Jake Gyllenhaal's 10/10 R-Rated Thriller Masterpiece Officially Being Cut From Netflix

Published Oct 28, 2026, 10:45 AM EDT Cooper Hood is the Associate Editor for all new movie releases, in theaters and on streaming. In addition to writing articles about these titles and upcoming releases, he also oversees content planning for each, ensuring that ScreenRant continues to cover major releases for months after their release. He has written various reviews for ScreenRant that appear on Rotten Tomatoes, coordinated Oscars and San Diego Comic-Con coverage, appeared on CNN to talk about Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, and done select interviews with talent over the years. Jake Gyllenhaal has headlined a few masterpieces throughout his career, including a riveting R-rated thriller that's about to leave Netflix. The movie arrived in the midst of an excellent run during the 2010s and became a true showcase of the actor's talent for playing twisted characters with personality quirks. It's stood the test of time as one of Gyllenhaal's best movies and performances. Before the masterpiece, Gyllenhaal cut his teeth in the industry by tackling just about every genre imaginable. He's channeled his comedic side and darker tendencies throughout his career, leaving a lasting impression with films like Brokeback Mountain and Jarhead, as well as David Fincher's Zodiac. That proved to be the gateway to several R-rated thrillers of Gyllenhaal's career. The actor fits very well within these stories, playing morally grey characters with ease. But despite starring in over half a dozen of these types of movies, Gyllenhaal always makes each one feel fresh. They aren't all unequivocal 10/10 hits, but his 2014 entry is. This was the year Gyllenhaal starred in Nightcrawler, Dan Gilroy's 117-minute, R-rated psychological thriller. He plays Louis Bloom, a criminal who becomes enticed by crime journalism and a desire to become the real star of the crimes he's documenting. It's a masterclass in filmmaking and acting that you'll have to act quickly to watch before it leaves streaming. Jake Gyllenhaal Gives A Disturbing Performance In Nightcrawler Nightcrawler features an excellent cast, with Rene Russo, Bill Paxton, and Riz Ahmed all delivering great work, but Gyllenhaal is the real standout. He commands every scene he's in with an intoxicating performance as Bloom, who is as ambitious and charming as he is unnerving and creepy. The actor brings an unwavering intensity to Bloom that works perfectly within the tone Gilroy strikes. Whether he's discussing his business strategy or view on journalism, he always seems like he's on the verge of snapping, as he does in the film's rather famous mirror-smashing bathroom tirade. The underlying traits paired with his outward personality make Gyllenhaal quite disturbing. It is why Nightcrawler is still often cited as Gyllenhaal's best performance, even if he was snubbed for an Oscar nomination - a true crime, in my opinion. Nightcrawler Is A Haunting Thriller With A Clear Message Image via Open Road Films Gyllenhaal's career-best performance is not wasted on a movie with nothing to say. Nightcrawler may work in a variety of genres, such as drama and comedy, but it is first and foremost a thriller that is fully focused on exploring the modern media landscape. It is ultimately an indictment of how sensationalized headlines have taken over the news in an effort for stories to generate enough attention. Lou and Russo's Nina represent different sides of the same coin. Lou's greed and privilege allow him to dictate what is news to some degree, while Nina does what she thinks she must to get the views her station needs. However, Nightcrawler's ending is not only highlighting the failures of the modern news ecosystem. It is equally a commentary on how people are complicit in the fall of journalism. Gilroy confirmed as much in a Deadline interview back in 2014, saying: As much as we indict local news in this film, we always hoped people would make the connection that ultimately, we, the viewers, are the users of the images that get shown on TV. We are part of that system; whatever is being fed to us, and we consume it like fast food, keeps coming because we seem to demand it. It leaves Nightcrawler as a movie that is equally meaningful to watch thanks to this central message as it is entertaining due to Gyllenhaal's performance. That's why it has a near-perfect 95% Rotten Tomatoes score and still is worth watching all these years later. Nightcrawler's Streaming Exit Confirmed Image by moviestillsdb If you've never seen Nightcrawler, the movie is only going to be on Netflix for a few more days. It is confirmed to leave Netflix in North America on November 1, meaning October 31 will be the last day it is going to be available to subscribers. Unlike other titles leaving Netflix in November 2026, Nightcrawler does not have a new streaming home confirmed. It's unclear when or where the movie will be available to watch on a streaming service again. While digital purchase and rental options will remain, anyone wanting to check out or revisit Jake Gyllenhaal's thriller on Netflix must act fast. Release Date October 23, 2014 Runtime 118 minutes Director Dan Gilroy Writers Dan Gilroy Producers David Lancaster, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jennifer Fox, Tony Gilroy, Michel Litvak