Amy Adams is making waves with her latest role, and it could finally lead to the Oscar gold that has long eluded her. The 50-year-old actress stars as a mother in the surreal film Nightbitch, which had its world premiere on Sept. 7 at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The film, adapted from Rachel Yoder’s 2021 novel, tells the story of a stay-at-home mom facing an identity crisis as she fears she is transforming into a dog.
Adams’ fearless portrayal of this unorthodox role is being hailed as one of her best performances, sparking early Oscar buzz. Critics are already drawing attention to her dynamic range in the film, praising her ability to balance the absurd and the deeply emotional.
Entertainment Weekly’s Maureen Lee Lenker described Nightbitch as Adams’ “most fearless work yet,” highlighting the way she “leans into the absurd wildness of it with gusto.” Lenker added that Adams successfully navigates the film’s offbeat humor while delivering a performance that remains grounded in emotion.
IndieWire’s Emily Rife echoed these sentiments, particularly noting Adams’ interaction with her character’s 2-year-old son as a standout aspect of the film. Rife wrote that this relationship adds “emotional complexity” and ultimately leads to a powerful monologue about the “animalistic violence of childbirth,” elevating the film’s thematic depth beyond its comedic tones.
Deadline’s Pete Hammond also lauded Adams, noting how fully she embraces her character. “Adams simply envelopes this role, completely believable and compelling as a mom on the edge,” he wrote. Hammond added that director Marielle Heller’s perspective brings the film to life, saying, “There is simply no way this movie could have been written or made by a man to achieve this kind of stellar effect.”
Variety’s Peter Debruge compared Adams’ role in Nightbitch to America Ferrera’s acclaimed turn in Barbie, stating, “Adams courageously embodies Mother’s exasperation, finding the comedy in every setback.” He further praised Adams for turning her character’s identity crisis into a “tour-de-force act of reinvention.”
Ross Bonaime from Collider described Adams’ performance as one of her most ambitious, writing, “This is one of the wildest, most ambitious performances by Adams, who yes, sometimes turns into a dog.”
Screen Daily’s Tim Grierson focused on the depth of Adams’ portrayal, calling her “occasionally ferocious, often bone-weary” performance “touching” as the character grapples with the feeling that she should be happy but isn’t.
With six previous Oscar nominations for films such as Junebug, Doubt, The Fighter, The Master, American Hustle, and Vice, Adams has long been considered one of Hollywood’s finest talents. Now, with Nightbitch, many critics believe this could be the role that finally secures her an Academy Award.
When asked by IndieWire on the TIFF red carpet about the awards buzz surrounding her performance, Adams responded humbly, saying, “It’s not something I think about… but I’m always happy if a film connects in a way that increases exposure for the film.” She added, “I would love to hear different people’s perspectives of their experience watching this film, so the more we can get it out there, the happier I’ll be.”
Nightbitch also stars Scoot McNairy, Zoë Chao, Mary Holland, and Jessica Harper, and is set for a theatrical release on Dec. 6. As the awards season nears, all eyes will be on Adams and her groundbreaking performance that has already set the stage for what could be her first Oscar win.