Ron Howard’s ‘Eden’ unites Jude Law, Ana de Armas and Sydney Sweeney. But is it worth watching?

Ron Howard’s new film Eden officially opens in theatres across the United States today, August 22, 2025, and audiences are already debating whether it deserves a spot on their weekend watchlist. Based on a bizarre but true story from the Galápagos Islands, the film follows a group of Europeans who abandoned post-war society in hopes of building a paradise, only to find themselves consumed by rivalries, betrayal and tragedy.

The cast is one of the film’s strongest draws. Jude Law takes on the role of Friedrich Ritter, a domineering writer determined to reshape civilisation far from the mainland. Vanessa Kirby plays his wife Dora, whose loyalty is tested as tensions mount. Daniel Brühl and Sydney Sweeney appear as the Wittmers, a family that unexpectedly thrives in the harsh conditions, while Ana de Armas arrives with flamboyant flair as a self-declared baroness who disrupts the fragile balance of the community. Critics have already praised de Armas’s unhinged charisma and Sweeney’s raw intensity, noting that both actresses steal key scenes from the film’s more established leads.

Visually, Eden is striking. The Galápagos setting is captured in all its harsh beauty, teeming with danger as much as promise. Ron Howard leans into the extremes, contrasting the lush landscapes with the brutality of isolation. Reviewers have pointed out that the film doesn’t quite carry the polished, sentimental fingerprints usually associated with Howard’s work. Instead, it veers into darker territory, a character study about delusion, ego and the fragility of human ideals.

For now, Eden is only available in select U.S. theatres, with no confirmed streaming release date. Industry watchers predict a digital rental and purchase option in September, but a streaming debut may take several more months depending on distribution schedules. That means the cinema is currently the only way to experience the story.

Whether it is worth watching depends on what you’re looking for. If you enjoy ensemble dramas that explore human ambition and rivalry with a mix of tension and spectacle, Eden is worth the trip. If you’re after a fast-paced survival thriller, this may feel slower than expected.