Nicole Kidman is one of the most recognizable actors in Hollywood today, and she has acted in numerous genres throughout her decades-long career, leading to her most recent success with the erotic thrillerBabygirl. Kidman’s breakout role was in the1989 ocean thrillerDead Calm, and she gained even more attention for her roles in movies throughout the 1990s. Kidman has even starred in erotic thrillers before, such asEyes Wide Shut, proving that she was a perfect casting choice forBabygirl,andBabygirl’s positive reviewsconfirm this.
However, while some ofNicole Kidman’s movieshave fared very well with audiences and critics, garnering numerous award nominations and wins, some of her other movies have not been so successful. In fact, the recent success ofBabygirlhas helped Kidman break a negative Rotten Tomatoes streak from 2023 and 2024, which was the worst she had seen in over 10 years. Luckily,Babygirlis able to bring Kidman’s talent back to the forefront with its positive reception.
Babygirl Has A 77% On Rotten Tomatoes After 3 Consecutive “Rotten” Nicole Kidman Movies
Kidman’s Newest Movie Is Doing Well With Critics
Babygirlfeatures a great castand centers on an executive who begins an affair with a younger man, played by rising star Harris Dickinson. The movie focuses on the ramifications of her actions for her life and family, as well as exploring the power dynamics of the relationship. WhileBabygirlhas not done as well with general audiences, critics' reviews have led to a 77% approval rating onRotten Tomatoes, marking a change from the “Rotten” scores of her three previous movies from 2023 and 2024.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
33%
80%
36%
30%
45%
51%
77%
54%
Kidman’s most recent film, the animated children’s Netflix movieSpellbound, received a 45% critics score and 51% audience score.A Family Affair, which featured asimilar affair between Kidman’s character and a younger man, received a 36% critical approval rating with an even lower score of 30% from audiences. Kidman’s lone 2023 movie was theAquamansequel,Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,and it earned an underwhelming 33%, rounding out the set of ill-received performances (viaRotten Tomatoes). However, theAquamansequel was well-received by general audiences, considering its 80% score.
Her Three Recent Movies Follow A Rotten Streak From The Early 2010s
Nicole Kidman has been in many critically acclaimed movies, but her recent films have unfortunately not been as successful, creating a reminder ofKidman’s previous negative Rotten Tomatoes streak from the early 2010s. In 2011, Kidman starred inJust Go With ItandTrespassand served as producer forMonte Carlowhich each received a score under 50%. These three were followed byThe PaperboyandHemingway & Gellhornin 2012, which met the same fate. Luckily, her 2013 movieStokerbroke the streak with a 70% approval rating onRotten Tomatoes.
New Nicole Kidman Romance Creates The Weirdest Trend Of Her 41-Year Movie Career
Nicole Kidman is starring in another romance movie in 2024, and along with A Family Affair, it’s creating the weirdest trend in her acting career.
Sadly, this streak directly followed an equally negative Rotten Tomatoes streak from just two years earlier. From 2007 to 2009, Nicole Kidman starred inMargot at the Wedding, The Golden Compass, Lagerfeld Confidential, Australia, andNine,which each received “Rotten” scores from critics. The films also scored fairly evenly with audiences, displaying their average reception overall.This first streak was finally broken in 2010 with the acclaimed movieRabbit Hole, a title that Kidman also produced.
Why Babygirl’s Rotten Tomatoes Score Is So Much Better Than Nicole Kidman’s More Recent Movies
Critics Have Already Praised The Plot And Performances
Following its release, audiences can now fully understand whyBabygirlwas able to stop Nicole Kidman’s most recent streak in its tracks. The movie includes masterful performances from Kidman, Antonio Banderas, and Harris Dickinson. Likewise, the story by Halina Reijn is well-written and self-contained without leaving audiences feeling like something is missing. More generally,Babygirl’s plot and themes are also more critically appealing than Kidman’s recent films,even in the case ofA Family Affair, which featured similar story details.
Movies likeAquaman and the Lost Kingdom, A Family Affair, andSpellboundare certainly entertaining, but they are not necessarily the types of movies that tend to garner high ratings or Awards buzz.The drama and erotic thriller aspects ofBabygirlmake the film stand out morethan a superhero sequel or Netflix movie, so it makes sense that it would be more critically acclaimed. Since Nicole Kidman has found success with similar genre films previously, perhapsBabygirlwill serve as a reminder of the roles in which her talent shines the brightest.
Babygirl
Cast
Babygirl revolves around a high-powered CEO who risks her career and family by engaging in a passionate affair with her much younger intern. Released in 2024, this narrative explores themes of ambition, power dynamics, and personal sacrifice.
