This holiday season, director Halina Reijn is transporting audiences back to 1999 with Babygirl. No, the film doesn’t take place at the end of the 20th century, but it does evoke Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut. Much like Kubrick’s final masterpiece, Babygirl showcases Nicole Kidman in a sexually-driven story set amongst the wealthy at Christmastime. While Babygirl never reaches the cinematic heights of Eyes Wide Shut, it’s exciting and refreshing to watch a 57-year-old Kidman thrive in a sexually charged drama. The movie is not without its faults, but in a time when younger adult audiences seem to be pushing back against steamy movies, Babygirl is a reminder that sex scenes do have a purpose. 

In Babygirl, Kidman plays Romy, a high-powered CEO who, from the very first scene, is sexually dissatisfied with her husband, Jacob (Antonio Banderas). When Samuel (Harris Dickinson) begins an internship at her company, Romy quickly discovers that the power and control she exudes in the board room is the opposite of what she wants from the bedroom. As Samuel and Romy enter a sexual relationship, it not only threatens Romy’s home life but also shatters her preconceived notions of sexual dynamics.

From the jump, Babygirl asks its audience to take a big leap by believing Banderas, one of the most notoriously handsome actors of the past three decades, can’t satisfy a woman. However, as the film goes on, it becomes clear that Romy’s issues are less about Jacob’s abilities as a lover and more about her inability to express her desires. 

You can’t talk about Babygirl without diving into the sex scenes, which are frequent, tantalizing, and unique. The movie doesn’t shy away from its core themes of sexual exploration, which might make some audiences uncomfortable. However, like Romy, we recommend powering through your unease and going along for the ride (pun intended). Romy’s sexual preferences aren’t exactly conventional, but that doesn’t make her a bad or dirty person, and watching her investigate those feelings might do viewers some good. 

Antonio Banderas and Nicole Kidman in Babygirl

The film’s entire cast gives strong performances, and it’s no surprise Kidman has already received big nominations for her turn as Romy, including a Golden Globe nod for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama. In addition to going all-in during the creatively salacious sex scenes, Kidman does a masterful job of showcasing Romy’s internal struggle as her emotional and physical needs begin to clash. 

Dickinson also manages to find an impressive balance as he combines Samuel’s proclivity for sexual dominance while still allowing the character to feel like a 20-something who doesn’t have it all figured out. Samuel is not some perfectly molded sexual savior who sweeps Romy off her feet. He’s smart and has incredible intuition, but struggles with Romy’s indecisiveness. He feels like a real person rather than some unattainable man molded from Twilight fan fiction. 

Unfortunately, Babygirl comes to a halt in the middle when the characters inexplicably regress to 30 minutes earlier in the runtime. When Romy starts to question her relationship with Samuel, their escapades take a pause. But when they reunite, it’s almost as if the first part of their affair never happened. It’s perfectly normal for characters to be wishy-washy and unsure of themselves, but the movie resets them back to square one. This stumbling block made the experience feel overlong, and it took a bit for the film to regain its footing. 

Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson in Babygirl

Banderas also felt underused for the majority of the film, but he does get the chance to shine in a later scene. In fact, the star manages to save the movie from getting lost in its own commotion. He helps the story find its center, and while the film could have done a better job of making him three-dimensional, he’s a critical piece of the Babygirl puzzle. By the end, you’ll more than appreciate what he brings to the table.

Ultimately, Babygirl is flawed but welcome in 2024. As younger audiences become more prudish, films like this one are more important than ever. While the movie doesn’t always work, Romy’s journey is a lesson in sex positivity, which is something that should be showcased in this age of filmmaking. Babygirl is undeniably sexy, but it’s also not glorifying sexual power dynamics in some fantastical, 50 Shades of Gray-type way. There’s nuance as Kidman’s character struggles with her sexual preferences. She feels shame and confusion for a long time, but the movie doesn’t conclude with suppression. Babygirl wants the audience to know it’s healthy to consensually explore your desires, and while that kind of undertaking can be messy and scary, it’s also liberating and healthy.

Babygirl premieres in theaters December 25.