Birth

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Birth

R

Released Oct 29, 2004

1h 40m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

41%

Tomatometer

150 Reviews

43%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

It took Anna (Nicole Kidman) 10 years to recover from the death of her husband, Sean, but now she's on the verge of marrying her boyfriend, Joseph (Danny Huston), and finally moving on. However, on the night of her engagement party, a young boy named Sean (Cameron Bright) turns up, saying he is her dead husband reincarnated. At first she ignores the child, but his knowledge of her former husband's life is uncanny, leading her to believe that he might be telling the truth.

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Critics Consensus

A well-mounted production is undermined by a muddled, absurd storyline of questionable taste.

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Will Self

London Evening Standard

This is a grown-up, intelligent, beautiful film. Rejoice.

Dec 26, 2017

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

What were they thinking?

Rated: 1/5

Dec 22, 2010

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David Ansen

Newsweek

The setup of Glazer's hypnotic movie suggests a supernatural thriller, but the execution is pure European art film. Kidman gives a bold performance as a woman in extreme distress, but the script is hooey. Birth is ridiculous, and oddly unforgettable.

Nov 1, 2007

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a fairly absurd premise that is, at the outset, employed to surprisingly compelling and mesmerizing effect by Glazer...

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 4, 2025

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Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

Fascinating "what if" scenario captured on film led by a bravura, if understated, performance from Nicole Kidman.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 30, 2024

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Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

A hypnotic mediation on grief, anchored by a stunning performance by Kidman and a scene-stealing Anne Heche. That the film was critiqued for its infamous bathtub scene proves folks missed the point.

Rated: 4.5/5

Sep 25, 2024

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Colin M

A man dies. A child is born. An enjoyable movie that leaves you wondering about the central question until near the end. Well structured. A bit too much silence from intelligent people when there should be more questions asked, but that was okay.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/16/25

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h t

Go off Nicole !! The ratings on this film are a travesty!! Amazing film, amazing acting, insane story line, has stayed with me weeks after, some absolute genious moments, glazier strikes again baby. If you can allow yourself to trust it, through its surreal and at times uncomfortable themes, then its quite a ride. Peace out Johnathan, thank you for another total mind blending slice of something so unrealy real

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/14/25

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Julian S

It’s not a bad film, but the performances are way too subdued for how catastrophic the story is.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/13/24

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Peepmo E

Delicate and strange, it's not for everyone. This film is expertly crafted and weirdly haunting. I can't believe how criminally underrated it is. Pearls before swine y'all.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/05/24

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Dani G

Maybe it was Jonathan Glazer's beginnings, 'cause it had something of his style, but very failed project. It didn't connect what was supposed to

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/29/24

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Ian E

As with all of Jonathan Glazer's work this movie isn't what it appears to be at first glance. Much like Sexy Beast wasn't really a gangster movie; though it had lots of gangstery tropes. Birth isn't really a movie about paranormal phenomenon, mystery or reincarnation. But about enduring love, loss, psychological damage, grief, despair and the impressionability of young children. Much of the story of the movie is told reading between the lines, rather than being stated overtly. For example the relationship between Sean who dies, his brother and his brother's wife is barely touched on, but is hugely impactful to the story, & on all the characters. Nicole Kidman is superb, as is Cameron Bright. Probably Glazer's second best film after The Zone of Interest. (If you don't count his Guinness Surfer Advert - Voted the best TV advert of all time)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/12/24

Full Review

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Synopsis

It took Anna (Nicole Kidman) 10 years to recover from the death of her husband, Sean, but now she's on the verge of marrying her boyfriend, Joseph (Danny Huston), and finally moving on. However, on the night of her engagement party, a young boy named Sean (Cameron Bright) turns up, saying he is her dead husband reincarnated. At first she ignores the child, but his knowledge of her former husband's life is uncanny, leading her to believe that he might be telling the truth.

Director: Jonathan Glazer
Producer: Lizie Gower, Jean-Louis Piel, Nick Morris, Wang Wei
Screenwriter: Milo Addica, Jean-Claude Carrière, Jonathan Glazer
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Production Co: Fine Line Features, Lou Yi Inc.
Rating: R (Sexuality)
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 29, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 21, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.0M
Runtime: 1h 40m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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