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Born to Australian parents in Hawaii, Nicole began her acting career in Australia in 1983, with films such as ‘Bush Christmas’ and ‘BMX Bandits.’ Her international breakthrough came with the 1990 film, ‘Days of Thunder,’ and Nicole followed the decade with numerous leading lady roles in commercial and critical hits such as ‘Far and Away,’ ‘To Die For,’ ‘Batman Forever,’ and ‘Eyes Wide Shut.’ With the turn of the century, Nicole’s box office success continued, winning her the big four awards: Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Emmy. However, her achievements are not limited to the screens, as she has been a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF since 1994 and UNWomen since 2006. Many of her works are part of the extensive catalog of the streaming giant Netflix. If you want to know more about her on-screen personas, the following movies and shows of Nicole Kidman on Netflix are a good place to start.
13. Spellbound (2024)
Directed by Vicky Jenson, the animated film ‘Spellbound’ is set in the magical kingdom of Lumbria, whose rulers, King Solon (Javier Bardem) and Queen Ellsmere (Nicole Kidman), have been transformed into feral monsters following their venture into the Dark Forest of Eternal Darkness. With no luck in turning them back, the royal advisers push for their daughter, Princess Ellian (Rachel Zegler), to be crowned Queen when she comes of age on her 15th birthday. Before that can happen, Ellian makes a last desperate attempt to lift the curse from her parents. A heartfelt musical fantasy comedy, you can watch the film here.
12. The Prom (2020)
Adapted from a 2018 Broadway musical of the same name, ‘The Prom’ by Ryan Murphy centers around James Madison High School in Edgewater, Indiana. The head of the PTA wants to cancel the prom because openly lesbian student Emma Nolan (Jo Ellen Pellman) wants to attend with her girlfriend. As Emma faces backlash from her peers for potentially spoiling the coveted event, her story reaches a group of struggling theater stars in New York City, which includes Dee Dee Allen (Meryl Streep), Barry Glickman (James Corden), and Angie Dickinson (Nicole Kidman). The artists arrive in Edgewater to rally behind Emma in her fight for acceptance. You can watch the emotional musical comedy film here.
11. A Family Affair (2024)
Directed by Richard LaGravenese, ‘A Family Affair’ follows Zara (Joey King), the personal assistant to self-absorbed middle-aged actor Chris Cole (Zac Efron). Zara absolutely hates Chris’ personality, so it comes as an even greater shock when she accidentally walks in on him in bed with her mother, Brooke Harwood (Nicole Kidman). While they promise her it will not happen again, Chris later invites Brooke to dinner, and they hit it off once again. Brooke tries to make Zara understand how happy she is with Chris, but the youngster is afraid the actor will break her mother’s heart just like he did with many other women. Nicole shines in the romantic comedy, which you can check on Netflix.
10. Before I Go to Sleep (2014)
Directed by Rowan Joffé, ‘Before I Go to Sleep’ features Kidman as Christine Lucas, a woman who wakes up every morning without any memory of what happened the previous day. She was in a car accident 10 years ago and has since been this way. She is married to Mike (Colin Firth), who helps her cope with the condition. Her neuropsychologist, Mike Nasch (Mark Strong), provides her with ways to help her remember things she sees on a daily basis. As Christine starts to look for clues dating back to the fateful night and finds out why she was attacked, a horrific truth starts taking shape, and at the center seems to be Mike himself. But why would Mike want to kill her? Directed by Rowan Joffé, ‘Before I Go to Sleep’ offers an interesting watch, especially for the fans of Kidman and Firth. It can be streamed here.
9. Trespass (2011)
Kidman and Nicolas Cage star as a wealthy married couple, Sarah and Kyle Miller, in Joel Schumacher’s home invasion thriller ‘Trespass.’ When a bunch of robbers dressed as cops break into their house to steal money and diamonds, thanks to Kyle being a diamond merchant, he, Sarah, and their teenage daughter, Avery, must fight back, while finding a way to either escape or contact help. Kyle tries to hold out for as long as he can, to a point where it seems he is hiding something in the safe, which he doesn’t want others to find out about. Whether the Millers survive, and if yes, how, is what we find out. Aggressive in its depiction and well-performed, ‘Trespass’ can be streamed right here.
8. Bombshell (2019)
‘Bombshell’ retells the Fox News sexual harassment scandal, where former Fox News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes (John Lithgow) gets slapped with the related lawsuit from within his own organization. After losing her job on television, former network host Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman) initiates the lawsuit, and is soon supported by her former female colleagues, including Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron) and Kayla Pospisil (Margot Robbie). As more voices come out in the open, Roger is forced to resign from the network. View the biographical drama directed by Jay Roach here.
7. The Perfect Couple (2024)
‘The Perfect Couple’ by Jenna Lamia centers around a series of unfortunate events that take place at the wedding of Amelia Sacks (Eve Hewson) and Benji Winbury (Billy Howle). The latter is the son of famous author Greer Garrison Winbury (Nicole Kidman), who arranges a lavish event at the Winbury family’s Summerland mansion by the water in Nantucket. When a murder takes place in the middle of the festivities, everybody present turns into a suspect and is forced to confront suppressed truths about themselves. You can watch the crime mystery show based on the novel of the same name by Elin Hilderbrand on Netflix.
6. Just Go with It (2011)
In the rom-com drama ‘Just Go with It,’ Kidman has a small role, although her character is used from start to finish. The movie follows Danny Maccabee (Adam Sandler), a plastic surgeon, who sleeps with girls by claiming to be in a bad marriage. However, when he meets Palmer (Brooklyn Decker), he is forced to build up on his lies after she tells him that she wants to meet his wife, “Devlin Adams.” Danny brings his office manager, Katherine Murphy (Jennifer Aniston), into the plan, urging her to pretend to be his wife for Palmer. Kidman’s character, Devlin Adams, is not Danny’s wife but Katherine’s frenemy, whom Danny, Katherine, and Palmer walk into during a vacation in Hawaii. Trouble ensues while Danny and Katherine find themselves falling for each other. Directed by Dennis Dugan, ‘Just Go with It’ is a loose remake of the 1969 film ‘Cactus Flower.’ You can stream it right here.
5. The Paperboy (2012)
Based on Pete Dexter’s novel of the same name, ‘The Paperboy’ shows Kidman play Charlotte Bless, a woman hailing from Alabama, who wants to marry Hillary Van Wetter, a man in prison awaiting trial for murder. Reporter Ward Jansen, his colleague, Yardley Acheman, and Ward’s younger brother, Jack, a paperboy, are looking into the case with the aim of showing the flaws within the system and the injustice done to Wetter. Jack falls for Charlotte, who makes it clear that she intends to be with Wetter, but is clearly open about her sexuality. Unfortunately, Wetter is not who he seems to be, and those trying to get him out learn it the hard way. ‘The Paperboy’ is a gruesome commentary on love, lust, and crime, and how often all three are interlinked. Directed by Lee Daniels, the movie also stars John Cusack, Matthew McConaughey, David Oyelowo, and Zac Efron. You can watch the Golden Globe-nominated movie right here.
4. The Northman (2022)
In Robert Eggers’s ‘The Northman,’ Kidman plays the role of Queen Gudrún, mother of Prince Amleth, the story’s protagonist. Amleth is forced to flee after his father, King Aurvandill War-Raven, is killed by his brother (Amleth’s uncle) Fjölnir, who also abducts Gudrún. Amleth grows up among Vikings, while brewing his thirst for vengeance. He returns to his kingdom years later to rescue his mother and kill his uncle. With Alexander Skarsgård as Amleth, Ethan Hawke as King Aurvandill War-Raven, Claes Bang as Fjölnir, and Anya Taylor-Joy as Slavic sorceress Olga, ‘The Northman’ is a gritty and visually stunning drama based on the Scandinavian legend of Amleth. It can be streamed here.
3. Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Directed by Baz Luhrmann, ‘Moulin Rouge!’ features Kidman as Satine, an actress who works at the titular cabaret in Paris. The story is set in 1899 and shows how a guy named Christian is brought to the cabaret and introduced to Satine, who shall show his writing talents to the proprietor, Harold Zidler. Harold has something else in mind. He intends to have Satine sleep with a Duke who shall then provide him with the money to turn the cabaret into a theater. When Christian and Satine fall in love, it compromises Harold’s deal and enrages the Duke, who goes after the couple with anger in mind. Whether Christian and Satine’s love will survive is what we find out at the end of ‘Moulin Rouge!’ Co-starring Ewan McGregor as Christian. Jim Broadbent as Harold Zidler, and Richard Roxburgh as The Duke of Monroth, the movie tells a story of glitter and glamor, highlighted by a shine of practical sets and lights that is signature Luhrmann. The movie can be streamed here.
2. Lion (2016)
Based on the non-fiction book ‘A Long Way Home’ by Saroo Brierley and Larry Buttrose, ‘Lion’ chronicles the life of Saroo (Dev Patel), who, as a 5-year-old village boy in India, gets lost on a train and travels thousands of miles to Kolkata. After living on the streets for a couple of months, he ends up in an orphanage, where he is adopted by an Australian couple, Sue (Nicole Kidman) and John Brierley (David Wenham), and taken to Tasmania. More than twenty years later, a grown-up Saroo decides to return to his birthplace, with the help of Google Earth, childhood memories, and unwavering determination. His adoptive mother supports his effort. The biographical drama marked the feature directorial debut of Garth Davis, and is an emotional watch, with Nicole’s excellent turn as a loving and supportive parent figure. Watch the movie here.
1. Boy Erased (2018)
Co-written and directed by Joel Edgerton, ‘Boy Erased’ is based on Garrard Conley’s eponymous memoir that tells the story of Jared Eamons (Lucas Hedges), who has to deal with the fallout of being outed as gay to his parents. Born to car dealer and Baptist preacher Marshall Eamons (Russell Crowe) and his hairdresser wife, Nancy Eamons (Nicole Kidman), Jared becomes aware of his sexual inclination in high school. His conservative father refuses to accept him as he is and forces him to attend a conversion therapy program. However, his mother remains supportive and stays by him throughout the ordeal. In the biographical drama, Jared is based on real-life Garrard, while Nicole’s character, Nancy, is based on real-life Martha. You can check the film here.
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