You’ve probably seen the clips. Nicole Kidman looking intense, Harris Dickinson being brooding, and a whole lot of internet chatter about "the return of the erotic thriller." Naturally, because it's the 2020s, your first instinct is to open your phone and check the search bar. Is Babygirl on Netflix? It's a fair question. Netflix basically owns the "steamy thriller" genre right now with things like Fair Play or those endless Polish imports.
But here’s the short answer: No. It isn’t.
If you’re scrolling through your Netflix queue looking for Halina Reijn’s latest provocation, you’re going to be disappointed. You'll find Baby Reindeer. You'll find Baby Driver. You might even find some weird kids' show about talking babies. But the A24 powerhouse starring Kidman and Antonio Banderas is nowhere to be found on the platform. Honestly, it probably won’t be for a very long time, if ever.
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The A24 Factor: Why You Won't Find Babygirl on Netflix
The streaming world is a mess of contracts. Most people think everything eventually ends up on Netflix, but that’s just not how it works anymore. Babygirl is an A24 production. If you follow the industry, you know that A24 is the "cool kid" of independent cinema. They don't just dump their prestige titles onto the biggest streamer.
Instead, A24 has a massive, multi-year deal with Warner Bros. Discovery.
This means the natural home for Babygirl—once it finishes its theatrical run and its "Video on Demand" (VOD) window—is actually Max (formerly HBO Max). This deal kicked in back in early 2024, shifting the pipeline away from places like Showtime or Netflix. If you want to see Nicole Kidman’s high-stakes office affair play out on your TV, you’re going to need a Max subscription or a credit card ready for a digital rental on Amazon or Apple.
Why does this matter? Because Netflix is increasingly focused on its own "Originals." They’d rather spend $200 million on a spy movie starring Ryan Reynolds than pay the high licensing fees A24 demands for a critical darling. It’s a strategy shift.
Where is Babygirl playing right now?
Right now, it’s all about the big screen. Babygirl hit theaters in the United States in late December 2024, aimed squarely at the awards season. A24 is banking on Kidman’s performance—which won her the Best Actress Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival—to carry the film through the winter.
If you're looking for it today, check your local indie theater or the nearest AMC. It’s a movie designed for a dark room with a loud sound system. There’s a specific kind of tension in this film—a power dynamic between a high-level CEO and a young intern—that just hits differently when you can’t pause it to check your texts.
Understanding the VOD Window
Let’s say you hate theaters. Maybe the popcorn is too expensive or you just can’t stand people whispering. When can you get it at home?
Typically, A24 movies follow a predictable path:
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- Theatrical Exclusive: 45 to 60 days.
- Digital Purchase/Rental: You can buy it on Vudu, Apple TV, or Google Play. This usually happens about 6 weeks after the premiere.
- Streaming Premiere: This is the "free" (with subscription) release on Max. Usually 4 to 6 months after the theater debut.
So, if you’re asking is Babygirl on Netflix because you’re hoping to save a few bucks, you’re looking at a wait until at least Spring 2025 to see it on a streaming service, and even then, it’ll be Max, not the big N.
What is Babygirl actually about? (No Spoilers)
It’s easy to dismiss this as just another "scandalous" movie. But it’s smarter than that. Nicole Kidman plays Romy, a high-powered robotics executive. She has a "perfect" life: a successful husband (Antonio Banderas) and a career most people would kill for.
Then enters Samuel, played by Harris Dickinson.
He’s an intern. He’s much younger. And he sees right through her professional armor. The movie explores the idea of "radical consent" and the messy, often confusing ways people seek out power or submission. It’s not just a "cheating" movie. It’s a psychological study of someone who has everything but feels nothing, until she finds someone willing to break the rules.
Kidman has been vocal about how terrifying this role was. She told reporters at Venice that she felt "exposed" making it. That’s probably why the buzz is so high. It’s rare to see a superstar of her caliber take this kind of risk this far into her career.
If you like the vibe of Babygirl, watch these on Netflix instead
Okay, so you’re logged into Netflix, you’re disappointed Babygirl isn't there, and you still want to watch something intense. What do you do?
Netflix does have some solid "spiritual cousins" to this film.
- Fair Play (2023): This is the closest thing you’ll get. It’s about a young couple working at a cutthroat hedge fund whose relationship turns toxic when one gets a promotion over the other. It’s sharp, mean, and very focused on power dynamics.
- Obsession: A limited series about a surgeon who becomes obsessed with his son's fiancée. It's much more "soap opera" than Babygirl, but it hits that same "taboo" button.
- Chloe: A slow-burn thriller about a woman who becomes obsessed with the social media life of an old friend who dies suddenly. It’s more about identity than sex, but the tension is top-tier.
Honestly, Fair Play is the winner here. If the office-politics-meets-intimacy side of Babygirl is what interested you, Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich deliver something truly uncomfortable in that movie.
The Future of A24 and Streaming
The landscape is shifting. For a while, Apple TV+ was the place for A24 movies (remember Causeway or The Tragedy of Macbeth?). Then there was a brief window where everything seemed to land on Showtime.
Now, the Max deal is the law of the land.
This is part of a larger trend where "prestige" content is being used as a lure to get people to subscribe to specific platforms. Max wants to be the home of "quality," and having the latest Nicole Kidman thriller is a big part of that brand identity. Netflix, meanwhile, is moving toward "mass appeal" content. They want the next Wednesday or the next Squid Game.
How to track when it finally drops
If you’re determined to wait for the streaming release, I’d recommend using a tool like JustWatch. It’s basically a search engine for streaming services. You can set an alert for Babygirl, and the second it moves from "Theaters Only" to "Available on Max" or "Available for Rent," you’ll get a notification.
It beats checking the Netflix search bar every Friday night.
Final verdict on the Netflix rumors
You might see TikToks or sketchy "free movie" sites claiming is Babygirl on Netflix in other countries. Be careful. While Netflix does sometimes license movies differently in places like India or South Korea, Babygirl is a major A24 theatrical priority. It is extremely unlikely to pop up on Netflix anywhere in the world for the foreseeable future.
The film is a reminder that the "monoculture" of Netflix is fading. We’re back to a world where you have to hunt for the good stuff.
Actionable Steps for Viewers
- Check local listings: If you want to see it now, the theater is your only legal option. Search for "Babygirl showtimes near me."
- Monitor Max: If you have a Max subscription, keep an eye on their "Coming Soon" section starting in March 2025.
- Avoid the scams: Do not click on "Watch Babygirl Free on Netflix" links on social media. These are almost always phishing attempts or malware.
- Watch Fair Play: If you need that fix right now, search Netflix for Fair Play. It’s the best alternative available on the platform and covers similar themes of power and professional sabotage.