Nuremberg, starring Oscar-winners Russell Crowe and Rami Malek, was one of the most critically acclaimed historical dramas of 2025. It was so well-liked by the critics and audience that many think it was snubbed for the 2026 Oscars. Anyhow, the film made even more waves when it landed on Netflix and still commands a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. 

After Nuremberg’s success on Netflix, the author of the book, The Nazi and the Psychiatrist, which served as the source material for the movie adaptation, revealed something about the core elements of the film that honor the book.

   In an interview with What’s On Netflix, the author of the book that inspired the movie adaptation of Nuremberg, Jack El-Hai, was asked about the core messages that, according to the writer, were conveyed by the film as they are in the books. The author had two most important lessons that the movie got right.

The first was to highlight the importance of the first of the thirteen Nuremberg trials in the international context. The trials successfully brought the real face of Nazism to the whole world, which further helped to understand why it was so important to get rid of that idea. However, the writer was quite disappointed that such efforts are not initiated nowadays.

The second lesson relates to Kelley's findings that dictatorship was not unique to Germany, Italy, or Japan. The people should anticipate seeing it from time to time because it is a human phenomenon and is bound to surface every once in a while All that can be done is to be prepared to fight it when it shows its face. 

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The writer did not only talk about the messages the film conveys, but he also shared what questions the film will leave the audience with after watching.

Jack El-Hai was asked about the question Nuremberg will make viewers ask after streaming the film on Netflix. His answer touched on an introspective and philosophical turn that he expected people to be left with, with questions that did not have one simple answer.

"Questions like, what makes people do evil? What do we think of people who do evil? What do we do when we see others doing evil? I think that’s really important for people to think about," the author told What's On Netflix. 

However, one answer lies within the film itself, as highlighted by El Hai. In a striking line, Leo Woodall’s Sergeant Howie Triest remarks that 'people let it happen,' a statement that lingers long after the credits roll. It encapsulates the film’s core aim to immerse audiences in a complex reality while exposing the enduring dangers of authoritarian ideology and its role in widespread destruction.

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Have you watched Nuremberg? If yes, do you think the messages highlighted by the author are conveyed effectively through the film? Share your thoughts in the comments.