Directed by James Vanderbilt.
Nuremberg premiered in theaters on November 7, 2025.
Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing.
Nuremberg (2025) Review
Nuremberg (2025) is a serious historical movie about the famous trials held after World War II.
The film focuses on Dr. Douglas Kelley, a U.S. Army psychiatrist who is asked to examine captured Nazi leaders before they stand trial.
One of his main subjects is Hermann Göring, played by Russell Crowe.
Crowe gives a powerful performance, showing Göring as charming but dangerous.
The movie takes place mostly in courtrooms and prison rooms, which helps build tension.
The sets and costumes make the time period feel real.
The story moves at a steady pace and focuses more on conversations and moral questions than action.
Some viewers may find it slow, but others will enjoy its thoughtful approach.
Overall, Nuremberg is a strong drama with good acting and an important message about justice and responsibility.
It is best for viewers who enjoy historical films and serious storytelling rather than fast-paced entertainment.
CR Rating – 7.2/10
Nuremberg Actors
Russell Crowe as Hermann Göring
DOB: April 7, 1964.
Bio: Academy Award–winning actor and producer whose career spans epic blockbusters, historical dramas, and character-driven films.
Rising to international prominence in the late 1990s, Crowe became known for portraying forceful, charismatic men whose authority and confidence often conceal volatility and moral darkness.
Role: Crowe portrays Hermann Göring, the Reichsmarschall of Nazi Germany and one of Adolf Hitler’s closest lieutenants.
In Nuremberg, Göring is depicted during his imprisonment while awaiting trial for war crimes.
Interesting facts: Crowe and the film debuted to strong festival reactions (including a long standing ovation at TIFF), and critics singled out his performance as a career highlight in the project.
Notable works: Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man, L.A. Confidential, The Insider
Rami Malek as Major (Dr.) Douglas Kelley
DOB: May 12, 1981.
Bio: Academy Award–winning American actor best known for immersive, psychologically intense performances.
He rose to prominence through television before breaking through internationally with Bohemian Rhapsody, earning the Oscar for Best Actor.
Role: Malek portrays Major Douglas Kelley, a U.S. Army psychiatrist assigned to evaluate the mental fitness of captured Nazi leaders ahead of the Nuremberg Trials.
Tasked with determining whether the defendants were legally sane and competent to stand trial.
Interesting facts: The character is based on the real Douglas Kelley and draws heavily from historical records and the nonfiction book The Nazi and the Psychiatrist by Jack El-Hai, which chronicles Kelley’s work during the trials and its long-term psychological impact on him.
Notable works: Bohemian Rhapsody, Mr. Robot, No Time to Die, The Pacific, Amsterdam.
Michael Shannon as Justice Robert H. Jackson
DOB: August 7, 1974.
Bio: Academy Award–nominated American actor renowned for his commanding screen presence and ability to convey moral intensity, internal pressure, and controlled volatility.
His performances are often marked by emotional restraint that can erupt into force when challenged.
Role: Shannon portrays Justice Robert H. Jackson, an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court who took a leave of absence to serve as Chief U.S. Prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials.
In the film, Jackson represents the legal and philosophical backbone of the Allied case.
Interesting facts: Robert H. Jackson’s real-life opening statement at Nuremberg is considered one of the most significant legal speeches of the 20th century.
Notable works: Revolutionary Road, Take Shelter, Nocturnal Animals, Man of Steel.
Richard E. Grant as Sir David Maxwell-Fyfe
DOB: May 5, 1957.
Bio: British actor known for his precision, eloquence, and ability to imbue authority figures with wit and underlying tension.
Since his breakout in Withnail and I, Grant has built a decades-long career across film, television, and theatre.
Role: Grant portrays Sir David Maxwell-Fyfe, the British Deputy Chief Prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials and one of the key legal architects of the Allied case against Nazi leadership.
In the film, Maxwell-Fyfe functions as both a courtroom tactician and a political operator.
Interesting facts: In real life, Maxwell-Fyfe later became Lord Chancellor of Great Britain and was instrumental in drafting the European Convention on Human Rights.
Notable works: Withnail and I, Can You Ever Forgive Me?, The Iron Lady, The Lesson.
Leo Woodall as Sergeant Howie (Howard) Triest
DOB: September 14, 1996.
Bio: British actor who gained international recognition following his breakout role in The White Lotus (Season 2).
Trained at the Arts Educational School in London, Woodall has quickly developed a reputation for naturalistic performances that emphasize emotional intelligence, restraint, and psychological realism.
Role: Woodall portrays Sergeant Howard “Howie” Triest, an enlisted U.S. Army sergeant who served as a translator and aide to Army psychiatrist Dr. Douglas Kelley during the imprisonment and evaluation of Nazi leaders at Nuremberg.
Interesting facts: The real Howard Triest later documented his experiences with Kelley and the Nuremberg prisoners, making him one of the few firsthand chroniclers of the psychological environment surrounding the trials.
Notable works: The White Lotus (S2), One Day, Cherry.
John Slattery as Colonel Burton C. Andrus
DOB: August 13, 1962.
Bio: American actor and director best known for his acclaimed television work, particularly as Roger Sterling on Mad Men.
Over a long career in film, television, and theatre, Slattery has become a reliable presence in roles that require authority, intelligence, and emotional restraint.
Role: Slattery portrays Colonel Burton C. Andrus, the U.S. Army officer appointed commandant of the Nuremberg Prison, where top Nazi defendants were held during the trials.
In the film, Andrus is responsible for security, discipline, and the day-to-day management of the prisoners.
Interesting facts: The real Colonel Andrus later wrote The Infamous of Nuremberg, a firsthand account of his experiences overseeing the imprisoned Nazi leadership, offering rare insight into the logistical and ethical challenges of the detention operation.
Notable works: Mad Men, Spotlight, The Adjustment Bureau, Flags of Our Fathers.
Mark O’Brien as Colonel John Amen
DOB: May 7, 1984.
Bio: Canadian actor, writer, and filmmaker known for his thoughtful, understated performances across film and television.
He gained major recognition for starring in and co-writing Goalie, which earned him Canadian Screen Award attention and established him as a versatile talent both in front of and behind the camera.
Role: O’Brien portrays Colonel John Amen, a U.S. Army officer attached to the American legal and investigative apparatus surrounding the Nuremberg Trials.
In the film, Amen functions as a supporting legal and military presence.
Interesting facts: O’Brien has been recognized in Canada for awards on both sides of the camera; his casting illustrates the film’s mix of big names and strong character actors.
Notable works: Ready or Not, The Righteous, Goalie.
Colin Hanks as Dr. Gustav Gilbert
DOB: November 24, 1977.
Bio: American actor, producer, and director recognized for his naturalistic, empathetic performances in film and television.
Over the years, he has built a reputation for portraying thoughtful, morally grounded characters, particularly in historical, procedural, and ensemble-driven projects.
Role: Hanks portrays Dr. Gustav Gilbert, a U.S. Army psychologist who worked with Nazi defendants during the Nuremberg Trials.
In the film, Gilbert functions as an intellectual and ethical counterpoint to Douglas Kelley
Interesting facts: Gilbert later published Nuremberg Diary, one of the most cited firsthand psychological accounts of the Nazi leadership.
Notable works: Fargo, Life in Pieces, King Kong.
Wrenn Schmidt as Elsie Douglas
DOB: February 18, 1983.
Bio: Wrenn Schmidt is an American actor with a strong background in both theatre and television drama.
Schmidt is best known for long-form dramatic roles that balance psychological depth with understated authority.
Role: Schmidt portrays Elsie Douglas, a fictional or composite character representing women who worked within the U.S. legal and administrative infrastructure surrounding the Nuremberg Trials.
Interesting facts: While Elsie Douglas is not a singular historical figure, the character reflects the real involvement of numerous women who served as analysts, clerks, translators, and legal aides during the trials.
Notable works: For All Mankind, Outcast, 13 Hours.
Lydia Peckham as Lila McQuaide
DOB: January 1, 1996.
Bio: New Zealand actor whose screen career has expanded steadily through supporting roles in international film and television productions.
She began gaining wider attention with small but visible parts in large-scale studio projects.
Role: Peckham portrays Lila McQuaide, a fictional journalist covering the Nuremberg Trials.
The character serves as a civilian and press-side perspective within the film.
Interesting facts: Lila McQuaide is not based on a single historical reporter but represents the many journalists who covered the trials and helped shape global understanding of their significance.
Notable works: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Robin Hood (TV).
Lotte Verbeek as Emmy Göring
DOB: June 24, 1982.
Bio: Dutch actor and dancer with a strong international profile, known for her roles in The Borgias and Outlander.
She is celebrated for bringing a poised, classical European presence to period and historical dramas.
Role: Verbeek portrays Emmy Göring, the wife of Hermann Göring.
The role examines the domestic, social, and performative aspects of life within the Nazi elite, highlighting how family, public image, and social standing were intertwined with power.
Interesting facts: Verbeek shared production images from the set and walked festival red carpets in character-adjacent looks, underlining the film’s careful casting of European talent.
Notable works: The Borgias, Outlander, Nothing Personal.
Andreas Pietschmann as Rudolf Hess
DOB: March 22, 1969.
Bio: Andreas Pietschmann is a distinguished German actor with extensive stage and screen experience, best known internationally for his work in Dark and 1899.
Role: Pietschmann portrays Rudolf Hess, one of the highest-ranking Nazi officials tried at Nuremberg.
The role demands a careful balance of public persona and private complexity.
Interesting facts: Pietschmann’s background in German television and theatre makes him a natural fit for nuanced, language-heavy supporting roles in international historical drama.
Notable works: Dark, 1899, Belle and Sebastian.
More Actors
• Dieter Riesle as Julius Streicher.
• Peter Jordan as Karl Donitz.
• Tom Keune as Robert Ley.
• Ben Miles as Travis.
FAQ – Nuremberg (2025) Movie
What is Nuremberg (2025) about?
Nuremberg tells the story of U.S. Army psychiatrist Dr. Douglas Kelley as he evaluates high-ranking Nazi leaders, especially Hermann Göring, for mental fitness before and during the Nuremberg Trials after World War II.
Is Nuremberg based on a true story?
Yes. It’s inspired by Jack El-Hai’s nonfiction book The Nazi and the Psychiatrist, which examines real psychiatric evaluations conducted before the Nuremberg Trials.
Is Nuremberg a courtroom movie?
Yes. Much of the film focuses on courtroom scenes and legal discussions during the Nuremberg Trials.
Is Nuremberg similar to Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)?
While both focus on the trials, Nuremberg (2025) tells a different story and centers on psychological evaluation rather than legal judgment alone.
Where was the film shot?
Principal photography took place in Budapest, Hungary in early 2024.
Conclusion
Nuremberg (2025) is a thoughtful and well-acted historical drama that takes a calm, serious look at justice after World War II.
Strong performances, especially from Russell Crowe, and realistic settings make the story engaging, even if the pace is slow.
It is a meaningful film for viewers who appreciate history, courtroom dramas, and stories that explore moral responsibility.