Babies: A Personal TIFF Comedy on Childlessness

Key points

• Babies is a 97-minute comedy-drama directed and written by Lauren Miller Rogen, starring Seth Rogen and Anna Kendrick as a childless couple, Aaron and Annie.
• The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2026 and is scheduled for a 2027 theatrical release in the United States.
• The plot centers on Annie and Aaron taking in their friend Eliza (Kate Berlant) and her young daughter after Eliza’s separation from her husband, allowing the couple to 'test drive' parenthood.
• The film is deeply personal for Miller Rogen and Rogen, reflecting their own real-life experiences and conversations about choosing a child-free life.
• The cast includes Issa Rae, Dan Stevens, Ed Helms, David Strathairn, and brief cameos by Sharon Stone and Ashley Park.
• The film also addresses the impact of Alzheimer’s disease, mirroring Miller Rogen’s experience with her late mother.

Background

Babies is the directorial debut of Lauren Miller Rogen, who previously wrote and directed the 2018 comedy Like Father. The film was inspired by a real-life event approximately a decade ago when a friend moved in with the couple for a year. Miller Rogen initially considered the concept for a television series but decided to make it a film after clarifying her own perspective on parenthood. The project is connected to the couple’s Hilarity for Charity nonprofit, which was inspired by their mother’s battle with Alzheimer’s.

How outlets are covering it

The Guardian’s review describes Babies as a 'mostly likable if a little run-of-the-mill comedy' that balances a 'hangout' feel with a formulaic structure, praising its final monologue as 'intelligent, even-handed and genuinely rather moving.' Deadline’s review highlights the film as a 'witty, heartfelt exploration of childless adulthood and chosen family,' emphasizing the strong onscreen chemistry between Kendrick and Rogen and the balanced critique of parenthood. The Hollywood Reporter focuses on the personal nature of the project, with Seth Rogen calling it 'shocking how personal it is' and Miller Rogen noting that the film was made to honor both childless and parenting choices. While all outlets agree on the film’s warmth and personal resonance, The Guardian criticizes its structural inconsistencies and reliance on voiceover, whereas Deadline and THR emphasize its emotional authenticity and ensemble performances.

Why it matters

Babies addresses a culturally significant and often stigmatized choice—remaining childless—through a mainstream comedy lens. By combining personal narrative with broad appeal, the film challenges societal norms around parenthood and offers a nuanced perspective that validates diverse life choices, reflecting shifting cultural attitudes toward family and adulthood.

What to watch

Babies is scheduled for a 2027 theatrical release in the United States, with Roadside Attractions and Vertical handling distribution. The film’s reception at TIFF will likely influence its marketing and audience expectations, particularly given its personal connection to the Rogen couple and the strong ensemble cast.