Heartland, the Netflix original film directed by Shana Feste and starring Jessica Chastain, premieres on Friday, November 13. The film arrives at the end of a busy week for the streamer, which has already launched The Body, Alicia’s Law and The Gospel of Christmas on Wednesday.
The film stars Jessica Chastain, Garrett Hedlund, Carter Faith, John Hawkes, Paul Sparks, Ross Lynch, Hill Harper, Wynn Everett and Norbert Leo Butz, according to Film Music Reporter’s weekly TV music roundup. It is a drama, and its Friday release gives it the weekend to find an audience.
A strong week for Netflix films
Heartland follows A Dog’s Perfect Christmas, which topped the English-language film chart with 8.6 million views in its first week, according to Netflix’s official Top 10 figures. That film had the weakest opening of any Netflix Wednesday Christmas movie since 2024, according to What’s On Netflix, but it still took the number-one spot.
The week’s film chart also includes Heist, which debuted in second place with 6.3 million views, and Final Destination: Bloodlines with 5.8 million. Heartland will need a strong opening weekend to break into next Tuesday’s Top 10, and its star cast gives it a good chance.
Chastain leads a deep cast
Jessica Chastain, an Oscar winner, leads a cast that mixes established names with rising talent. Garrett Hedlund and John Hawkes bring drama credentials, while Ross Lynch and Carter Faith represent a younger generation. The film is directed by Shana Feste, whose previous work includes Country Strong and Boundaries.
The Friday release is part of Netflix’s November strategy, which leans on star-led films to anchor the weekend. Whether Heartland can match the 8.6 million views of A Dog’s Perfect Christmas will be clear next Tuesday, but its cast and its director give it a strong platform to build on.
Related reading: The Body Premieres Today on Netflix With Sofia Wylie Leading
