Jodie Foster‘s acclaimed murder mystery thriller debuts on Netflix today, Wednesday. Directed by renowned French filmmaker Rebecca Zlotowski, the film premiered in the out-of-competition section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it reportedly received a standing ovation.

A Private Life officially arrives on Netflix today, July 29, 2026. Before this, the movie also had its North American premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival in September, followed by the Deauville American Film Festival.

The movie blends psychological drama with a suspense-filled murder mystery in its tight 104-minute runtime. Its streaming debut comes as part of Netflix’s licensing agreement with Sony Pictures and will be available under the Sony Pictures Classics banner for 18 months.

What happens when a psychiatrist suspects murder?

A Private Life follows Lilian Steiner (Jadie Foster), a well-known psychiatrist. Steiner’s methodical life is shaken when one of her patients suddenly dies. While the authorities quickly move on from the case, Steiner can’t let go of the feeling that something doesn’t add up. Believing her patient was murdered, she decides to chase the truth herself. As she digs deeper into the murder mystery, she finds herself pulled into a web of hidden secrets. That forces her to question both the people around her and her own instincts.

Alongside Foster, the film stars Daniel Auteuil, Virginie Efira, Mathieu Amalric, Vincent Lacoste, and Luana Bajrami. Jodie Foster is a two-time Academy Award winner for The Accused and The Silence of the Lambs.

A Private Life also received a great reception from the critics. At the time of this article’s publication, the movie holds an 82% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 143 reviews. It also holds a modest 64% audience score on the aggregator website from more than 50 verified ratings.

The movie will be a great watch for those who enjoy a tense, character-driven psychological thrillers that slowly build suspense instead of rapid twists or action. Fans of Jodie Foster may also find it an easy addition to their watchlist.