Nicole Kidman is making erotic thrillers cool again.

Is Nicole Kidman going to make movies horny again? If her new film Babygirl is a success, it's possible.

In the 1980s and '90s, erotic thrillers were all the rage — a boundary-breaking, titillating novelty in a time when themes around sexuality were still largely considered taboo. The result was a boom in the market, and while there are some films that have stood the test of time, or even just cemented their place in pop culture history over the years, the boom eventually led to oversaturation and a decline in quality and interest. As conversations about sex went mainstream — and let's be real, as porn hit the internet — the thrill of the erotic thriller lost its edge.

And of course, there are also the evolving conversations around power dynamics and informed consent. It's not just that these films aren't as exciting as they once were; it's that many of them feature sexual dynamics that are considered problematic, even predatory in nature, by today's audiences.

In recent years, movies have veered away from showing graphic sex scenes in the way they once did, and last year, one UCLA study revealed that Gen Z wanted to see less sex on screen. But so many things in life are cyclical, and if Babygirl is anything to go by, erotic films may soon be making their way back into the cultural zeitgeist, but with a more modern, empowering sensibility than the erotic films of decades past.

Watch the trailer for Babygirl. Article continues below.

Written and directed by Halina Reijn (Bodies Bodies Bodies), Babygirl stars Kidman as Romy, a high-powered CEO who puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with her much younger intern (Harris Dickinson). At a Venice International Film Festival press conference for the film, Kidman said that Babygirl was a "very liberating" story to tell, and that she found the experience of filming it "very freeing".

Of the film's themes, Kidman said that it was "obviously about sex", adding, "it's about desire, it's about your inner thoughts, it's about secrets, it's about marriage, it's about truth, power, consent".

"It's told by a woman, through her gaze — Halina [Reijn] wrote it and she directed it — and that's, to me, what made it so unique because suddenly I was going to be in the hands of a woman with this material," Kidman added.

Whether Babygirl will usher in a new era of erotic films told through a female gaze remains to be seen, but if early reviews are anything to go by, it will be worth a watch. Vanity Fair critic David Canfield called the film a "masterclass in kink", while the BBC praised Kidman for delivering her "bravest and best performance in quite some time". 

Babygirl is set to hit US cinemas on December 25. As we wait for the Australian release date to be confirmed, though, here are some of the most popular erotic thrillers you can stream right now.

Basic Instinct (1992).

Image: TriStar Pictures.

It's iconic for a reason, folks! Basic Instinct is a steamy, edge-of-your-seat thriller that masterfully blends suspense with seductive drama. With Sharon Stone's iconic performance and THAT unforgettable interrogation scene, it's a must-watch for anyone craving a dose of '90s nostalgia and a plot that keeps you guessing.

Basic Instinct is streaming now on Stan.

Body Heat (1981).

Image: Warner Bros.

Body Heat is a sizzling, noir-inspired thriller that oozes with tension and undeniable chemistry between it lead actors, Kathleen Turner and William Hurt. Turner, in particular, delivers a smoldering performance, and Body Heat is a sultry reminder that love, lust and danger often make a dangerously irresistible cocktail.

Body Heat is available to rent on Prime Video.

Crash (1996).

Image: Alliance Communications.

No, we're not talking about the 2004 Best Picture winner Crash, but rather, the very provocative and sometimes challenging David Cronenberg film Crash.

This Crash is a daring exploration of the connection between desire and danger, and it pushes the boundaries of both storytelling and viewer comfort. With its bold themes and intense performances, this one won't be for everyone, but it's a film that challenges the viewer to confront the darkest corners of human obsession.

Crash is streaming on Prime Video.

Disclosure (1994).

Image: Warner Bros.

Demi Moore's new film The Substance was met with rave reviews at the Cannes Film Festival back in May, which could mean that a Moore-aissance is on the horizon. Basically? There's never been a better time to revisit her back catalogue.

One of Moore's standout performances comes via Disclosure, a gripping corporate thriller that flips the script on power dynamics. It's a tense, thought-provoking look at sexual politics in the workplace, and you'll be hooked from start to finish.

Disclosure is available to rent on Prime Video.

Eyes Wide Shut (1999).

Image: Warner Bros.

Babygirl isn't Nicole Kidman's first foray into eroticism in cinema. Stanley Kubrick's final film, Eyes Wide Shut, is a hypnotic, psychologically provocative journey into the depths of desire and secrecy. Kidman and her then-husband Tom Cruise both deliver magnetic performances in the film that ended up as a book-end to their marriage. But beyond the headlines, Eyes Wide Shut remains a haunting exploration of trust and temptation, and its lush, dreamlike cinematography is sure to suck you in.

Eyes Wide Shut is available to rent on Apple TV.

Fatal Attraction (1987).

Image: Paramount Pictures.

Another iconic addition to the erotic thriller landscape, Fatal Attraction will have you on the edge of your seat. Glenn Close delivers a powerful and unforgettable performance as Alex Forrest, who begins to stalk Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas) after a one-night stand. Beyond that scene (we won't spoil it if you haven't seen it!), Fatal Attraction is a film that shows how one moment's temptation can have truly terrifying consequences.

Fatal Attraction is streaming now on Stan.

Indecent Proposal (1993).

Image: Paramount Pictures.

Another Demi Moore entry into the erotic thriller canon, Indecent Proposal asks viewers to consider what they'd do for a million dollars — and how far they'd go to protect their relationships. Love and money meet moral dilemma in this high stakes thriller that sees David (Woody Harrelson) and Diana Murphy (Moore) caught in an emotional tug-of-war after a billionaire (Robert Redford) offers them a million dollars for a night with Diana.

Indecent Proposal is streaming now on Stan.

Sliver (1993).

Image: Paramount Pictures.

A steamy, tantalising thriller that will lunge you into a world of voyeurism and deceit, Sliver is will keep you guessing until the end. It's intense, it's suspenseful, and if you're looking for a film to pair with Basic Instinct, you can make it a Sharon Stone double feature with Sliver.

Sliver is available to rent on Prime Video.

Unfaithful (2002).

Image: 20th Century Fox.

With a standout performance by Diane Lane, Unfaithful is a steamy drama that explores the consequences of infidelity with a rawness you won't soon forget. It's a masterclass exploration of trust versus desire, and is the kind of film that will linger in your mind long after the credits roll.

Unfaithful is streaming now on Stan.

Wild Things (1998).

Image: Columbia Pictures.

Just when you think you've got Wild Things all figured out, it hits you with another plot twist. An endlessly watchable, wickedly entertaining thriller, Wild Things is as heavy on the deceit as it is on the seduction, and you're bound to be on the edge of your seat as you try to figure it all out.

Wild Things is streaming now on Stan.

Image: A24

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