Netflix has officially locked dates for Train Dreams, Clint Bentley’s adaptation of Denis Johnson’s celebrated novella.
Following its breakout debut at Sundance, an international bow at TIFF, and confirmed screenings at the BFI London Film Festival, the film will open in select theaters on November 7, 2025, before streaming globally on Netflix from November 21, 2025.
A new trailer, released today, cements its status as one of this year’s most anticipated prestige dramas.
A Stirring Portrait of a Quiet Life
Train Dreams follows Robert Grainier, a logger and railroad worker in the rapidly industrializing American Northwest at the turn of the 20th century.
Played by Joel Edgerton, already drawing career-best praise, Grainier’s life unfolds in fragments of solitude, loss, and fleeting grace as the world modernizes around him.
This isn’t a grand historical epic. It moves in silences and small gestures, exploring the interior life of a man largely forgotten by history, yet profoundly human. Like Denis Johnson’s prose, Clint Bentley’s direction favors meditation over momentum, letting landscapes and memory carry emotional weight.
Watch the Trailer
Cast, Crew, and a Haunting Score
The film features a stellar ensemble, including
- Joel Edgerton (also executive producer)
- Felicity Jones
- Kerry Condon
- William H. Macy
- Nathaniel Arcand
- Clifton Collins Jr.
- John Diehl
- Paul Schneider
Narration is provided by Will Patton, adding depth to a story that often leans into the mythic and poetic.
Train Dreams also features a stunning original score from Bryce Dessner, the Oscar-nominated and Grammy-winning composer known for The Two Popes and The Revenant.
Critics Are Already Raving
Train Dreams is now Certified Fresh at 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, earning high praise from top critics:
New York Magazine declared it “a staggering work of art.”
Vanity Fair hailed Edgerton’s turn as “a career-best performance.”
The Hollywood Reporter called it “a perfectly formed film,” elevating Bentley as “an essential American filmmaker.”
The Daily Beast described it as “the finest film to emerge from Sundance this year.”
Director Clint Bentley on the Film’s Heart
Bentley has described the story’s emotional core with unusual clarity:
“I think most of us will never have some great impact on history, and yet we lead very deep and beautiful lives. Grainier’s story is so specific, and yet universal, it’s about trying to navigate a world that keeps changing, even as you’re still here.”
Movie Details
- Film Title: Train Dreams
- Theatrical Release: November 7 2025 (select theaters)
- Netflix Release Date: November 21, 2025
- Director: Clint Bentley
- Writers: Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar
- Based on: Train Dreams by Denis Johnson
- Starring: Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, Kerry Condon, William H. Macy, and more
- Narrated by: Will Patton
Train Dreams isn’t the kind of film that demands your attention with spectacle. It earns it with emotional weight, lived-in performances, and a profound stillness that lingers long after the credits roll. If you’re looking for a November watch that actually says something and leaves room for silence, mark your calendar.
The Poster
