In the aftermath of Bridgerton Season 1’s global success, Phoebe Dynevor could have easily settled into prestige romance or safe studio fare. Instead, her post-Regency choices suggest a deliberate pivot toward stories that provoke rather than soothe. One such project, Anniversary, is not content with subtlety. It arrives as a loud, confrontational political discourse in motion, designed to engulf, daring viewers to sit with discomfort rather than escape it.

That confrontation has now reached a wider audience. After a modest theatrical run under Lionsgate on October 29, 2025, Anniversary has officially landed on Netflix. With its arrival on streaming, the question becomes unavoidable: should fans press play, or scroll past?

The film’s road to release has been a long one. Anniversary has been in development and production since 2023, finally debuting theatrically in 2025. Reception-wise, it has landed in solid, if unspectacular, territory. On IMDb, the film holds a 6.7/10 rating, with roughly 27% of users awarding it a 7 or higher. On Rotten Tomatoes, the critical response sits at 66% on the Tomatometer, while audiences appear more receptive, pushing the Popcornmeter to 78%. 

Phoebe Dynevor’s involvement with the project dates back to its early development phase in 2023, anchoring the film long before its release window was set. She stars alongside a weighty ensemble: Diane Lane and Kyle Chandler play Ellen and Paul, the parents of Josh, played by Dylan O'Brien.

The cast also includes Zoey Deutch, Madeline Brewer, McKenna Grace, fresh off her casting as Daphne in the upcoming Scooby-Doo live-action, along with Daryl McCormack, Sky Yang, and Rebecca O'Mara. The film is directed by Jan Komasa, written by Lori Rosene-Gambino, rated R, and runs 1 hour and 51 minutes.

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But after a cast this promising, the burden ultimately falls on the story to justify the watch.

The film centers on Ellen and Paul, a middle-class couple whose stable family life begins to fracture after their son Josh introduces them to his new girlfriend. What initially reads as social awkwardness soon reveals something far more destabilizing. She is the public face of a rapidly growing political movement that Josh has quietly attached himself to.

As her influence expands beyond their home and into national headlines, the couple is forced to confront how their own passivity, compromises, and desire to “keep the peace” helped create the conditions for this rupture. Anniversary traces this collapse almost entirely through private encounters, family dinners, strained conversations, and moments of withheld confrontation. Jan Komasa’s direction keeps the camera close, often uncomfortably so, emphasizing reactions over rhetoric. The film resists easy villains, opting instead to show how silence, complicity, and ambition quietly collaborate.

So the final verdict? Anniversary is not an easy watch, nor does it aim to be. For viewers seeking a challenging, politically charged drama and for fans curious about Phoebe Dynevor’s evolution beyond period romance, it’s worth engaging with.

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Have you watched Anniversary yet? Did it provoke, frustrate, or linger longer than expected? Share your thoughts.