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Need a movie to watch tonight? We got you covered. The 2023 biographical sports drama Nyad is a daring tale about real-life swimmer Diana Nyad’s attempts to swim from Cuba to Florida, despite the dangerous terrain. Yes, that journey is just as long as it sounds. 100 miles. With no extended break or getting out of the water.
Annette Bening stars as the titular character and delivers a mind-blowing performance as she portrays Diana’s worsening mental state amid the health and safety struggles of her swim — which she fails repeatedly.
During the route, Diana refuses to take simple precautions such as a shark tank and later discovers the need for protective gear to shield her from surprise jellyfish stings.
At the heart of the movie is Diana’s close relationship with her trainer and friend Bonnie Stoll, played by Jodie Foster, and another member of her team John Bartlett (Rhys Ifans).
The two provide much-needed emotional support to the ambitious swimmer while still holding on to their own quirks and general professionalism.
Bening and Foster both underwent an incredible body transformation for the movie, with Bening having trained with an Olympic swimmer for a year.
Their hard effort paid off as the movie garnered high response from critics and audiences alike with Rotten Tomatoes critics giving the movie an 86% approval rate. On the same platform, over 500 audience members gave it an 89%.
So, do yourself a favor and tune in to Nyad tonight. Not only will the movie send you down a delightful Wikipedia spiral, but it will also leave you feeling entertained and inspired.
Why Watch Nyad Tonight?
Since the movie is several months old, you may be thinking: why should I watch Nyad now? Trust me, there’s a reason! Earlier this week, Bening nabbed herself a 2024 Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her role in the flick. Her nomination was very well-deserved, despite the general response resembling a question mark. “What is this movie? I’ve never heard of it?”
Uh, excuse me? Nyad may not have broken records, but it wasn’t a sneaky release. The Netflix Top 10 website states that the movie spent 2 weeks in the Global Top 10 Films (English) and reached Top 10 Films in 54 different countries — though, not in the United States.
If you missed Nyad when it first came out, now’s your chance to watch it while it’s getting some buzz. Then, on Oscar night when you hear Bening’s name read out as a nominee and your peers proclaim, “Hey! What’s that movie about?” you’ll be the coolest person around. Because you’ll have an answer.
Synopsis: Athlete Diana Nyad sets out at 60 to achieve a nearly impossible lifelong dream: to swim from Cuba to Florida across more than 100 miles of open ocean.
Cast: Annette Bening, Jodie Foster and Rhys Ifans
Release Date: November 3, 2023
Where to Stream: Netflix
