10 Best Movies Like Babygirl
Warning: The following contains minor spoilers for BabygirlFans of Babygirl have plenty of options to choose from in the erotic thriller sub-genre. The latest film from Bodies Bodies Bodies director Halina Reijn delivered a vulnerable performance from Nicole Kidman as Romy, a rich, successful CEO, who is unsatisfied with her sex life despite seemingly having it all. That all changes when she meets an intern willing to indulge in her repressed fantasies, thus leading to an affair that could cost her everything.
The film definitely has people talking, though for some it’s proven to be an acquired taste. Babygirl’s Rotten Tomatoes audience score is more divisive, highlighting how controversial the film’s subject matter is. Either way, viewers may be wondering what other erotic thrillers they should check out afterward, and there are plenty to choose from, like the classic Fatal Attraction or the more recent Sanctuary. Babygirl‘s ending also delivers a midlife crisis, unlike many others, so movies like Nightbitch and Good Luck to You, Leo Grande are more in that vein.
15
Secretary (2002)
A Young Woman Begins A Taboo Affair With Her Boss
Babygirl and several other erotic thrillers have dealt with BDSM, helping to remove some of the taboo nature surrounding it. However, one of the first movies to take on the controversial subject was Secretary. The comedy-drama stars Maggie Gyllenhaal as a young woman who is recently released from a mental health facility and attempts to get back in the workforce. While she gets a job with a demanding lawyer (James Spader), she finds that she is able to connect with her new boss as a submissive partner to his dominating sexual role.
Like Babygirl, the movie explores the complications of a relationship in which the professional world and the sexual world collide. However, it is more interesting in its examination of the complex characters. Just as with Romy, the submissive role she takes in her sex life is seen as liberating rather than diminishing. Likewise, Spader’s character is not a villain, but rather someone who is looking to share his own desires with a willing partner.
14
Unfaithful (2002)
A Woman Begins An Intense Affair With A Stranger
While the intense relationship between Romy and Samuel is at the center of Babygirl, her marriage to Jacob is another key relationship in the movie that is put at risk. One of the best movies to deal with an affair and its impact on a marriage is Unfaithful. Diane Lane stars in the erotic thriller as Connie, a married woman who has a random encounter with a stranger, which leads to a passionate affair. However, when her husband discovers the truth, it threatens to destroy all of their lives.
Both Romy in Babygirl and Connie in Unfaithful are good people who find themselves giving in to temptation while knowing that it could ruin everything in their seemingly perfect world. Each movie deals with the incredible guilt that these women feel, the attempts to end the affairs, and their inability to leave behind this intense pleasure, no matter how damaging it may be.
13
Fair Play (2023)
A Promotion Leads To A Shift In A Couple’s Power Dynamic
8/10
- Release Date
-
October 6, 2023
- Runtime
-
113 minutes
- Director
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Chloe Domont
- Writers
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Chloe Domont
Babygirl is a thriller that plays on both the intensity of the sexual relationship between the two lead characters, but also the intensity of the combative elements this affair creates. One of the best movies in recent years to play on a similar dynamic was the underrated Fair Play. Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich play a couple trying to hide their relationship while working at the same high-stakes investment firm. However, their passionate and strong relationship is tested when she gets a coveted promotion over him.
The central relationship in Fair Play shifts into a boss-and-employee dynamic between the couple, similar to the one shared by Romy and Samuel in Babygirl. However, Fairy Play brilliantly examines how that shift in the power dynamic can cause problems in an established relationship as Ehrenreich’s character becomes consumed with jealousy and feelings of inadequacy while Dynevor initially attempts to give him some power back in the relationship.
12
A Dangerous Method (2011)
A Forbidden Affair Between A Doctor And A Patient
A Dangerous Method
- Release Date
-
September 30, 2011
- Runtime
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99 minutes
- Writers
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Christopher Hampton, John Kerr
From acclaimed director David Cronenberg, this period erotic drama deals not only with an intense sexual relationship but also with some of the most influential minds in psychotherapy. Michael Fassbender stars in A Dangerous Method as famed psychotherapist Carl Jung, who begins a new method of therapy with a young woman named Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley) who is suffering from hysteria. However, the doctor-patient relationship soon pushes past those boundaries, becoming an intense affair.
The movie is a fascinating look at some hugely influential thinkers, with Viggo Mortensen also joining the cast as Jung’s mentor, Sigmund Freud. However, even with the themes of psychoanalysis adding an interesting layer to the movie, the central relationship does have a lot of similarities to the modern relationship in Babygirl. With elements of forbidden affairs, power dynamics, and BDSM, it is a fascinating period look at these ideas.
11
Closer (2004)
A Drama About Affairs And Infidelity
6/10
- Release Date
-
December 3, 2004
- Runtime
-
104 Minutes
- Director
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Mike Nichols
- Writers
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Patrick Marber
While the erotic relationship at the center of Babygirl is the most intense aspect of the movie, the story is also defined so much by the fact that it is a movie about infidelity. As fulfilling as Romy’s affair with Samuel is, she is also overcome with guilt for betraying her husband. One of the best movies to deal with such relationships is the star-studded drama Closer, which stars Julia Roberts and Jude Law as two people who begin an affair, leading to intense repercussions for their respective partners, played by Clive Owen and Natalie Portman.
Closer features the kind of sexually charged relationships that make Babygirl so intense, but the real intensity comes from the conversations about betrayal and the hurt of being cheated on. The conversations between Romy and Jacob in Babygirl reflect these kinds of painful, angry, and devastating confrontations, while Closer also examines the idea of couples trying to overcome such betrayals.
10
Sanctuary (2023)
A Story About Sexual (And Relationship) Power Plays
- Release Date
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May 19, 2023
- Runtime
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96 Minutes
- Director
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Zachary Wigon
- Writers
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Micah Bloomberg
Sanctuary is an erotic thriller that will scratch the itch left by the intense and sexual thrills of Babygirl, blending the erotic elements of the latter with more dangerous potential. Like Babygirl’s Romy, Sanctuary focuses on Christopher Abbott’s Hal Porterfield, a well-off businessman who looks to be dominated in unique ways in order to feel sexually satisfied. Unlike Romy, he looks outside his workplace for said satisfaction, hiring Margaret Qualley’s Rebecca, a professional dominatrix.
When Hal is about to inherit his father’s hotel chain, he decides he can no longer be with his dominatrix because the risk is higher now. Rebecca is unwilling to walk away, though, so she threatens to blackmail Hal. This leads to an engaging power play that has audiences left wondering if this is a legit threat or just part of their game. Sanctuary is an erotic thriller that delves into dark romantic comedy territory at times, and it’s a wild ride carried by its two incredible leads.
9
Kinds of Kindness (2024)
The Power Of Control (And The Desire To Be Controlled)
7/10
- Release Date
-
June 21, 2024
- Runtime
-
164 Minutes
- Director
-
Yorgos Lanthimos
- Writers
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Yorgos Lanthimos, Efthimis Filippou
Like Sanctuary, Kinds of Kindness features Margaret Qualley alongside a stellar ensemble of Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Hong Chau, and Mamoudou Athie. Kinds of Kindness is Yorgos Lanthimos’ bizarre anthology drama composed of three separate stories that feature the same actors in different roles. Of all three stories, the first one, “The Death of RMF,” is the one that will speak most to fans of Babygirl, centered on a power dynamic that explores questions of domination and satisfaction.
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Yorgos Lanthimos’ Kinds of Kindness revolves around the death of a mysterious man named R.M.F., but what exactly does R.M.F. stand for (if anything)?
In this one, Plemons’ character, Robert Fletcher, allows his boss to control every aspect of his life. He receives detailed instructions on how to live his life, from his diet to whether or not he has a child with his wife. Robert hits his limit, though, when his boss requests that he kill a man. While not an overtly sexual relationship, the power dynamic explored in “The Death of RMF,” as well as the lack of control Robert feels in general, are similar to some of the themes explored in Babygirl.
8
Fatal Attraction (1987)
An Erotic Thriller That Takes A Deadly Turn
- Release Date
-
September 18, 1987
- Runtime
-
119 Minutes
- Director
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Adrian Lyne
- Writers
-
James Dearden
One of the most famous erotic thrillers of the 20th century is Fatal Attraction, which was nominated for six Oscars and inspired a TV show of the same name (even if Paramount+ canceled it after just one season). Fatal Attraction is centered around an affair gone horribly wrong. The film stars Glenn Close as Alex, who becomes obsessed with her lover, Michael Douglas’ Dan. This obsession grows more and more uncomfortable, eventually putting Dan and his wife’s lives in danger.
Fatal Attraction was a massive success when it was released in 1987, grossing $320 million at the box office against a $14 million budget before earning six Academy Award nominations.
At the heart of Babygirl is the affair Romy has with her intern, Samuel, and things eventually do come to a dramatic head. Romy’s career and her stable life with her family are at risk, reflecting the ruinous fallout of their relationship being exposed. A similar (if more intense) sense of danger is present in Fatal Attraction for Dan and his wife. For those who liked Babygirl but wanted something a little more dangerous or deadly, Fatal Attraction can scratch that itch.
7
Bound (1996)
An Underrated Wachowski Classic
- Release Date
-
October 4, 1996
- Runtime
-
109 Minutes
- Director
-
Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
- Writers
-
Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
While Fatal Attraction‘s affair is not one to root for, Bound delivers an affair story that leaves audiences hoping the stars can run off into the sunset together. The first feature film directed by the Wachowskis — and one of the best Wachowski movies so far — Bound stars Jennifer Tilly as Violet, a woman in a relationship with a gangster, Joe Pantoliano’s Caesar. However, her new neighbor Corky, played by Gina Gershon, catches her eye. Sparks fly, and the two women start an affair, leading to a plan to help Violet escape her cruel boyfriend and be set for life.
The Wachowskis hit it out of the park with their first feature film, even if it became somewhat overshadowed by their iconic sci-fi follow-up, The Matrix.
The Wachowskis hit it out of the park with their first feature film, even if it became somewhat overshadowed by their iconic sci-fi follow-up, The Matrix. Bound is not just a love story, but also an engaging crime thriller. These women are trying to get their happy ending while also pulling a fast one over a dangerous man who already has little regard for his girlfriend’s well-being and feelings. For audiences looking for another affair story with higher stakes, Bound is perfect for that, and it features a couple worth rooting for.
6
Love Lies Bleeding (2024)
One Of 2024’s Best Criminal Thrillers
7/10
- Release Date
-
March 3, 2024
- Runtime
-
104 Minutes
- Director
-
Rose Glass
- Writers
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Rose Glass, Weronika Tofilska
Bound walked so Love Lies Bleeding could run. While Rose Glass’s sophomore feature is not about an affair like in Bound, it is an erotic crime thriller that embraces the motto “be gay and do crime.” Starring Kristen Stewart as Lou, the daughter of Ed Harris’ crime boss Lou Sr., the film follows Lou as she falls fast and hard for Jackie (Katy O’Brian), an aspiring bodybuilder with nowhere to call home, and who makes an impulsive decision that causes serious problems for the couple.
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Love Lies Bleeding Ending Explained
The surreal conclusion to Love Lies Bleeding leaves plenty of room for interpretation thanks to the ambiguity of some of its fantastical final scenes.
The high of their infatuation, as well as the performance-enhancing drugs Jackie takes, lead to a deadly situation that gets more and more dangerous. Jackie and Lou are obsessed with one another, enabling dangerous and concerning behavior in each other, similar to how Romy and Samuel enable one another despite the known risks. However, the stakes in Love Lies Bleeding, which is Kristen Stewart’s best-reviewed movie, are much higher, and there is no denying the passion Lou and Jackie have for one another, especially given the electric chemistry between Stewart and O’Brian.
5
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
The Final Film Of A Legendary Director
For another erotic thriller starring Nicole Kidman, the go-to recommendation will always be Eyes Wide Shut, which holds the record for the longest continuous film shoot at 400 days — a record Hollywood never wants to beat. Directed by Stanley Kubrick, Eyes Wide Shut is about a husband, Tom Cruise’s Dr. William Harford, reeling from the revelation that his wife, Nicole Kidman’s Alice, contemplated an affair years ago. This sets off a bizarre journey of introspection that leads him through an erotically charged hidden world.
Director Stanley Kubrick passed away on March 7, 1999. Eyes Wide Shut was released posthumously later that same year.
Similar to her character in Babygirl, Kidman’s Alice is sexually unsatisfied and has considered infidelity. Romy takes this a step further by beginning an affair, though. Despite this, both characters have a lot in common as they try to cope with marriages that leave them longing for more elsewhere. However, where Babygirl is the wife’s story, Eyes Wide Shut is the husband’s, largely focusing on William’s internal struggle.
4
Challengers (2024)
Tennis Has Never Been So Sexy
8/10
- Release Date
-
April 26, 2024
- Runtime
-
131 Minutes
- Director
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Luca Guadagnino
- Writers
-
Justin Kuritzkes
One of the best movies of 2024, Challengers came out the same year as Babygirl and serves as an erotic peer to Kidman’s latest exploration of the genre. From Call Me By Your Name director Luca Guadagnino, Challengers is a sports drama turned love triangle featuring Zendaya’s Tashi Duncan, Mike Faist’s Art Donaldson, and Josh O’Connor’s Patrick Zweig. The film’s focus on their dynamic ends up focusing on the drama that erupts between two former best friends, driven apart by their ambitions, both on the tennis court and with Tashi.
Art, married to Tashi, suffers a recent losing streak, but a match against his former best friend and Tashi’s ex-boyfriend, Patrick, reignites the fire inside, leading to a heated match and plenty of drama. Like with Babygirl, there is a clear power play being explored in Challengers. This is emphasized by the competitive nature of these three tennis players. This is Guadagnino’s best-paced film to date, with the interpersonal drama feeling like its own tennis match.
3
Anora (2024)
A Story About Sex That Is More Focused On The People Rather Than The Act
Another 2024 film that fans of Babygirl should check out is Anora. This is another unconventional romance, one where exotic dancer Ani (Mikey Madison) enters a financial arrangement with the son of a Russian oligarch. However, this soon becomes a real relationship and marriage, one that his family disapproves of so much that they go to extreme lengths to annul the marriage altogether.
This gives [Anora] another similarity to Babygirl, which is deeply focused on the characters beyond the sexual thrills of the plot.
Like Nicole Kidman in Babygirl, Mikey Madison gives a raw, vulnerable performance in a potentially superficial role that earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress. On top of that, the Best Picture-winning Anora is another home run for director Sean Baker, who once again makes an incredibly empathetic film, one that treats Ani as a complex person, not the butt of a joke. This gives it another similarity to Babygirl, which is deeply focused on the characters beyond the sexual thrills of the plot.
2
Good Luck To You, Leo Grande (2022)
Not Every Story About Sexual Exploration Needs To Be So Serious
Good Luck To You, Leo Grande is a small, intimate film starring Emma Thompson as Nancy Stokes, a widow who tries to rediscover herself sexually. Like Nicole Kidman’s Romy, Nancy was sexually repressed throughout her marriage. Unlike Romy, Nancy accepted this right up to her husband’s death. Now, she is ready to try to work through this by hiring a sex worker, Daryl McCormack’s Leo Grande, leading to a surprisingly sweet encounter.
While Romy knows what fantasies turn her on, a lot of this is new to Nancy. As a result, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande gently eases Nancy and the audience into this relationship with Leo. Gentle and kind is the best way to describe how Leo, as well as the filmmakers, are with Nancy, thus leading to a unique coming-of-age story for an older woman, one that leads to Nancy loving herself more and getting more comfortable with her body and sexuality.
1
Nightbitch (2024)
A Story Of Womanhood
7/10
- Release Date
-
December 6, 2024
- Runtime
-
98 Minutes
- Director
-
Marielle Heller
- Writers
-
Marielle Heller, Rachel Yoder
Released the same month as Babygirl, Nightbitch is a much more feral coming-of-age comedy than Good Luck to You, Leo Grande. The film focuses on a middle-aged mother and wife, with Amy Adams portraying the unnamed mother. The woman feels like a shell of her former self until she begins to embrace a more animal-like and unapologetic side to herself. So much so, in fact, she thinks she is becoming a dog at night.
Nightbitch explores the ugly side of motherhood and how a lot of the work a mother does can be overlooked by others, such as by the mother’s unnamed husband. Like Romy in Babygirl, Adams’ character unpacks her frustrations with her role as wife and mother, but that goes beyond just her sexual frustrations and desires. Both Nightbitch and Babygirl highlight the natural dichotomy that women can experience in their lives, finding liberation and satisfaction in surprising ways.
9/10
- Release Date
-
December 25, 2024
- Runtime
-
114 Minutes
- Director
-
Halina Reijn
- Writers
-
Halina Reijn
