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The Babadook

Play trailer 1:17 Poster for The Babadook Released Nov 28, 2014 1h 33m Horror Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
98% Tomatometer 247 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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Critics Reviews

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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 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 Diane Carson KDHX (St. Louis) “The Babadook” is an extraordinary horror film. Aug 15, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Anniston P Horrible movie. The annoying child. The bad CGI. The alligator / godzilla sounds. The bad plot. It’s a comedy at best. “98” what are yall smoking Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 09/06/25 Full Review Lynn F Critics loved this movie because if you can fit an analogy into the premise, it has to be good, regardless of all other short comings MILD SPOILERS (lets you know there are some "jump scares") B movie animations, really ruins a lot of the "scary" reveals The ambience is probably the scariest part of the movie, and even. paranormal activity did that much better ACTUAL SPOILERS I understand the child was supposed to be annoying, and that was to drive home the helplessness of the mother, but when you yourself are annoyed of the kid, it's like having that crying baby in a theater. The entire movie is a analogy of societal pressures being forced on a single mother and her overcoming them. Nice analogy, sure, but ultimately boring. After my 3rd attempt trying to watch this movie, I finished it, to my disappointment. Lack-luster ending Slow burn, with no pay off annoying child Male significant other, that is forgotten about halfway through the movie and finally, in the end, no lesson is learned. Her son wasn't difficult, it was just the babadook (the analogy), and after they defeat it, the problem is solved for them and everyone else throughout existence. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 09/05/25 Full Review Ale C Theres some bad cgi but its a 2014 movie so what did you expect i guess. Nevertheless, this is a solid film. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/04/25 Full Review Ruby P The scariest movie I've ever seen! So good. I love all the hidden and not so hidden themes. (SPOILERS AHEAD) I did cry when the dog died, but otherwise amazing. Highly recommend it!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/31/25 Full Review William H I like the concept of "the babadook" but the child in the film made the movie insufferable Rated 1 out of 5 stars 08/25/25 Full Review Volkan Ç signed up on this damn site just to give this crappy movie 1 star. Honestly, consider it 2 hours stolen from your life. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 08/20/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Babadook

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Movie Info

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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