Nightbitch (2024): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
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.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 38m (98 min)
- Director
- Marielle Heller
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Annapurna Pictures
- Budget
- $20M
- Based on
- Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
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 Show fewer
- 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
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.
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Director Marielle Heller
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Amy Adams as Mother -
Scoot McNairy as Husband -
Mary Holland as Miriam -
Zoe Chao as Jen
Also Starring in Nightbitch
· 5 more- Jessica Harper Norma
- Ella Thomas Naya
- Kerry O'Malley Mother's Mother
- Roslyn Gentle Nana
- Michael Andrew Baker Man in Market
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?.
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).
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.
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IMDb 5.5 /10
24771 votes
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 56 Metascore
User score 5.4
See on Metacritic
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
Nightbitch Box Office & Budget
Nightbitch grossed $170,986 worldwide on a $20 million budget.
Worldwide gross
$171K
- International
- $171K
- Budget
- $20M
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
-
Spirit Awards 2025 2 nominations- Nominated Best Editing – Anne McCabe
- Nominated Best Lead Performance – Amy Adams
-
Artios Awards 2025 1 nomination- Nominated Feature Big Budget – Comedy
-
Golden Globes 2025 1 nomination- Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (Actress) – Amy Adams
Nightbitch Trailers & Videos
46 videos: 1 trailer, 25 teasers, 4 clips, 14 featurettes and 2 behind-the-scenes videos.
- Teaser Cities
- Teaser Animal
- Teaser Now Playing
- Teaser Primal
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What does the Mother complain about when she meets Sally in the supermarket?
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 Show fewer
- נייט ביץ'
- Cățeaua-de-Noapte
- Nattbitchen
- Éjszakai szuka
- ナイトビッチ
- Naktinė kalė
Seen Nightbitch?
Movies Like Nightbitch
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Night Sitter, Night Shift and Night Fangs.
Articles About Nightbitch
2 articles about Nightbitch. The latest: “2025 Golden Globe Nominations: Surprises, Snubs, and the Next Big Oscar Clues”.
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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