Daniel Day-Lewis's "Anemone" Arrives on VOD: What to Know About His Big Comeback

Daniel Day-lewis, arguably one of the greatest actors of our time, came out of retirement for his son's directorial debut, Anemone. Now, after a quiet theatrical run, this highly personal family project is ready for you to stream from the comfort of your home!

TL;DR: Quick Bites on Daniel Day-Lewis's Latest Film

• Legendary actor Daniel Day-Lewis ended his eight-year retirement to star in Anemone, directed by his son, Ronan Day-Lewis.
• The film, which also features Sean Bean and Samantha Morton, made a quick jump to VOD platforms after a modest $1 million box office performance.
• Critics were pretty divided, praising Day-Lewis's unwavering talent but often finding the film's story and pacing a bit muddled.

The Legend Returns: Daniel Day-Lewis Steps Back into the Spotlight for "Anemone"

So, here's the deal: Daniel Day-Lewis has retired from acting not once, but twice before. First, after The Boxer in 1996, and then famously again after Paul Thomas Anderson's Phantom Thread in 2017, declaring he was done for good. We all thought that was it. But then something truly special happened – a project so close to his heart that it pulled him back into the acting game: Anemone, directed by his own son, Ronan Day-Lewis.

This wasn't just another role; it was a deeply personal endeavor. Daniel Day-Lewis didn't just act in it; he co-wrote the screenplay with Ronan, crafting a story that dives into "the complex and profound ties that exist between brothers, fathers, and sons." It truly feels like a dad doing something out of pure family love, offering his immense talent to help his son's feature directorial debut shine.

Unpacking the Mysterious Narrative of "Anemone"

The film centers on Ray, played by Daniel Day-Lewis, a man who's been living a reclusive, off-grid life in the wild woods of Northern England for two decades. His solitude is broken when his brother, Jem (Sean Bean), arrives, determined to find him. Jem's mission is to bring Ray back home to his estranged ex, Nessa (Samantha Morton), and their troubled son, Brian (Samuel Bottomley). The story unravels the complicated past shared by the brothers, shaped by life-altering events from decades earlier, including their service in the British Army during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Ronan Day-Lewis, in his directorial debut, takes an interesting approach, especially early on. The film boasts a striking visual flair, with cinematographer Ben Fordesman capturing moody, atmospheric shots of the English wilderness. For the first 30 minutes, there's hardly any dialogue, letting the visuals and ambient sounds set the tone and allowing Daniel Day-Lewis's expressive acting to do much of the heavy lifting. His character, Ray, even sports a distinctive tight, cropped hairstyle and a handlebar mustache, adding to his enigmatic presence.

A Strong Supporting Ensemble Elevates the Intense Performances

While Daniel Day-Lewis is clearly the gravitational center, the film is rounded out by a talented cast. Sean Bean brings his usual gravitas as Jem, the more outgoing brother who has found solace in religion and is desperately trying to reconnect with Ray. Samantha Morton delivers a solid performance as Nessa, Ray's ex-partner, and Samuel Bottomley plays their troubled son, Brian, who eventually has a powerful confrontation about his absent father. Safia Oakley-Green also features, though her role is less detailed in available information.

The film's strength largely lies in the believable, albeit intensely antagonistic, relationship between the estranged brothers. Bean holds his own against Day-Lewis, creating a dynamic that feels genuinely sibling-like, navigating a past filled with trauma and unspoken resentments.

From the Big Screen to Your Small Screen: "Anemone's" Unexpectedly Swift VOD Debut

Despite the buzz around Daniel Day-Lewis's return, Anemone's journey through theaters was a short one. Focus Features, the film's distributor, gave it a respectable rollout, premiering at the New York Film Festival in September 2025. It then hit limited theaters on October 3, 2025, expanding to over 1,000 screens a week later on October 10. However, audiences didn't really flock to see it, and the film only managed to pull in about $1 million at the box office.

Because of this modest theatrical performance and mixed critical reception, Anemone quickly made its way to video-on-demand (VOD) platforms, landing there just 18 days after its initial theatrical release, around October 21 or 22, 2025. This rapid shift means you can now rent Anemone for $19.99 or buy it for $24.99 on major platforms like Prime Video and Apple. Since it's from Focus Features, a Universal subsidiary, expect it to eventually land on Peacock for streaming subscribers. For our UK friends, the film is scheduled for release on November 7, 2025.

Critical Reception: High Praise for Day-Lewis, But a Divided Opinion on the Story Itself

Critics were pretty split on Anemone, leading to a 56% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics, though audiences gave it a slightly better 60%. The universal consensus was that Daniel Day-Lewis, even after eight years away, had lost none of his staggering talent. Reviewers consistently praised his "signature intensity," "enduring charisma," and "quiet power and precision in performance," calling his turn an "acting masterclass." Many also applauded Ronan Day-Lewis's visual flair and confident directorial style, especially in the opening sequences.

However, the praise for the acting often came with caveats about the film's narrative. Critics felt that while Day-Lewis's performance was tremendous, the film as a "fully unified drama" struggled. Some described the storytelling as "meandering" and "erratically paced," with the plot stretching "too thin" over its 126-minute runtime. The dialogue was sometimes called "uneven" or even "overwritten," with one particularly "stomach-churning anecdote" delivered by Ray earning a mixed reaction. There were also mentions of "bizarre choices," like a "ghostly giant amoeba-like creature" at a lake, that left some reviewers scratching their heads. The overall sentiment was that the film was ambitious and well-acted, but occasionally got lost in itself, making characters' motives and behaviors unclear at points.

"It is, however, a promising start from Ronan Day-Lewis and a welcome return for his father."

Was Daniel Day-Lewis's Return in "Anemone" Ultimately Worth It for Fans?

So, does the disappointing box office and mixed critical reception mean Daniel Day-Lewis's return was a flop? Not necessarily. While it might not be the triumphant Hollywood comeback some expected, Anemone is something more personal and intimate. The "small silver lining" is that this project, born out of family love, brought a true acting legend back to the screen. If it reignites Day-Lewis's passion for acting, as some hope, then perhaps the commercial performance truly doesn't matter.

For cinephiles eager to witness Day-Lewis's undeniable talent once more, watching Anemone in the quiet comfort of your own home might actually be the ideal way to experience it. It's a reminder that even after years away, his "staggering talent" remains fully intact, making this a worthwhile watch for anyone who appreciates a master at work, even within a flawed narrative.

Frequently Asked Questions About "Anemone" When did Anemone release on VOD platforms? Anemone became available on VOD around October 21-22, 2025, just 18 days after its initial theatrical release. Where can I watch Anemone right now? You can rent Anemone for $19.99 or buy it for $24.99 on major video-on-demand platforms, including Prime Video and Apple. It's also expected to eventually stream on Peacock. What is Anemone's runtime and age rating? Anemone has a runtime of approximately 126 minutes (2 hours and 6 minutes). While the UK rating is 15, viewers in the US can expect content similar to an R-rating, given some of the film's more intense and graphic dialogue. Who directed Anemone? Anemone marks the feature film directorial debut of Ronan Day-Lewis, who also co-wrote the script with his father, Daniel Day-Lewis. Sources

Based on recent film news articles.