The Babadook

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The Babadook

2014

1h 33m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

249 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Six years after the violent death of her husband, Amelia (Essie Davis) is at a loss. She struggles to discipline her 'out of control' 6 year-old, Samuel (Noah Wiseman), a son she finds impossible to love. Samuel's dreams are plagued by a monster he believes is coming to kill them both. When a disturbing storybook called 'The Babadook' turns up at their house, Samuel is convinced that the Babadook is the creature he’s been dreaming about. His hallucinations spiral out of control, he becomes more unpredictable and violent. Amelia, genuinely frightened by her son's behavior, is forced to medicate him. But when Amelia begins to see glimpses of a sinister presence all around her, it slowly dawns on her that the thing Samuel has been warning her about may be real.

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Critics Consensus

The Babadook relies on real horror rather than cheap jump scares -- and boasts a heartfelt, genuinely moving story to boot.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Nestled deep within this teeny Australian thriller packs a simple yet profound message about what it often feels like to be a single parent, and even what it feels like to be the child of that parent.

Rated: B+

Sep 1, 2017

Full Review

Charlotte O'Sullivan

London Evening Standard

The Babadook's villains and victims are still running amok in my brain. I think they might be there for some time.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 5, 2016

Full Review

Noel Murray

Nashville Scene

What's most terrifying about The Babadook is that Kent grounds a bizarre supernatural premise in very real feelings of anxiety and depression.

Oct 5, 2016

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Bryce Hanson

Horror Movie Talk

This film is an obvious homage to the German expressionist silent films of the 20s that established the earliest foundations of the horror film genre. It is also a deeply modern exploration of grief, the stresses of parenthood, and mental health crises.

Rated: 10/10

Sep 23, 2025

Full Review

Marya E. Gates

Cool People Have Feelings, Too. (Substack)

Kent’s film tapped into a lot of visceral fears I had at the time as a woman living alone

Oct 11, 2024

Full Review

Calum Cooper

In Their Own League

Frightening and bleak yet also spellbinding and profound, “The Babadook” deserves to be immortalised in the canon of horror cinema alongside the very pictures that inspired it.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 20, 2024

Full Review

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Maksim S

In an era where modern horror too often favors cheap jump scares over genuine terror, The Babadook stands out as a rare achievement—proof that contemporary films can still unsettle and disturb. Jennifer Kent’s masterful direction turns a simple story of grief and motherhood into a psychological nightmare, maintaining a tense, oppressive atmosphere from the first frame to the last. Essie Davis delivers a haunting performance, capturing both desperation and vulnerability, while the titular Babadook remains a terrifying, almost mythic presence that lingers long after the credits. Like the classics—The Exorcist foremost—it reminds us that true horror isn’t just about shocks; it’s about lingering dread and emotional resonance. Rarely does modern horror reach this level, but The Babadook proves it can, crafting a film that is genuinely disturbing, relentlessly tense, and unforgettable.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/12/25

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love H.

I really like this low budget movie like I said low budget horror movies have a change.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/09/25

Full Review

luca t

I dont understand how people enjoyed this, thats has to be one of the worst horrors ive ever watched you cant even call it scary. Scary movie was scarier than this. The storyline was pretty decent but the jumpscares were very few and not scary at all. I do not reccomend

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

11/08/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Yeah scary? MAYBE IIN 2015! Waste of time, psychologically it lacks horror, the story, EXHAUSTING. Would not watch ever again, and its a cult film. I understand theres a fan base out there that loves these films and I'm just not one of them. 5/10

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

11/07/25

Full Review

Crispy S

Next level film! 100% watch this if your looking for the perfect horror film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/06/25

Full Review

Kerri B.

Not necessarily my fave genre ... But for what it is, very good. Suspenseful and Scary.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/05/25

Full Review

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Jennifer Kent

Director

Essie Davis

Amelia

Daniel Henshall

Robbie

Noah Wiseman

Samuel

Hayley McElhinney

Claire

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Synopsis

Six years after the violent death of her husband, Amelia (Essie Davis) is at a loss. She struggles to discipline her 'out of control' 6 year-old, Samuel (Noah Wiseman), a son she finds impossible to love. Samuel's dreams are plagued by a monster he believes is coming to kill them both. When a disturbing storybook called 'The Babadook' turns up at their house, Samuel is convinced that the Babadook is the creature he’s been dreaming about. His hallucinations spiral out of control, he becomes more unpredictable and violent. Amelia, genuinely frightened by her son's behavior, is forced to medicate him. But when Amelia begins to see glimpses of a sinister presence all around her, it slowly dawns on her that the thing Samuel has been warning her about may be real.

Director: Jennifer Kent
Producer: Kristina Ceyton, Kristian Moliere
Screenwriter: Jennifer Kent
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Causeway Films, Entertainment One, Smoking Gun Productions
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: Australian English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 28, 2014, Limited
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Sep 19, 2024
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 5, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $933.1K
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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