he is a former NBC News president who used his experience and interviews with government officials to create a believable crisis scenario.

For example, Fort Greely in Alaska, where the military in the film tries to intercept the incoming missile, is a real place. Moreover, the US maintains interceptor missiles designed to shoot down potential threats. Some experts, such as Matthew Bunn from Harvard Kennedy School, confirmed to NPR that a surprise nuclear attack is “extremely unlikely” to take place due to strict international monitoring and the complexities of modern warfare. At the same time, the “nuclear football,” a briefcase depicted in the movie that contains the launch codes under the President’s control, is a reality and accompanies the President wherever he goes.

Will there be a sequel to A House of Dynamite? 

After a shocking cliffhanger in the end, viewers are eager to know if there will be A House of Dynamite Part 2. The film concludes at a point where the fate of Chicago and the world remains uncertain, and the screen fades to black. Before the President’s final order is revealed. There is no confirmation if the attack happened and if the US retaliated. During a chat with Decider, the film’s screenwriter, Noah Oppenheim, revealed that he knows exactly what happens next. But he will not reveal it. He added that he and the film’s director, Kathryn Bigelow, intentionally chose the cliffhanger ending, which can be interpreted in many ways. Noah told RadioTimes:

“Any other ending would have let the audience off the hook.”

More about Netflix’s A House Of Dynamite 

A House of Dynamite was released globally on Netflix on October 24, 2025. The film had first premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Golden Lion. The political thriller features an ensemble cast including Idris Elba as the US President, Rebecca Ferguson as ‘Captain Olivia Walker’, Jared Harris as the Secretary of Defence, and Anthony Ramos as a Fort Greely commander. The film opened to positive reviews for its realism, sharp writing, and morally complex storytelling.

Although Netflix has not officially confirmed a sequel to A House of Dynamite, the film’s success and open-ended conclusion have created a significant opportunity for the makers to do so.

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