Something that doesn’t usually happen is that one of the most critically acclaimed films is also one of the most successful films of the year. At least in relative terms. Generally, the films that make the best numbers are those that appeal to a larger number of people, and that rarely translates into complex or interesting films, but rather into simple and funny ones. Which is fine, but it creates an obvious bias between what is good and what is popular.
That was not the case for Babygirl. A film that was not only an absolute critical and award-winning success, but also caused a strong cultural impact that does not seem to be fading anytime soon and, in addition, was a more than notable box office success.
A movie that succeeded in winning over both critics and audiences
Babygirl is a film directed and written by Halina Reijn, who directed the popular Bodies Bodies Bodies in 2022, featuring Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, and Antonio Banderas in the leading roles. The film tells the story of a CEO dissatisfied with her sex life who finds a lover in a temp who protects her from a dog attack on the street. The plot thickens when games of domination and submission begin to intertwine in her life.
With a budget of 20 million dollars, the movie managed to gross over 64 million dollars at the box office. All of this without counting its release in the home format, being the most rented movie in the US, and becoming the third and sixth most purchased movie on iTunes and Fandango. This makes it an absolute commercial success.
But that doesn’t mean that the critics did not respond positively to the film. With a 76% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 79 on Metacritic, the film was met with great enthusiasm, except for the few dissenting voices that have abhorred it. Declaring it sexy, dark, and unpredictable, the excellent work of Nicole Kidman has been particularly highlighted for being both vulnerable and tremendously dominant, honestly showing how a sadomasochistic relationship works where the boundaries typical of this kind of relationship are not respected.
A conversation that does not run out
This has translated into an obscene amount of awards for Kidman as best actress for her performance in the film, being the big winner of the year in terms of nominations and victories among actresses who released films in 2010. Additionally, it was the best film of 2024 according to Time magazine, but it appeared in at least thirteen other publications in at least their top 10. Demonstrating that its success has been neither casual nor precisely insignificant.
Moreover, the film has generated no small amount of debate. Generating conversation about the role of women’s sexuality, especially among those who have already turned 30, and also the representation of mature women in fiction, the film has remained in the collective imagination since its release. And it is to be expected that it will continue to do so for a long time.
Especially considering that it is now available for streaming, being one of the major releases of August on Movistar+. A perfect opportunity to watch a movie that has generated conversation and no small amount of controversy and to find out if it was worth it or if, in the end, it was better to watch the new MCU movie.
