Bad Girls

If you want romantic drama that respects your intelligence, Bad Girls is available in Australia on Disney Plus right now. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. With 270 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Madeleine Stowe's performance makes the emotional stakes feel real, not manufactured. Available now on Disney Plus — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Bad Girls is worth clearing space for. Bad Girls earns its romantic beats rather than assuming them — a rarer quality than it sounds. Four former harlots try to leave the wild west (Colorado, to be exact) and head north to make a better life for themselves. Unfortunately someone from Cody's past won't let it happen that easily. Madeleine Stowe and Mary Stuart Masterson lead a cast that earns the romance rather than assuming it. Bad Girls came out in 1994. What makes Bad Girls work is that the leads feel like people first, a couple second. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Bad Girls is the kind of thing you watch without apology. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Madeleine Stowe is the anchor, and the work here is one of the more understated achievements in their career. The kind of thing you finish and immediately want more of.