Nicole Kidman’s Biggest Box Office Misfire: Inside Her Lowest-Grossing Film

Before Nicole Kidman was, well, Nicole Kidman, she made a little Aussie surf-romcom that face-planted at the box office and still managed to reshape her life. Let's talk about 1986's Windrider, the movie that barely made a ripple financially but quietly set off a few interesting waves behind the scenes.

The movie Kidman made before the spotlight hit

Windrider was directed by Australian cinematographer-turned-filmmaker Vince Monton. The setup is simple: Stewart, an all-in windsurfer, is training for a world championship with backing from his rich, supportive dad. Then he meets Jade, a rising rock singer, and suddenly the whole training regimen becomes background noise.

Kidman plays Jade. Tom Burlinson plays Stewart. It's sunny, poppy, and very 80s. Also: very not successful.

By the numbers

• Year: 1986 (Australia)
• Director: Vince Monton
• Cast: Nicole Kidman (Jade), Tom Burlinson (Stewart)
• Reported budget: around A$2.5 million
• Total box office: $19,387 (via The Numbers)
• IMDb rating: 5.1/10
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 11%

So... did anyone like it?

There aren't many passionate essays about Windrider floating around, but the scattered audience reactions paint a picture. A few viewers knock the script and call the performances uneven, then confess they still had fun. Others land around a 6 out of 10 and say it feels like a breezy throwback that's better than its reputation. Over on Rotten Tomatoes, some people enjoy the harmless summertime vibe, while others complain about clunky dialogue and random nudity. Basically: if you're in the mood for featherweight 80s romance and curious about Kidman's early screen presence, it goes down easy.

Where this fits in Kidman's career story

Windrider wasn't the only stumble. Nicole Kidman has had a few box office misfires over the years, including Practical Magic, which flopped at the time and then turned into a cult favorite after the fact. For what it's worth, she and Sandra Bullock are set to return for a new Practical Magic sequel, so that particular spell is getting another cast.

The industry conversation around Kidman has not always been kind. Back in 2008, The Guardian labeled her the "Queen of the Flops" and argued studios found her "hard to sell" at that moment. Obviously the long view of her career tells a different story, but it's worth remembering how the narrative swung back then.

The behind-the-scenes twist: a three-year romance

Windrider didn't bring in cash, but it did bring Kidman and co-star Tom Burlinson together. They started dating during the shoot and were together for three years. Burlinson later told the Sydney Morning Herald that it was Kidman's first relationship as an adult and that they were genuinely happy before going their separate ways. He also pushed back on a long-circulating rumor about a rejected proposal.

"We had happy times, but she had her own path to take in life... One thing that has been written about us, which is incorrect, is that I asked her to marry me and she said no."

There's another little connection here: Deborra-Lee Furness has said she first met Kidman through Burlinson back then, when Kidman was about 17, and that Nicole was crashing on the couch and partying with the crew. It's a small anecdote, but it gives you a snapshot of that era.

Where to watch it now

If you want to see Kidman before the red carpets and awards seasons, Windrider is streaming on Prime Video. It's light, very 80s, occasionally awkward, and kind of charming in spite of itself. In other words: a tidy time capsule from the summer-before-stardom years.