Babygirl (2024)

Detailed Summary

The Opening: Cracks in the Perfect Life

Romy (Nicole Kidman), a CEO and mother, appears flawless. But the film opens with her secret sexual dissatisfaction, watching porn after intimacy with her husband Jacob (Antonio Banderas).

The Internship Begins: Samuel Enters

When young intern Samuel (Harris Dickinson) arrives, Romy is drawn in by his boldness. Their chemistry sparks during a hallway moment with a dog—his calm control unsettles her.

The Affair Escalates: Power Upturned

Their fling quickly turns into a BDSM-tinged power play. Samuel, not Romy, begins to hold the power—challenging her control in both office and bedroom .

Tensions Rise: Family and Office Collide

The affair bleeds into her personal life. Esme (Sophie Wilde) confronts Romy at work; Romy admits her infidelity to Jacob, though downplays it. Jacob later confronts Samuel during a house encounter and collapses with a panic attack—Samuel though leaves.

Turning Point: Truth and Reckoning

With encouragement from her daughter Isabel, Romy and Jacob attempt to heal their marriage—and rekindle intimacy, mirroring what she experienced with Samuel.

Movie Ending

In the final moments, Romy and Jacob reenact the rough intimacy she shared with Samuel—but this time with emotional reconnection. Romy reaches orgasm by imagining Samuel and their shared dog, signaling she has not forgotten her affair’s deeply transformative effect.

Samuel, meanwhile, has taken a job in Japan, implying distance and closure—but also that Romy’s psyche and desires have been permanently shifted.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No post-credits scene exists. The film concludes with Romy’s intimate reconnection with Jacob, with no additional epilogue or teaser material.

Type of Movie

Babygirl is an erotic drama–thriller exploring mature themes of power, desire, and female sexual autonomy within complex personal and professional boundaries.

Cast

• Nicole Kidman as Romy
• Harris Dickinson as Samuel
• Antonio Banderas as Jacob
• Sophie Wilde as Esme
• Esther McGregor and Vaughan Reilly as Romy’s daughters

Film Music and Composer

The score is by Cristobal Tapia de Veer, with the original song Leash by Sky Ferreira, blending electro-rock and synth-pop to complement the film’s intense erotic energy.

Filming Locations

Primarily shot in major cities (Manhattan, a country home, and hotel interiors), the setting is essential: the high-rise elegance of Romy’s life contrasts with the intimate, enclosed spaces of her affair and personal collapse. These environments reflect her power and vulnerability.

Awards and Nominations

• Nicole Kidman won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at Venice Int’l Film Festival
• Named one of National Board of Review’s Top Ten Films of 2024, with Kidman also winning Best Actress
• Box office hit: grossed $64.6M on a $20M budget

Behind-the-Scenes Insights

• Kidman described feeling “very exposed … ragged” after intense intimacy scenes.
• A24 pooled intimacy coordinators and ensured Kidman remained comfortable under director Halina Reijn’s protective guidance.
• Sophie Wilde praised Kidman’s mentorship on set.

Inspirations and References

• Inspired by erotic thrillers like Basic Instinct, seeking to subvert gendered tropes by placing a powerful woman at the center.
• Begins echoes of Eyes Wide Shut, revisited through the lens of female desire.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

No confirmed alternate endings in the public domain. Some intimate and psychological beats were reportedly trimmed to preserve pacing and focus, but no official director’s cut has surfaced.

Book Adaptations and Differences

Original screenplay by Halina Reijn—not based on a book. The story is her own, so there’s no adaptation to compare or differentiate.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• Romy’s voyeuristic opening with pornography—immediately revealing her inner life.
• The sidewalk “dog trick” scene where Samuel demonstrates irresistible control.
• Jacob’s panic attack and rooftop confrontation with Samuel, showing emotional collapse.

Iconic Quotes

• Samuel to Romy: “I think you like to be told what to do.”
• Final impactful line from Romy (echoing Eyes Wide Shut), referenced by critics as a powerful denouement.

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• Subtle use of dog imagery to symbolize control and obedience (especially the hotel room scene).
• References to parent-child dynamics mirror Romy’s own need for guidance and submission.
• Costume and color choices shift from sharp neutrals to muted, vulnerable tones as Romy unravels.

Trivia

• Kidman’s most explicit and emotionally taxing role to date.
• First A24 film directed by female lead writer-director Halina Reijn.
• Film sparked discussion on the ‘orgasm gap’ in cinema, intentionally confronting it.

Why Watch?

If you crave provocative, emotionally layered storytelling—especially one that centers female desire, power reversals, and personal rediscovery—this film is bold, boundary-pushing, and visually sleek. It delivers on intimate intensity and psychological stakes.

Director’s Other Films

• Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022) – satirical horror-thriller
• Reijn also has theatre and acting credits, but Babygirl is her major directorial breakout

Recommended Films for Fans

• Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)
• Nymphomaniac: Vol. I (2013)
• Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
• Basic Instinct (1992)
• Secretary (2002)
• The Substance (2024)
• Nightbitch (2024)