The Last House arrives on Netflix today: Spielberg-style sci-fi thriller

The Last House hits Netflix today, August 7, 2026, and it’s leaning hard into that Spielberg-era sci-fi thriller mood: quiet suburbia, a family in danger, and a mystery sitting just out of view. Louis Leterrier directs from a script by Matthew Robinson. In The Last House, a family of four led by Greta Lee and Wagner Moura ends up trapped inside their own home, sealed off from the outside world, counting supplies, and trying to survive whatever is waiting beyond the walls. The early E.T. and Amblin comparisons make sense. The production reportedly uses the same Panavision lens line associated with E.T. and Raiders of the Lost Ark, reportedly rebuilds E.T.’s kitchen, and reportedly shoots the first half on 35mm, which gives the everyday setting that nostalgic but slightly eerie feel.

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A few critics also say the film’s COVID-19 lockdowns closed-in setup brings back memories. That alone makes the tension land differently than it would in a more routine mystery-box thriller.

The first reviews for The Last House are mixed. Critics are strong on the suspense, Greta Lee and Wagner Moura’s performances, and the movie’s sense of wonder. The pushback is mostly about uneven tonal swings and an ending that, for some, doesn’t quite deliver.

If you’ve been missing family-centered 1980s sci-fi thrillers, The Last House looks like a solid pick. It starts streaming on Netflix August 7.

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