Directed and written by James Vanderbilt, the film Nuremberg revisits the trial of Nazi leaders in 1945. Starring Rami Malek, Russell Crowe, and Michael Shannon, this historical drama, distributed in France by Nour Films, will be released in theaters on January 28, 2026, following national previews on January 27 for International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Presented at the Toronto Film Festival and in competition at San Sebastián, the film adopts the point of view of American psychiatrist Douglas Kelley, who was tasked with assessing the mental fitness of the defendants. His face-to-face encounter with Hermann Göring, a central figure in the Nazi regime, structures a psychological confrontation that questions individual and collective responsibility.
The story shows how Kelley finds himself drawn into an intellectual duel where manipulation becomes a central issue. Through archives, reconstructions, and dialogues focused on the issues at stake in the Nuremberg Trials, the film highlights a defining moment in international law.
The production, praised for its historical accuracy when presented at festivals, recreates the political and judicial context of the post-war period. Sony Pictures Classics is handling distribution in the United States. The French release marks an important milestone for Nour Films, presented as the most ambitious in its history.
The film is aimed at audiences interested in historical dramas, courtroom stories, and the study of the mechanisms of power. The themes focus on international justice, individual responsibility, and the impact of this trial on memory.
Our take on Nuremberg:
Nuremberg dives into a pivotal moment of the 20th century, when the world, still stunned by the scale of Nazi crimes, struggles to confront the unthinkable. Instead of offering a comprehensive re-enactment of the trial, the film takes a more focused, almost vertiginous approach: honing in on the psychological profile of the accused, especially Hermann Göring.
Viewed through this lens, the story examines less the judicial process itself than the darker aspects of human nature, raising a chilling question: are these men fundamentally different from us, or disturbingly similar? The film maintains a traditional yet never static tone, balancing courtroom scenes, tense confrontations, and quieter, introspective moments—paced with a craftsmanship that keeps viewers hooked from start to finish.
Most importantly, it leverages its immediate historical setting — the post-war trial, at a time when the world was just beginning to grasp the existence of concentration and extermination camps — to evoke a moral urgency: justice is served while understanding is still in its infancy, unfolding amidst shock and disbelief.
The historical reconstruction meets its high stakes, detailed without showiness, credible in its sets, costumes, and protocol, and sufficiently immersive so that the period feels less like a museum than an open wound. Visually, Nuremberg stands out thanks to high-quality cinematography and lighting work: dark, crafted interiors that carve out facial features and create a chiaroscuro ambiance, where truth never appears without struggle — all in elegant restraint, avoiding gimmicks.
But it’s ultimately the actors who give the film its emotional power. Russell Crowe delivers a commanding, unsettling Hermann Göring, capable of shifting from calculated charm to symbolic violence that fills the frame; some might call his portrayal “over the top,” yet the excess itself reveals the monstrous ordinariness — the ability to dominate space, to fascinate, manipulate, and narrate oneself.
Opposite him, Rami Malek crafts a more inward, observant psychiatrist, caught between his role and the disturbing truths he uncovers: a man seeking signs of deviation, inhumanity, or incapacity, who must ultimately confront a deeply unsettling conclusion. The film’s core thesis transcends the historical thriller genre: it’s less about understanding “why” and more about exploring “how”: how seemingly rational, socially integrated individuals can descend into horror — and how the comforting notion of radical difference crumbles.
Nuremberg mainly appeals to viewers interested in historical dramas and demanding courtroom narratives that favor moral reflection over high-octane action. Those who appreciate dialogue-driven films, intellectual debates, and philosophical questions surrounding justice, responsibility, and memory will find a dense, serious, and thought-provoking work here. The film asks for attentive listening and intellectual openness, rewarding that effort with profound insights.
Conversely, audiences seeking a didactic, exhaustive, or tension-driven courtroom movie may find the film more distant. Nuremberg shuns spectacle and simplification, deliberately sidestepping some of the historical complexity to offer a sharper, more introspective perspective. It’s better suited for an adult audience, curious and open to a more contemplative rather than demonstrative approach.
While some critics may see it as overly simplified or too conventional, Nuremberg compensates through its strong performances, formal discipline, and its ability to transform a historical chapter into a captivating, necessary cinematic experience that reflects without sermonizing. It leaves viewers shaken — not because it claims to tell everything, but because it dares to confront the most uncomfortable idea: nothing fundamentally sets these men apart from others, and that’s precisely why vigilance must remain forceful and constant.
Nuremberg
Film | 2026
In theaters on January 28, 2026
Drama, Historical | Runtime: 2h28Directed by James Vanderbilt | Starring Rami Malek, Russell Crowe, Michael Shannon
Country: USA
This historical drama revisits a defining moment of the 20th century and sheds light on the issues at stake in the first major contemporary international trial.
To extend your theater experience, check out January's new releases, today's must-see movies, and our selection of dramas in theaters.
This page may contain AI-assisted elements, more information here.
