Australian-American actress and producer Nicole Kidman is one of Hollywood's most versatile and highly acclaimed actresses. In the 1990s, Kidman cemented her position as one of the most dependable actresses with many impressive roles0s, such as Dead Calm, Billy Bathgate, To Die For, and Eyes Wide Shut. Her energetic performance in Moulin Rouge was Oscar-nominated, and throughout her career, she has won an Oscar, a BAFTA, and six Golden Globes.
The actress has also forayed into television and has captured the screen with her presence. Her show, Big Little Lies, was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2024, and Kidman won her an award. Nicole Kidman’s illustrious career has shown the actor’s search for authentic and challenging roles. For fans of the actress, here’s a list of the seven best shows and movies featuring Nicole Kidman.
The Lion, Expats, and other shows and movies featuring Nicole Kidman
1) Moulin Rouge - Amazon Prime Video
Directed by Baz Luhrmann, Moulin Rouge is a musical romantic drama. The movie revolves around a poet, Christian (Ewan McGregor), who arrives in the Montmartre district of Paris and falls in love with the charming cabaret actress Satine (Nicole Kidman), who is the star of the Moulin Rouge club.
The movie has bright colors, exquisite costumes, and operatic indulgence. It was nominated for multiple Oscars and praised for its direction, acting, and production value. Nicole Kidman gives an unabashedly charismatic and energetic performance, mingling herself in the reckless spirit of the film. She also received her first Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
2) Eyes Wide Shut - Apple TV+
Stanley Kubrick’s last film, Eyes Wide Shut, is an erotic psychological drama based on Arthur Schnitzler's 1926 novella Dream Story. The movie revolves around a New York-based physician, William Harford (Tom Cruise), who is disturbed when his wife, Alice (Nicole Kidman), reveals her wish to have an affair.
This confession leads the doctor to a dark and mysterious secret society that hosts illicit events, which he finds himself increasingly attracted to. The movie is a bold exploration of desires and mystery. It is widely acclaimed, and Kidman’s portrayal of a homemaker exploring her desires is perfectly nuanced.
3) Rabbit Hole - Amazon Prime Video
Based on a play, Rabbit Hole is an emotional drama directed by John Cameron Mitchell. The poignant movie is about a couple, Rebecca (Nicole Kidman) and Howard (Aaron Eckhart), who are dealing with the accidental death of their young son by a teenage boy. Kidman gives a powerful performance as a grieving mother trying to juggle anger, pain, and courage within herself.
Her stoic and layered performance in the movie was critically acclaimed and reminded viewers of her ferocious acting. She was nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild.
4) Lion - Amazon Prime Video
Directed by Garth Davis, Lion is a biographical drama based on a book by Saroo Brierley. Starring Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman, Deepti Naval, and others, the movie tells Brierley’s story as an adopted child who decides to find his family in India. Critics praised the movie for its emotional depth, Patel and Kidman’s acting, and cinematography.
Kidman’s performance as Saroo's adoptive mother is heartfelt and complex. She embodies her character’s dilemma of letting her son go to find his own family. Emoting her mother’s love, strength, and fear, Kidman leaves a powerful impact on the film, which won her a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Oscars.
5) Destroyer - Amazon Prime Video
Directed by Karyn Kusama, Destroyer is a neo-noir crime thriller starring Nicole Kidman. As one of her grittiest roles, Kidman is almost unrecognizable as a crooked and hardened undercover police officer, Erin Bell, who wants to get revenge against a gang that ruined her life.
While the movie received mixed reviews, Kidman’s acting was unequivocally praised. This is one movie that every fan of Nicole Kidman should watch, as she completely dissolves into her character, bringing a layer of complexity to the film. Kidman was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in this film.
6) Expats - Amazon Prime Video
Directed by Lulu Wang, Expats is based on a novel, The Expatriates, by Janice Y.K. Lee and features Nicole Kidman. The drama series is about Margaret Woo (Kidman), an American expatriate in Hong Kong dealing with the loss of her young son.
As her husband and sister-in-law veer oppositely, Margaret tries to keep her relations together. The show features themes such as family, bonding, and expatriate community. Kidman’s acting was well-received and she delivers a nuanced and restrained performance for a character that is filled with desperation.
7) The Perfect Couple - Netflix
Based on a book by Elin Hilderbrand and directed by Susanne Bier, Netflix’s recent release, The Perfect Couple, is about a wealthy family, the Winbury’s, whose daughter is about to get married. However, the wedding turns into a tragedy as a body is found on the beach.
The murder casts a shadow of doubt on all the people at the house for the wedding, inadvertently leading to the revealing of dark secrets. Nicole Kidman as Greer Garrison Winbury, the matriarch, gives an icy and commanding performance, which many critics believe to be Kidman’s forte.
Nicole Kidman has acted in a range of projects. Therefore, all her fans who admire her craft and versatility are welcome to go through this list and choose any show or movie of hers for their next binge-watch.