Before he hung up his sword as Jon Snow, Kit Harington tried his hand at a different kind of epic. In 2014, fresh off his Game of Thrones fame, he starred in Pompeii, a big-budget historical disaster thriller that promised gladiators, romance, and a whole lot of lava. Now, that film is officially leaving Netflix in the United States in October 2026, giving subscribers one last chance to revisit the volcanic chaos.
Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson, the man behind the Resident Evil franchise, Pompeii aimed to blend the sword-and-sandals spectacle of Gladiator with the doomed romance of Titanic. It didn't quite reach those heights, but it certainly delivered on destruction. The film grossed around $117 million worldwide against a reported production budget of roughly $100 million, making it a modest performer rather than a runaway hit.
What is Pompeii about?
Set in 79 A.D., the story follows Milo, a slave turned gladiator played by Harington. When he arrives in Pompeii, he falls for Cassia, the daughter of a wealthy merchant who has been promised to a corrupt Roman senator. As Mount Vesuvius erupts, Milo must fight his way out of the arena to save Cassia from both the senator and the impending volcanic annihilation.
The cast is stacked with recognizable faces: Emily Browning as Cassia, Kiefer Sutherland as the villainous Senator Corvus, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as fellow gladiator Atticus, Carrie-Anne Moss as Aurelia, Jared Harris as Severus, and Jessica Lucas as Ariadne. It's a lineup that adds some serious credibility to the B-movie premise.
How was it received?
Critics weren't kind. Pompeii holds a 27% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with many reviewers calling out its predictable plot and clunky dialogue. The action sequences and visual effects, however, earned some praise. Audiences who enjoy a good disaster movie might find it a guilty pleasure, especially since the historical outcome is never in doubt. As one critic put it, you know the city is going to blow, and the film delivers on that promise.
If you're a fan of Harington's work, this is a chance to see him in a very different role. For more on his Game of Thrones legacy, check out why Pedro Pascal's Oberyn Martell remains unforgettable. And if you're in the mood for another overlooked genre gem, our list of forgotten sci-fi movies that rival Interstellar might have you covered.
When does it leave Netflix?
Pompeii will depart Netflix in the United States in October 2026. That gives you plenty of time to stream it, but don't wait too long. Once it's gone, you'll have to hunt it down elsewhere. For now, it's a fun, fiery reminder of the era when TV stars tried to conquer the box office—and sometimes got buried in ash instead.
