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Comedy horror film

Nightbitch (2024): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Nightbitch (2024) movie poster

Nightbitch is a 2024 comedy horror film directed by Marielle Heller, starring Amy Adams as Mother, Scoot McNairy and Mary Holland. It is based on Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder. It runs 1 hour 38 minutes and earned $170,986 worldwide on a $20 million budget. It earned 4 award nominations, including Best Editing at the Spirit Awards 2025. Critics gave it 56 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.5/10.

IMDb rating
5.5/10
worldwide gross
$171K
award nominations
4
Echo Score
59
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Nightbitch (2024) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 38m (98 min)
Director
Marielle Heller
Genres
Comedy , Horror
Original language
English
Budget
$20M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Nightbitch About?

The premise of Nightbitch without spoilers, adapted from Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

After putting her career on hold to become a stay-at-home mother, a woman finds her life taking an unexpected and surreal turn. As she navigates the challenges of motherhood, she experiences a profound shift that leads to a startling transformation, inspired by Rachel Yoder’s debut novel.

Nightbitch Themes & Keywords

· 43 tags
  • burying a dead cat
  • dead animal
  • animal cruelty
  • killing an animal for suspense
  • motherhood
  • stay at home mom
  • dark comedy
  • body horror
  • character says 'uh oh spaghettios'
  • title directed by female
  • home
  • mother
+31 more
  • husband wife relationship
  • artist
  • marriage separation
  • hypochondriac
  • giving birth
  • co parenting
  • reference to fig newtons
  • title spoken in dialogue
  • poop in hand
  • turning into a dog
  • piggy back ride
  • pregnancy
  • cyst
  • 2 year old boy
  • slapped in the face
  • sex in a shower
  • giving birth at home
  • art gallery
  • home birth
  • f rated
  • triple f rated
  • dog
  • raising a child
  • painting
  • midwife
  • mother son relationship
  • period
  • menstruation
  • burping
  • based on novel
  • title spoken by character
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Cast & crew

Nightbitch Cast & Characters

Amy Adams leads the cast as Mother, with Scoot McNairy as Husband and Mary Holland as Miriam. Directed by Marielle Heller; 9 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Nightbitch

· 5 more
From the director

More from Marielle Heller

More films directed by Marielle Heller, best-rated first: What the Constitution Means to Me, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, The Diary of a Teenage Girl and Can You Ever Forgive Me?.

Full filmography
Ratings

Nightbitch Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Nightbitch 56 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 59/100, strongest in character & emotion (80) and weakest in rewatch factor (50).

59 /100

Nightbitch Echo Score Breakdown

Nightbitch offers a compelling central performance but falters in sustaining its metaphorical premise and narrative momentum. Reviews highlight Amy Adams’s ability to move between humor and primal intensity, yet they also note that the film’s commitment to its bestial conceit wavers and its conclusion feels underdeveloped. Critics praise individual scenes for insight and empathy, but the overall execution leaves an impression of missed opportunities. The net effect is an uneven drama with flashes of power but limited cohesion.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 60

    In terms of direction and craft, Nightbitch demonstrates occasional flair but lacks consistent focus. Observers point to engaging sequences—moments of sharp camera composition and well-etched domestic detail—yet criticize the film for drifting into tonal uncertainty. The editing sometimes undercuts build-up and the production design favors function over distinctive style. Overall, the visual and technical elements convey competence but rarely coalesce into a unified cinematic vision.

  • Character & Emotion 80

    When it comes to character and emotion, Amy Adams anchors the film with nuanced physicality and genuine empathy. Viewers commend her ability to convey frustration, maternal devotion, and feral rage through subtle facial expressions and body language. Although the supporting roles and dialogue occasionally feel underwritten, the protagonist’s journey retains emotional resonance. In sum, the acting and chemistry deliver the film’s most compelling moments and carry much of its dramatic weight.

  • Story & Flow 50

    In terms of story and flow, Nightbitch offers an intriguing concept that never fully commits to its extremes. Critics note the originality of its maternal-lycanthropy premise but find the pacing uneven and the plot resolution tepid. The narrative retracts its more provocative impulses too quickly, leaving key ideas underexplored. While the framework stimulates reflection on motherhood, the coherence and engagement wane toward the end. The result is a mixed experience of promise and frustration.

  • Sensory Experience 55

    Regarding sensory experience, the film provides a solid but unremarkable auditory and visual atmosphere. The soundtrack and sound design support the emotional beats without drawing undue attention, and the use of color and framing occasionally enhances the domestic-to-feral transition. However, these elements rarely reach the level of striking visual style or immersive soundscapes. On balance, Nightbitch’s sensory palette is serviceable, offering mood support without delivering a fully immersive cinematic spectacle.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    With respect to rewatch value, Nightbitch’s strongest draw is Amy Adams’s layered performance, which may reward repeat viewings of key scenes. Despite this, the film’s uneven narrative structure and unresolved thematic threads limit its long-term appeal. The central metaphor feels less potent on subsequent viewings once the novelty fades, and many supporting elements remain underdeveloped. Overall, viewers may revisit specific moments but are unlikely to find the film broadly rewatchable in its current form.

Plot

Nightbitch Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Nightbitch from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 16 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The film kicks off in a lively supermarket where an unnamed Mother (Amy Adams) is navigating the aisles with her curious two-year-old son. In a chance encounter, she bumps into an old friend, Sally, who inquires about her well-being. With an air of honesty, the Mother confesses that motherhood has drained away the essence of who she once was, leaving her feeling somewhat adrift in her new identity.

Full summary

The whole story of Nightbitch, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Nightbitch Box Office & Budget

Nightbitch grossed $170,986 worldwide on a $20 million budget.

2024 box office

Worldwide gross

$171K

International
$171K
Budget
$20M
Awards

Nightbitch Awards & Nominations

Nightbitch earned 4 award nominations, including Best Editing at the Spirit Awards 2025. The 4 nominations come from 3 ceremonies, the most at the Spirit Awards 2025.

4 nominations3 ceremonies

Videos

Nightbitch Trailers & Videos

46 videos: 1 trailer, 25 teasers, 4 clips, 14 featurettes and 2 behind-the-scenes videos.

All 46 videos
Official Trailer
  • Teaser Cities
  • Teaser Animal
  • Teaser Now Playing
  • Teaser Primal
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Nightbitch?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What does the Mother complain about when she meets Sally in the supermarket?

Details

Nightbitch Also Known As

18 alternative titles, including “כלבת לילה” and “נייטביץ'”.

Also known as
  • כלבת לילה
  • נייטביץ'
  • 狂母夜
  • 나이트비치
  • Ночная сучка
  • Canina
  • Nightbitch. Bestia di notte, ღამის ძუკნა
  • Nocna suka
  • 夜母
  • Нічна сучка
  • Нощната кучка
  • مادر گرگ نما
+6 more
  • נייט ביץ'
  • Cățeaua-de-Noapte
  • Nattbitchen
  • Éjszakai szuka
  • ナイトビッチ
  • Naktinė kalė

Seen Nightbitch?

FAQ

Nightbitch FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of Nightbitch, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Nightbitch?

Nightbitch runs 1 hour 38 minutes (98 minutes).

When was Nightbitch released?

Nightbitch was released on December 6, 2024.

Who directed Nightbitch?

Nightbitch was directed by Marielle Heller.

More films by Marielle Heller

Who is in the cast of Nightbitch?

Nightbitch stars Amy Adams as Mother, Scoot McNairy as Husband and Mary Holland as Miriam, among 9 credited actors.

How much did Nightbitch make at the box office?

Nightbitch grossed $170,986 worldwide on a budget of $20 million.

How is Nightbitch rated?

Nightbitch has 5.5/10 on IMDb and 56 on Metacritic.

Is Nightbitch based on a book?

Yes. Nightbitch is adapted from Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder.

Was Nightbitch nominated for any awards?

Nightbitch received 4 nominations across 3 ceremonies.

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