The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, David Fincher's epic fantasy drama starring Brad Pitt, will soon be losing its streaming home. Making its theatrical debut in December 2008, the film is based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story of the same name. It focuses on the titular Benjamin Button, played by Pitt, and chronicles his life with Daisy Fuller (Cate Blanchett) as he ages in reverse.
With a cast that included Taraji P. Henson, Julia Ormond, Jason Flemyng, Elias Koteas, Jared Harris, Tilda Swinton, and Mahershala Ali, the short story adaptation was met with positive reviews and had a major presence at the 81st Academy Awards. It garnered a total of 13 nominations, including Best Director for Fincher, Best Actor for Pitt, Best Supporting Actress for Henson, and Best Picture.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will be leaving Netflix at the end of 2025, with its final day being December 31. In terms of streaming options, the Fincher movie will still be available on Paramount+ either directly or as an add-on through other platforms. It is also available for free via Kanopy.
Even though Fincher is generally known for high-octane and tense films like Se7en and Fight Club, both of which also starred Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was a quieter romance saga for the filmmaker. But it did have an added component, represented in the metamorphosis of Pitt's character. The process included traditional make-up, CGI, and the use of stand-in actors as needed. The film ultimately won Oscars for Best Achievement in Make-Up and Best Achievement in Visual Effects.
The process proved to be a draw for audiences. The adaptation, which was written by Eric Roth, grossed $335.8 million. It was also heavily praised by critics for Fincher's direction, as well as the performances of Pitt and Blanchett. Its perception as a relative outlier in Fincher's filmography has lent the adaptation a rewatchability over the years, which is boosted by its availability on Netflix.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button has also found an audience through physical media. It generated more than $41 million in sales via DVD and Blu-ray, while also being available as part of The Criterion Collection. A film that has built up a reputation of having so much to say visually, narratively, and in terms of performance, as well, will likely have an audience, no matter where it goes.
