When Babygirl hit theaters on Christmas Day 2024, it wasn’t just another erotic thriller, it was a cultural detonator. Directed by Halina Reijn and starring Nicole Kidman in a career defining role, the film became a lightning rod for conversations about power, desire and the complexities of middle-aged womanhood.
The Plot: A Dangerous Game of Power and Pleasure
Nicole Kidman plays Romy Mathis, a high-powered CEO of a tech company whose polished life unravels when she begins a volatile affair with Samuel (Harris Dickinson), her 25-year-old intern. What starts as a forbidden workplace flirtation spirals into a psychosexual power struggle, with Romy navigating guilt, societal judgment, and the thrill of finally embracing her repressed desires. The film doesn’t shy away from messy truths: Romy’s crumbling marriage to Jacob (Antonio Banderas), her daughter’s quiet observation of the chaos and the looming threat of exposure by her secretary (Sophie Wilde).
But Babygirl isn’t just about sex it’s about control. In one jaw-dropping scene, Samuel flips the script, telling Romy, “I’m the one with the power here. I could get you fired with one phone call.” It’s a line that lingers, challenging assumptions about who holds the reins in relationships.
Behind the Scenes: The Making of a Provocative Masterpiece
Halina Reijn, known for her sharp takes on female psychology (Bodies Bodies Bodies), crafted Babygirl as a love letter to ’80s and ’90s erotic thrillers. Think Basic Instinct meets Indecent Proposal but with a modern twist. Reijn drew inspiration from a real-life story about a woman who’d never experienced an orgasm in her 25-year marriage. “I wanted to explore what happens when a woman finally stops apologizing for her needs,” she said in interviews.
The casting was a stroke of genius. Kidman, at 56 and Dickinson, 27, leaned into their 29-year age gap, a deliberate choice to normalize older women as objects of desire. “Why should men always be the ones chasing younger partners?” Reijn argued. The actors’ limited pre-filming interactions fueled their on-screen tension. Dickinson later admitted, “We built trust by being kind, not by forcing chemistry.”
But the shoot wasn’t without drama. A steamy scene set to INXS’s “Never Tear Us Apart” almost didn’t happen, until Kidman stepped in. After A24 struggled to secure the song’s rights, Kidman personally called the band’s estate and sealed the deal in 48 hours. “Nicole’s a force” Reijn laughed.
10 Things You Didn’t Know About Babygirl
- The Milk Scene That Went Viral: Romy and Samuel’s charged moment involving a glass of milk was inspired by Reijn’s real-life encounter. A younger Belgian actor once bought her milk at a bar a gesture she found oddly brave. “I drank it all, even though it made me queasy,” she confessed.
- Kidman’s Heartbreak in Venice: Hours before winning the Volpi Cup for Best Actress, Kidman learned of her mother’s passing. Director Reijn accepted the award on her behalf, calling it “a bittersweet triumph.”
- The Soundtrack’s Quirky Secret: Composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer sampled a “woo” noise Kidman accidentally made after tripping on set. It became a recurring motif in the score.
- Jean Reno’s Vanishing Act: The legendary actor filmed scenes but ended up entirely cut. “It happens,” Reijn shrugged.
- From Summer Fling to Christmas Fire: The script was initially set in the Hamptons but shifted to a winter backdrop post-Hollywood strikes. Reijn rewrote it in weeks, leaning into the irony of a steamy thriller releasing on Christmas.
- The Paddington Connection: Kidman and Banderas (who plays her husband) both starred as villains in the Paddington films unplanned but delightful trivia.
- A Near-Rating Disaster: In Europe, the film was almost rated 12+ before outcry over its explicit content bumped it to 16+.
- The Hedda Gabler Nod: Banderas’ character directs the Ibsen play—a wink to Reijn’s past role as Hedda in an Amsterdam production.
- One Word, Big Impact: The title “Babygirl” is uttered just once, in a scene Reijn calls “the heart of the film.”
- Dog Star: The aggressive dog Samuel tames early on reappears in the final scene a subtle hint that chaos can be tamed, but not erased.
Box Office Breakdown: From Risk to Reward
Made on a 20millionbudget Babygirl defied expectations, grossing 20million budget, ∗Babygirl defied expectations, grossing 62.9 million globally.
It opened softly ($7.3 million over five days) but clung to theaters with unusual stamina, dropping just 0.5% in its second weekend. Key to its success? Word-of-mouth buzz and TikTok trends recreating Samuel’s “Father Figure” dance and Romy’s floor-lying poses.
Internationally, it thrived in unlikely markets: Ukraine embraced its mental health themes, Spain debated mature female representation, and France hailed it as “Basic Instinct for the #MeToo era.”
Critical Heat: Love It or Hate It, You Can’t Ignore It
Reviews were polarized but passionate. The New York Times called it “a dark artifact of pre-apocalyptic optimism,” while Vanity Fair craved “more heat.” Nicole Kidman, however, earned universal acclaim. Variety declared her performance “fearless,” and the National Board of Review named her Best Actress.
Not everyone was sold. The Guardian dismissed it as “machine-tooled,” but even critics admitted Kidman’s raw vulnerability sobbing post-orgasm, confronting her husband was Oscar-worthy.
Cultural Impact
Babygirl ignited debates far beyond cinema:
- The “Milk Challenge”: Fans uploaded videos chugging milk in moody lighting, a nod to Romy’s rebellion.
- Aging Unapologetically: The film joined The Lost Daughter and 80 For Brady in redefining older women’s roles.
- Mental Health Dialogues: Therapists in Denmark now use the film to discuss female sexuality and midlife crises.
Even awards shows paid homage. At the Critics’ Choice Awards, Chelsea Handler and Ralph Fiennes recreated the milk scene with Handler quipping, “This one’s for the cougars!”
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If You Loved Babygirl, Watch These Next
- Secretary (2002): A precursor in BDSM dynamics and workplace romance, with Maggie Gyllenhaal’s star-making turn.
- Last Summer (2023): Catherine Breillat’s take on an older woman’s affair less glossy, more psychologically brutal.
- Indecent Proposal (1993): The ultimate “money vs. morals” thriller, minus the female gaze.
- Unfaithful (2002): Diane Lane’s electrifying performance as a wife chasing passion.
- The Graduate (1967): The age-gap classic that asked, “Mrs. Robinson, are you trying to seduce me?”
Why Babygirl Matters
Babygirl isn’t perfect it’s too slick for some, too provocative for others but it’s unafraid to confront taboos. In a world obsessed with “likable” female characters, Romy Mathis is gloriously messy: selfish, sexual and utterly human. Kidman’s fearless performance, paired with Reijn’s clinical direction, makes this more than a thriller it’s a manifesto for women who refuse to fade into the background.