In 2024, Amy Adams appeared in the movieNightbitch, and although the critical ratings are somewhat divisive, there’s a chance that this film could win Adams her very first Oscar. Based on a novel of the same name by Rachel Yoder,Nightbitchfollows an unnamed protagonist simply known as Mother. After abandoning her art career to care for her toddler, Mother begins to feel restricted, and as a result, starts to notice strange changes in her body. More specifically,Mother starts to believe that she and other mothers are turning into dogs.
Adams has enjoyed an outstanding career over the course of several decades, and arguably, her somewhat odd role inNightbitchis not a huge surprise.Adams has proven her incredible versatility, from portraying a naive Disney princess inEnchantedto a conniving liar inAmerican Hustle.Adams is not afraid to act in unique worlds or take on heavy characters. In fact, some of her best performances are those where she is struggling with something massively painful. Yet, what makeswatchingNightbitchparticularly exciting is that it could finally be the role that wins her an Oscar.
Amy Adams' Nightbitch Is Now Streaming On Hulu, Just Weeks After Its Theatrical Release
Nightbitch’s Box Office Stats Explained
The good news is that audiences who did not have the chance to seeNightbitchin theaters can check out the film on streaming.Nightbitchis currently on Hulu. However, the bad news is that,consideringNightbitch’sDecember 2024 release date, its move to streaming is a bad omen.Typically, a movie’s theatrical run can hint at its success. If a movie stays in theaters for a long time, that means people are continually interested in seeing it. On the other hand, if they’re pulled from theaters after only a few weeks, that implies the movie wasn’t doing too well.
Amy Adams' New Horror-Comedy With 59% RT Score Becomes Streaming Success
Amy Adams' new horror comedy with a 59% Rotten Tomatoes score has become a streaming success after grossing just $170K at the box office.
Although it is exciting thatNightbitchis now available to a wider audience, its move to Hulu is also a hint at the movie’s divisiveness.Nightbitchwas first released on August 23, 2025. Just a month later, the movie is already on streaming. Other, more successful movies don’t move to streaming for almost a year after their release.Nightbitch’sbox office earnings also point toward its questionable success. The film only raked in $170,737 at the box office. Even without knowingNightbitch’sbudget, it is clear that the movie was not a theatrical favorite.
Why Nightbitch’s Reviews Are So Mixed (But Praise Amy Adams' Performance)
How Adams Saved Nightbitch
Nightbitchstruggled at the box office, but it also received some mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike. On Rotten Tomatoes,Nightbitchhas a 59% critics score and a 49% audience score. For the most part, viewers were disappointed by the movie for not going further with its premise. Many felt that director Marielle Heller could have made the movie stranger and more visceral. Yet, even with that disappointment, most critics felt strongly thatAdams was at her best in this role. Her performance was not just good, but nearly perfect.
Without Adams,Nightbitchmay not have had a theatrical release at all.
In this sense, Adams may have savedNightbitch.There’s no doubt that a lesser actor could not have brought the vivid emotion and wildness to Mother that Adams brought, and in fact, a lesser actor may have sunk the entire project. However, Adams committed fully to this role and brought out its most redeeming qualities.Adams highlighted how genuinely relatable Mother is, transforming into a dog aside. She completely embodied the devastating effects of motherhood, while also assuring audiences that children aren’t the problem; it’s society. Without Adams,Nightbitchmay not have had a theatrical release at all.
Amy Adams' Award Wins & Nominations For Nightbitch Are Good News For Her Oscars 2025 Chances
Adams Deserves An Oscar Win - But This Year May Be Tough
The most surprising part ofNightbitchis that, despite its mixed reviews, it could actually win Adams her first Oscar. After being released at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024,Nightbitchraked in a number of nominations and awards. In particular, Adams won the Tribute Performer Award at Toronto, the Outstanding Achievement in Cinema Award at the Savannah Film Festival, and was nominated for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes. With several more award shows coming up, Adams could garner even more accolades.
Best Supporting Actress - 2019
Vice
The most exciting scenario would beif Adams was nominated for Best Actressat the Academy Awards. Arguably, the Oscars are the highest tier of entertainment awards, and Adams already has a unique history with them. Despite being nominated six times since 2006,Adams has never won an Oscar.As audiences await the Oscar’s short lists for 2024, hopes are high that Adams can steal a nomination forNightbitch.Though the competition is tight with films likeAnoraandThe Substance,Nightbitchmay give Adams were moment in the sun.
Nightbitch
Cast
A suburban mother struggles with the isolation of stay-at-home life while raising her young son. As she begins to embrace her primal instincts, she experiences strange transformations, leading her to question whether she’s losing her mind or becoming something altogether different—something feral and dangerous.
