Fans of Kit Harington and epic disaster films have a limited window to revisit one of his earliest big-screen showcases. Pompeii, the 2014 spectacle directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, is officially set to depart Netflix on November 1, 2026. If you've been meaning to rewatch the gladiator-meets-volcano drama, now's the time.
The film marked Harington's grand theatrical debut, arriving hot on the heels of his breakout role as Jon Snow in HBO's Game of Thrones. He stars opposite Emily Browning, known for A Series of Unfortunate Events and Sucker Punch, as a slave-turned-gladiator who falls for his master's daughter. Their forbidden romance unfolds against the looming eruption of Mount Vesuvius, a setup that echoes the tragic love stories of Titanic and Pearl Harbor.
Anderson, celebrated for his work on the Resident Evil franchise, aimed to broaden his directorial range with historical epics. Before Pompeii, he tackled The Three Musketeers in 2011, a star-studded adventure featuring Logan Lerman, Mads Mikkelsen, and Orlando Bloom. That film also underperformed, grossing around $130 million worldwide and earning a 27% Rotten Tomatoes score. Pompeii followed a similar path, pulling in just over $115 million against a reported $100 million budget, with critics giving it a matching 27% freshness rating.
Despite the lukewarm reception, Pompeii boasts an impressive supporting cast, including Jared Harris, Kiefer Sutherland, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, and Carrie-Anne Moss. The visual effects and action sequences deliver the spectacle audiences expect from Anderson, even if the storytelling falls short of epic. The Rotten Tomatoes consensus calls it "a guilty pleasure" lacking the energy and narrative weight to rise above its B-movie roots.
For Harington, the film remains a fascinating snapshot of his transition from television stardom to leading-man ambitions. It's also a reminder of Anderson's post-Resident Evil era, which saw him return to the franchise for its final installment, The Final Chapter, a career-high grosser at $314 million worldwide. His most recent project, In the Lost Lands, adapted from a George R.R. Martin story, reunited him with Milla Jovovich and featured Dave Bautista.
As Pompeii prepares to leave Netflix, it joins a wave of notable departures this November. If you're in the mood for more Harington, you might also check out other titles leaving the platform, like Clint Eastwood's war drama or the high-octane street racing sequel. And for those who prefer staying in, there's always the gladiator classic arriving soon.
Mark your calendars: Pompeii will be available on Netflix until October 31, 2026. After that, you'll need to seek out physical copies or other streaming services to catch this volcanic romance. It's a brief window, but for fans of disaster epics and Harington's early work, it's worth the watch.
