What Screenwriters Can Learn from BABYGIRL (Reijn, Kidman, Dickinson)

In this episode of The Screenplay Lab podcast, screenwriter Jeff Barker delves into the 2024 psychological erotic thriller BABYGIRL, written and directed by Halina Reijn and starring Nicole Kidman, Antonio Banderas, Sophie Wilde, and Harris Dickinson.

🔍 In this screenplay analysis, we cover:
* The screenwriting structure of Babygirl and how that impacts filmmaking.
* Unique formatting & style choices by Halina Reijn
* How the screenplay subverts the erotic thriller genre
* Use of power dynamics, inner conflict & vulnerability
* Dialogue breakdowns, montage techniques, and visual storytelling on the page
* Why this script works as a standalone psychological drama screenplay

💥 Babygirl has quickly become one of A24’s highest-grossing films, known for its intense performances, bold themes, and unforgettable screenplay. Nicole Kidman’s fearless performance won Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival and earned a Golden Globe nomination — but today, we're focusing on the screenwriting that made it all possible.

🎯 Whether you're a screenwriter, filmmaker, script reader, or film student, this breakdown will provide you with practical insights and tools to enhance your own screenwriting craft.

🧠 Learn from a produced script by a critically acclaimed writer-director. Reijn’s screenplay mixes erotic tension with psychological depth, exploring themes of power, control, shame, and liberation in ways rarely seen for female protagonists over 50.

🏆 Film credits & accolades:
Directed by Halina Reijn (Instinct, Bodies Bodies Bodies)
Produced & distributed by A24
Shot in 2024 with a $20M budget
Released Christmas Day 2024
Box office: $63M+ and growing
Best Actress win – Venice Film Festival (Nicole Kidman)
Golden Globe nominee – Best Actress

📽️ Logline:
"A high-powered CEO puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with her much younger intern."
💬 Drop your own version of the logline in the comments. I’d love to see what you come up with!

#screenwriting #screenplay #filmmaking #Babygirl #babygirlmovie #a24 #nicolekidman #moviemaking #screenplayanalysis #harrisdickinson #screenwritingpodcast

@A24 @thats_a_bad_idea

⭐Screenplay Breakdowns: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvT9-S4Lm7z6C-j3BlMTt8YY8la9GUaNn&si=-gfPKFSyl5k05VWE

❤️ Please like, subscribe, and comment. Please share us with your screenwriting and filmmaking friends.

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The Screenplay Lab collection:
Anora (Mikey Madison) by Sean Baker
Nosferatu (Lily Rose Depp, Bill Skarsgard) by Robert Eggers
Heretic (Hugh Grant) by Scott Beck and Brian Woods
A Complete Unknown (Timothee Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning) by James Mangold
The Substance (Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley) by Coralie Fargeat
A Real Pain (Kieran Culkin) by Jesse Eisenberg
Conclave (Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow) by Peter Straughan
The Brutalist (Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce) by Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold
Us (Lupita Nyong'o) by Jordan Peele (with Curry Barker interview)
Waves (Sterling K. Brown, Taylor Russell, Kelvin Harrison Jr) by Trey Edward Shults
Babygirl (Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Antonio Banderas, Sophie Wilde) by Halina Reijn

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - The Screenplay Lab
00:40 - Intro
01:31- Halina Reijn
02:40 - Development
03:19 - Production
04:08 - Loglines
04:52 - Screenplay Statistics
05:10 - Gigantic Blocks of Text
06:39 - White Space
07:59 - Pre-Lap
08:33 - Parentheticals
09:20 - Scene Headings
09:52 - Intercutting Format
10:47 - Montages
12:47 - Italics
13:32 - Jeff Barker
13:58 - Star of the Show
14:03 - Direction on the Page
16:42 - Similes
17:29 - Adverbs
17:55 - Metaphors
19:00 - Getting into Dialogue
20:51 - Authentic Dialogue
24:16 - Interiority
25:08 - Music in Screenwriting
25:53 - Symbolism
28:30 - Erotic Tension
29:01 - Themes
30:35 - Story Structure
33:01- Words on the Screen
33:36 - Conclusion
34:28 - Jeff-Barker.com

Видео What Screenwriters Can Learn from BABYGIRL (Reijn, Kidman, Dickinson) канала The Screenplay Lab - Jeff Barker