Movies based on psychological thrillers always come with built in expectations: tension, misdirection, gaslighting, surprises. The Woman in Cabin 10 is the latest entrant in this subgenre, now streaming on Netflix. In this post I go over the plot, performances, critical & audience reception, streaming metrics, and whether it’s worth your watch.
What Is The Woman in Cabin 10 About?
- Release & Format: Streaming release on Netflix, October 2025.
- Runtime & Rating: Around 1h 32m (≈ 93 min) with an R rating.
- Source Material: Based on the bestselling novel by Ruth Ware.
- Plot Premise (spoiler light):
The story follows Laura “Lo” Blacklock (Keira Knightley), a journalist invited aboard a luxury yacht for a travel assignment. Late one night, she believes she witnesses a woman being thrown overboard. But to her shock, the crew and passengers insist no such person existed all cabins and guests are accounted for. As Lo pushes to uncover the truth, she finds herself isolated, doubted, and in danger.
Cast & Crew Highlights
• Guy Pearce as Richard Bullmer
• Hannah Waddingham, Art Malik, David Ajala, Paul Kaye, Kaya Scodelario in supporting roles.
Critical & Audience Reception
Rotten Tomatoes & Ratings
- On Rotten Tomatoes, the Tomatometer sits at ~28% (critics), while the Audience / Popcornmeter is around 32%. Rotten Tomatoes
- Many critics describe the film as a “serviceable whodunit,” with praise for its visuals but criticism for plot holes and pacing.
Review Highlights
- Roger Ebert’s take: The film is “simple and snappy … the confined location works” but predictable at times.
- Hollywood Reporter: Calls it “blandly glossy” and says it is capably acted but not especially daring. The Hollywood Reporter
- Variety: Points out the adaptation struggles mid point, losing tension despite strong design and performances.
- Wikipedia (Reception section): Notes critics appreciate the style, score, and ensemble, but feel missteps cause tension to dissipate.
Audience & Fan Feedback
- On Reddit, many fans of the original book say the film “misses major points” from the novel, especially regarding character arcs, pacing, and internal tension.
- Some praise the aesthetics, setting, and cast, but fault the predictability and change in tone or structure from the novel.
Streaming Performance & “Earnings” (Value Metrics)
Because The Woman in Cabin 10 is a Netflix original, traditional box office numbers don’t apply. Instead, we look at viewership metrics as a measure of success.
- In its first three days, Netflix recorded 21.2 million views worldwide. Yahoo
- The film debuted at #1 in Netflix’s chart rankings almost immediately.
These metrics suggest the film garnered significant initial interest, even if critical reception was mixed.
What Works & What Doesn’t
Strengths
- Atmosphere & Setting : The closed quarter yacht setting works well to build claustrophobia and unease.
- Visuals & Design : Slick production design, scores, and cinematography earn repeated praise.
- Strong Cast : Even if underutilized at times, performances generally hold the material together.
Weaknesses
- Predictability : Many plot turns are telegraphed, reducing surprises.
- Pacing & Midpoint Lag : The tension sags roughly mid film, per critics.
- Adaptation Choices : Fans of the novel note omissions or changes that weaken character motivation.
- Character Logic : Some behavior arcs are questioned as contrived or needing plot propulsion.
My Verdict: Should You Watch It?
If you like light mystery thrillers and are okay with something that doesn’t fully subvert tropes, The Woman in Cabin 10 offers a visually engaging, breezy watch. It’s not a masterpiece of tension, but it can serve as solid streaming fare, especially for fans of the cast or novel.
Also Read : Netflix October 2025 Releases (USA): Full List of New Movies & Shows Coming This Month
