Benedict Cumberbatch’s Acclaimed Drama The Power of the Dog Is the Netflix Film to Watch This Weekend

Nearly five years after its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, Benedict Cumberbatch’s acclaimed drama The Power of the Dog remains one of Netflix’s most celebrated films. With a 94% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 12 Oscar nominations, Jane Campion’s modern Western is well worth revisiting this weekend.

Cumberbatch takes on one of his most striking roles as Phil Burbank, a difficult and intimidating ranch owner whose hostility is directed toward his brother’s new wife and her effeminate son.

Phil’s carefully controlled world begins to shift after he makes a surprising discovery, setting the stage for an unexpected relationship. Whether that relationship develops into genuine friendship, however, is another matter.

The film was written and directed by Australian filmmaker Jane Campion, whose acclaimed work also includes The Piano and Holy Smoke!. Her direction of The Power of the Dog earned her the Academy Award for Best Director.

Who stars in The Power of the Dog?

The film features a strong ensemble cast alongside Cumberbatch:

• Benedict Cumberbatch as Phil Burbank
• Kirsten Dunst as Rose
• Jesse Plemons as George Burbank
• Kodi Smit-McPhee as Peter
• Thomasin McKenzie as Lola
• Genevieve Lemon as Mrs Lewis
• Keith Carradine as Governor Edward
• Frances Conroy as Old Lady Burbank

What did critics say about The Power of the Dog?

The Power of the Dog was a major critical success and received 12 Oscar nominations. Campion’s Best Director award was the film’s only Oscar win, but its reception from critics was overwhelmingly positive, reflected in its 94% Rotten Tomatoes score.

Several publications have gone as far as calling the movie a “masterpiece”, including Them and Far Out magazine.

Empire was particularly impressed with Cumberbatch’s performance, describing the actor as being “at his peak” while praising Campion for summoning the mood of the story in a way that few filmmakers could.

The film’s deliberately measured pace has also been singled out as one of its strengths. BuzzFeed News praised the experience of watching the story unfold without knowing exactly where it was heading, arguing that the uncertainty made the eventual ending both shocking and satisfying.

The acclaim has continued well beyond the film’s original release. In June 2025, IndieWire included The Power of the Dog at number 14 on its list of the 100 best films of the decade so far. The publication praised its “razor-fanged pleasures” and described the movie as possessing a “tremblingly quiet strength”.

Where can you stream The Power of the Dog?

The Power of the Dog is a Netflix exclusive, meaning Netflix is currently the only streaming service where the film can be watched. It is not available to buy or rent digitally.

For viewers who prefer physical media, the movie was also released on Blu-ray and 4K disc through The Criterion Collection.

Other Benedict Cumberbatch movies to stream

Cumberbatch has an extensive filmography, so The Power of the Dog is far from the only option for fans looking for one of his movies to watch.

The actor stars opposite Olivia Colman in The Roses, an extremely dark comedy that is available to stream on Disney+.

For something very different, Wes Anderson’s The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is available on Netflix.

Cumberbatch’s blockbuster roles are also well represented. The Hobbit trilogy is available on Netflix, although it is leaving the service soon, and the films can also be streamed on MGM+.

Meanwhile, all of Cumberbatch’s Marvel Cinematic Universe movies are available on Disney+.

For those looking for a darker, critically acclaimed performance from the actor, The Power of the Dog remains available to stream on Netflix.