'Unabomber' Review: Jacob Tremblay and Russell Crowe Dive Into America's Longest Manhunt on Netflix

The Most Talked-About True Crime Drama of September

Netflix is closing out September with a heavy one. Unabomber, directed by Janus Metz and starring Jacob Tremblay as a young Ted Kaczynski, hits the platform September 25 — and the trailer alone has already sparked endless conversation. It traces Kaczynski's unsettling path from a 16-year-old Harvard prodigy to the most notorious fugitive in FBI history, the man behind the longest manhunt America had ever seen at the time.

The film explores how a brilliant young mathematician with a scholarship at the country's most prestigious university slowly retreated into isolation, eventually crafting the mail bombs that terrorized the nation for nearly two decades. It's less a procedural about the hunt and more a character study of how a mind can curdle in solitude — a distinction that sets it apart from typical true-crime fare.

A Stunning Cast Carries the Weight

Alongside Tremblay, the film features Russell Crowe and Shailene Woodley in key roles, giving the biopic a heavyweight ensemble that's drawing serious buzz. Crowe reportedly brings his signature intensity to the story, while Woodley adds emotional grounding to a narrative that could easily slip into pure grimness.

Tremblay has been open about how the role weighs on him — he's said he "doesn't like the world he sees" while filming, and the trailer shows him transforming from a bright-eyed kid to a hollow-eyed recluse. It's that kind of commitment that makes this one of the most anticipated true-crime releases of the year, exploring not just the manhunt but how a prodigy became one of America's most feared figures.

More Than Just a Manhunt Story

This isn't your typical serial-killer popcorn drama. Metz frames it as an origin story about obsession, isolation, and how brilliance can curdle. With Netflix betting big on it as a fall centerpiece and the October release calendar already crowded, Unabomber is positioned to dominate the conversation heading into spooky season.

It also arrives at a moment when true crime is more popular than ever, alongside hits like Monster on the same platform. If you're into thoughtful, bleak, impeccably acted drama that makes you think as much as it unsettles you, put Unabomber at the top of your queue the moment it drops on September 25.

If you're wondering whether Unabomber will actually be worth the hype, the early buzz says yes. Metz previously helmed the acclaimed Cartel Land, so he knows how to handle morally complicated true stories without turning them into spectacle. The film reportedly spends as much time on the FBI's side of the hunt — including the behavioral analysts who finally cracked the case — as it does on Kaczynski himself, which gives it a propulsive dual narrative that's rare for the genre.

Coupled with Netflix's aggressive push and a prime end-of-September release slot, Unabomber looks like the kind of film that will still be in the conversation when awards chatter starts. Clear your evening for September 25 — this one demands your full attention.