Nicole Kidman’s Go-To Film She Rewatches Annually

Nicole Kidman has a special tradition when it comes to movies. While some actors watch films for fun or escape, Kidman chooses her films for the emotional impact. She has said she watches the 1939 classic “Gone With the Wind” at least once every year.

For Kidman, the film’s long runtime and serious story are part of the appeal. She enjoys getting lost in the emotions of the main character, Scarlett O’Hara, and the difficult choices she makes.

Kidman has admitted she feels frustrated that Scarlett cannot be with Rhett Butler, but that’s exactly why she keeps watching the film. She explained, “I watch it every year. I adore Vivien Leigh. ‘Ashley!’ I’m still devastated that she can’t love Rhett. You feel like shaking her. I love the film because of that — it brings out all those emotions.”

“Gone With the Wind” is an epic historical romance based on Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 novel. It was produced by David O. Selznick and directed by Victor Fleming.

The story follows Scarlett O’Hara, the strong-willed daughter of a Georgia plantation owner, as she navigates love, loss, and survival during the American Civil War and Reconstruction era. Scarlett pursues Ashley Wilkes, who is married to his cousin Melanie Hamilton, and later marries Rhett Butler.

The film’s production faced many challenges. It was delayed for two years to secure Clark Gable as Rhett Butler, and casting Scarlett proved difficult, with over 1,400 women auditioning for the role.

The original screenplay went through several revisions, and the directors changed multiple times during filming. Despite these struggles, the movie premiered in December 1939 to generally positive reviews, though some criticized its long running time.

“Gone With the Wind” went on to become a massive success. At the 12th Academy Awards, it received ten Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress for Vivien Leigh, and Best Supporting Actress for Hattie McDaniel, who became the first African American to win an Academy Award. The film broke box office records and remained the highest-grossing movie for decades. Even today, when adjusted for inflation, it remains one of the highest-earning films in history.

The movie has also faced criticism for its portrayal of slavery and the Confederacy, but it is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. In 1989, it became one of the first films preserved in the United States National Film Registry.

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