The New Netflix Movie “Nothing New in the West” Has a Title Problem

Warning, the following article contains spoilers for “Nothing New in the West” – both the book and the current Netflix movie. If you prefer to be surprised, be careful.

Based on Erich Maria Remarque’s book of the same name, there is now the third film adaptation of “Nothing New in the West” – this time on Netflix. Edward Berger’s anti-war film is already number one in the streaming service’s rankings and is even being talked about as a possible Oscar nominee.

Compared to the novel, the adaptation makes a significant change in the final third, which is now the subject of much discussion on the internet. In any case, the fact is: the title suddenly makes much less sense.

In Erich Maria Remarque’s book, the main character Paul Bäumer died in October 1918 – the end of the war was near, his friends were all dead by then. The army report spoke of a quiet day at the front, with nothing new to report in the West.

The novel thus expresses that individual fate plays no part in war and is not even worth reporting.

However, in the new Netflix movie, Bäumer doesn’t die in October, and audiences knowing the book or its historical background inevitably wonder whether the main character will possibly experience the end of the war on 11 November 1918 at 11 a.m. This makes the film a real thriller that invites you to go along with the suspense.

The filmmakers once again underline the futility of the war in a special way, because although the terms of the ceasefire have been negotiated, the soldiers continue to fight. Any territory gained here is already in vain, just more deaths.

There is only one problem with the Netflix customization: The title “Nothing New in the West” no longer fits this film well. On November 11, 1918, the general ordered an attack shortly before the armistice officially came into effect, killing numerous people (including Bäumer). So this time something “new” is definitely happening in the West.

This change has had a mixed reception on social networks. One user describes the ending as “great”, but at the same time concludes:

Another user is even stricter with the Netflix movie. The conclusion can be read here: “A technically well-made anti-war film that has shockingly little to do with the excellent book, the 1979 version is significantly better.»

Elsewhere, those responsible are even accused of “cheap sensationalism”: “While Remarque manages to tell a story to illustrate the madness of war, the film only strings together gory scenes.”

This person even describes the ending as “a little confused”: