Nicole Kidman's steamy new erotic thriller Babygirl has just been released in the US and both critics and viewers can't stop praising it.

The Aussie actress, 57, stars as a high-powered New York business executive who starts a risky affair with her much-younger intern, played by Harris Dickinson.

The movie is currently certified as 'fresh' on movie review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes, with a score of 79 per cent.

Sheila O'Malley for Rogerebert.com praised Kidman's performance as Romy as a highlight of the film: 'Kidman plays Romy at a fever pitch, and she is very effective. 

'Babygirl is a high-wire act. It’s a small miracle the film works as well as it does.' 

Richard Roeper for The Chicago Sun-Times joined the chorus, with: 'Kidman does powerful work as the upscale, insecure executive betraying her loving husband.'

Elsewhere, Dana Stevens from Slate praised the film for being engaging: 'What keeps Babygirl from feeling preachy or self-serious is its sense of humour and playfulness when it comes to sex.' 

Meanwhile, American audiences quickly took to social media to praise Kidman and her co-stars.

'It’s such a good movie for real,' one person wrote. 

'Love the movie! Can't wait for part two!' a second user added. 

The movie is currently only out in the US and set for release in Australian cinemas in January 2025. 

Kidman recently teased her erotic drama Babygirl is her most risqué role to date as she shed light on the steamy project.

The racy movie includes some very intimate scenes including one of Nicole's character masturbating after having sex with her husband, played by Antonio Banderas.

Addressing the erotic scenes, Kidman - who most recently starred in another age-gap romance, A Family Affair - admitted it is the most 'exposed' she has ever felt in front of the camera.

Speaking to Vanity Fair, she said she wasn't sure she would be 'brave enough' to watch the film on the big screen.

'There's something in me going: 'Okay, this was made for the big screen and to be seen with people. I'm not sure I have that much bravery,' Nicole told the publication. 

'I've made some films that are pretty exposing, but not like this,' she added of the 'confronting' experience.

Nicole shared her apprehension over audiences seeing the sex scenes, admitting the 'vulnerable' filming process left her feeling 'ragged'.

'It's like, golly, I'm doing this, and it's actually now going to be seen by the world. That's a very weird feeling,' she said. 

'This is something you hide in your home videos. It's not a thing that normally is going to be seen by the world.'

Babygirl sees Nicole take on the role of Romy, a business executive who is balancing her career with trying to find fulfillment in her marriage to a theatre director (Antonio).

Cracks in their marriage appear when new intern Samuel (Harris) makes his attraction to Romy clear and they begin to explore a 'forbidden sexual dynamic'.

Director Halina Reijn is said to have wanted to put specific focus on the female orgasm in the thriller, with one charged scene showing Romy masturbating.