The Oscar-nominated period drama Train Dreams is now available for global audiences to stream. The film, which tells the life story of an early 20th-century logger, can be watched exclusively on Netflix following its acclaimed festival run and limited theatrical release. With four Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, the movie has become a must-watch title on the streaming platform.
Global Streaming Details for Train Dreams
Train Dreams began streaming globally on Netflix on November 21, 2025. This followed a limited release in select theaters across the United States starting November 7, 2025.
The film is available on all standard Netflix subscription tiers. This includes the ad-supported plan, Netflix Standard with Ads. For viewers who prefer to download and watch offline, the movie has that option enabled on the Netflix app. There are no other legal streaming options or free platforms currently offering Train Dreams. It is not available for digital rental or purchase on platforms like Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV at this time.
The film’s availability is consistent for major English-speaking markets. Subscribers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and India can all find the movie on their local Netflix service. The film carries an M18 rating on Netflix, indicating content suitable for mature audiences.
Major Oscar Nominations Raise Film’s Profile
On January 22, 2026, Train Dreams was nominated for four Academy Awards at the 98th Oscars ceremony. The nominations significantly increased public interest in the film, which is reflected in its climbing position on streaming charts.
The film’s Oscar nominations are:
- Best Picture
- Best Adapted Screenplay (Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar)
- Best Cinematography (Adolpho Veloso)
- Best Original Song (“Train Dreams” by Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner)
The nomination for Best Original Song marks the first Oscar nomination for iconic Australian musician Nick Cave. Director Clint Bentley acknowledged the nominations feel “surreal,” especially for a film of this scale. He also expressed that the recognition was bittersweet because lead actor Joel Edgerton was not nominated for his performance.
“I think a huge reason the film works as a whole is because of Joel and his artistry, and so it’s bittersweet for him not to be recognized,” said Bentley. “I think in a roundabout way, the film being recognized is in large part because of him as well.”
The film had its world premiere much earlier at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival on January 26, 2025. Its journey from Sundance to Oscar nominations is a notable path for an independent film.
What Train Dreams Is About
Train Dreams is an adaptation of the beloved 2011 novella by Denis Johnson. The film is a lyrical and meditative portrait of an ordinary man living through extraordinary changes in American history.
The story follows Robert Grainier, played by Joel Edgerton. He is an orphan who grows up to work as a laborer in the Pacific Northwest during the early 1900s. His life revolves around building railroads and seasonal logging, work that is both brutal and connected to the land. He marries Gladys, played by Felicity Jones, and they build a home together. A devastating tragedy later reshapes Robert’s life, leading him on a decades-long search for meaning and connection.
Director Clint Bentley describes the film as the story of a “simple life” that is also “deep and rich.” The narrative spans approximately 80 years of American history, witnessing the transformation of the landscape and society through the eyes of one quiet, observant man. The film has been widely praised for its visual poetry and has been compared to the work of filmmaker Terrence Malick.
Cast and Creative Team Behind the Movie
The film features a strong ensemble cast led by Joel Edgerton as the protagonist, Robert Grainier. Felicity Jones plays his wife, Gladys Grainier. The supporting cast includes acclaimed actors in key roles:
- Kerry Condon as Claire Thompson, a forestry service worker.
- William H. Macy as Arn Peeples, an explosives expert.
- Will Patton as the film’s narrator.
Other cast members include Nathaniel Arcand, Clifton Collins Jr., and John Diehl. The narration by Will Patton is a distinctive feature of the film. Interestingly, Patton also narrated the audiobook version of Denis Johnson’s original novella.
The film was directed by Clint Bentley, who also co-wrote the adapted screenplay with Greg Kwedar. The two previously worked together on the award-winning film Sing Sing. The stunning cinematography was handled by Adolpho Veloso, who earned the film’s Oscar nomination for his work. The musical score was composed by Bryce Dessner, and the original song featured over the credits is performed by Nick Cave.
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Critical Reception and Audience Response
Since its release, Train Dreams has received overwhelming praise from film critics. On the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an impressive 95% positive rating based on 228 critic reviews. The critical consensus calls it “a gorgeous meditation on America, ably shouldered by one of Joel Edgerton’s very best performances.”
Reviewer Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com awarded the film a perfect 4-star score. He called it “a meditation on the beauty of everyone and everything” and noted how it balances “brutal reality and wistful poetry.” The film also earned a high score of 88 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating “universal acclaim”.
Beyond the Oscars, the film’s awards recognition includes being named one of the Top 10 Films of 2025 by both the American Film Institute and the National Board of Review. Joel Edgerton received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor for his performance.
Following its Oscar nominations, the movie has risen significantly on streaming popularity charts. Data from JustWatch indicates it is currently a top-five trending movie in both the United States and Canada.
The 98th Academy Awards ceremony, where the fate of Train Dreams‘ four nominations will be decided, is scheduled for March 15, 2026.
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