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Netflix Sets Release Date for Historical Drama Starring Ralph Fiennes

We are already beginning to see reports on what Netflix will be adding to its library in July. Among the new offerings is The Choral, Nicholas Hytner's 2025 British historical drama starring Ralph Fiennes.

Released in November 2025 after debuting at the Toronto International Film Festival two months earlier, The Choral pulled in $10 million at the box office. Read below to find out when it will become available for Netflix subscribers.

The Choral coming to Netflix: What to know

According to What's on Netflix's Kasey Moore, The Choral will make its streaming video-on-demand (SVOD) debut on Netflix on July 2nd, 2026.

Set in the fictional town of Ramsden in 1916, during the heart of World War I, The Choral stars Fiennes as Dr. Henry Guthrie, a local choirmaster seeking to keep his group alive despite wartime challenges.

"After the male members of a Yorkshire chorus leave to enlist in WWI, an enigmatic choirmaster seeks out new recruits to unite the community through song," reads the official Netflix description.



Besides Fiennes, the cast also includes Roger Allam, Mark Addy, Alun Armstrong, Robert Emms, Simon Russell Beale, Lyndsay Marshal, Emily Fairn and others.

What kind of reviews has The Choral received?

Overall, the movie has produced a mixed reception. The Guardian gave it four out of five stars, while Zachary Lee of RogerEbert.com wrote that while The Choral "may be riddled with a few too many false notes for comfort, the purity of its song and message make it a hard tune to disregard."

Others, such as Tom's Guide's Malcolm McMillan, were a little less generous.

"Unfortunately, having seen "The Choral," I can declare that excellent isn't the word I'd use to describe this movie. It's underwhelming and lacks focus," McMillan wrote. "It's not terrible, thanks to Fiennes and a few moments that grab your attention. But for the most part, it's forgettable. I certainly wouldn't spend money to see it at your local cinema. Instead, I'd wait to come to one of the best streaming services, which should be Netflix, given it's a Sony Pictures Classics movie.

Additionally, The Choral has a 66% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, along with a 6.4/10 mark on IMDb.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

2026 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.

This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 3:05 PM.

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