Eden: Should You Watch the Thriller Starring Jude Law?
Ron Howard presents his newest feature film, Eden, starring Jude Law and Sydney Sweeney. Released over three years after Thirteen Lives, Howard’s latest thriller premiered on Prime Video on October 24, 2025. Despite a star-studded cast including Ana de Armas, Vanessa Kirby, and Daniel Brühl, the film struggles to fully engage its audience.
A Director’s Return with a Divisive Thriller
More than 20 years after winning several Oscars, including Best Director at the 74th Academy Awards for A Beautiful Mind (2002), American filmmaker Ron Howard returns with Eden. The film offers a tense narrative centered on murder and survival.
Plot Overview
The story follows a group of people who leave civilization behind to live on the Galápagos Islands. Amidst lush landscapes, unpredictable weather, and scarce resources, the film explores a grim reality within this survivor community. Rather than presenting a paradise, Howard uses the thriller genre to depict chaos and power struggles.
Based on True Events but Failing to Captivate
Eden draws inspiration from a true story, but critics and audiences alike have found it difficult to become fully invested. The main problem lies in the characters, who are depicted in an overly caricatured and underdeveloped way, and in the slow pacing of the plot.
“The director fails to truly captivate the audience. The biggest issues lie in the character development – overly caricatured and barely developed – and plot. Overall it unfolds far too slowly.”
Cast Highlights
- Jude Law
- Sydney Sweeney
- Ana de Armas
- Vanessa Kirby
- Daniel Brühl
Author's Summary: Despite Ron Howard's star-studded cast and true-story premise, Eden struggles with slow pacing and shallow character development, making it a less compelling thriller experience.