Babystar
Imagine The Truman Show set in the toxic, high-stakes era of TikTok algorithms, injected with the dark, absurd energy of Yorgos Lanthimos. German satire Babystar (hitting UK theaters September 25, 2026 via Metis Films) follows Luca, a teen star trapped in her parents’ lucrative “family business” of social media influencer content. But when her parents decide to expand the family, Luca faces an existential threat: is she the star of the show, or just disposable content?
The Premise
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The Pitch: A biting social media satire turned psychological “technological horror.”
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The Story: Luca lives in a luxury home with millions of followers, but every second of her life is curated for brand sponsorships by her loving yet ruthless parents. When her parents plan to have another child, Luca is thrown into a crisis—struggling to remain the primary “babystar” before she’s replaced by the next generation of content.
Key Film Specs
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Release Date: September 25, 2026 (UK Theatrical)
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Runtime: 98 minutes
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Rating: BBFC 12A
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Director: Joscha Bongard
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Writers: Joscha Bongard & Nicole Rüthers
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Starring: Maja Bons, Bea Brocks, Liliom Lewald, Verena Altenberger
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Distributor: Metis Films
Why Film Fans Are Talking
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Wild Director Comparisons: Early festival reviews are describing it as an unholy mix of Ruben Östlund (Triangle of Sadness), Yorgos Lanthimos (Dogtooth), Adam McKay, and a dash of Michael Haneke.
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Scariest “Horror” of the Year: Critics from CineDump call it “the most terrifying horror film of the year [that] doesn’t have a body count,” highlighting its unsettling, dreamlike atmosphere.
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Breakout Lead Performance: Maja Bons is drawing massive acclaim for her magnetic performance as Luca, anchoring the film’s landing between dark humor and authentic teenage angst.
Watch the Trailer
