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The Babadook

Play trailer 1:17 Poster for The Babadook 2014 1h 33m Horror Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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The Babadook

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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 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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 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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