Hugh Grant’s hair was a character all its own in the mid-90s. Seriously. It had that floppy, chaotic energy that perfectly mirrored the panic of a man realizing his carefree life is about to be nuked by a positive pregnancy test. If you're looking to watch Nine Months movie right now, you aren't just looking for a rom-com; you're looking for a specific flavor of 1995 nostalgia that feels both dated and weirdly timeless.
It’s a Chris Columbus film. That means it has that "Home Alone" or "Mrs. Doubtfire" gloss—warm lighting, high-stakes slapstick, and a soundtrack that feels like a warm hug. But beneath the surface, it’s a pretty frantic look at masculinity in crisis. Samuel Faulkner (Grant) is a child psychologist who—ironically—cannot stand children. He lives a curated life with his girlfriend, Rebecca (Julianne Moore), until she gets pregnant. Then, the wheels come off.
Finding a Stream: How to Watch Nine Months Movie Today
Honestly, tracking down 90s mid-budget comedies can be a pain. Licensing deals shift like sand. One month it's on a major platform; the next, it’s buried in the "available for rent" section of a digital storefront.
Most people end up finding it on Disney+ or Hulu, depending on which region you’re in, because of the 20th Century Studios library. If you don’t have those, you’re basically looking at the standard rental gauntlet: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, or Google Play. It usually hangs out in the $3.99 range. You might even find it on "free with ads" services like Tubi or Freevee from time to time, though you'll have to sit through commercials for insurance and dog food. It’s a trade-off.
The Hugh Grant Peak Era
This movie landed right in the middle of Grant’s "bumbling Brit" dominance. It came out just a year after Four Weddings and a Funeral. People were obsessed. He plays the "terrified of commitment" guy better than almost anyone in Hollywood history.
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But watching it now, you notice things you didn't in '95.
The chemistry between Grant and Julianne Moore is actually quite grounded, which makes the cartoonish supporting performances even more jarring. Moore is doing "real acting" while everyone else is in a live-action Looney Tune. It works, but it's a choice. You have Tom Arnold and Joan Cusack playing the "pro-parenting" couple from hell. They are loud. They are intrusive. They are the physical embodiment of Samuel’s nightmares.
The Robin Williams Factor
We have to talk about Dr. Kosevich.
Robin Williams plays a Russian obstetrician who is, to put it mildly, incompetent. He’s a former animal vet who switched to humans. It’s one of those performances where you can tell the director just turned the camera on and let Williams riff for six hours. He’s the reason the third act is so memorable.
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The hospital scene? Pure chaos. Williams is mispronouncing medical terms, Grant is hyperventilating, and Moore is trying to give birth while Sam is literally passing out. It’s peak slapstick. If you’re going to watch Nine Months movie, this is the sequence you’re waiting for. It’s the payoff for all the buildup.
Why Critics Hated It (But Audiences Didn't)
When it dropped, critics were... not kind. Roger Ebert gave it two stars. He felt the slapstick didn't mesh with the actual emotional weight of a couple's relationship falling apart. And he wasn't entirely wrong. There is a weird tonal whiplash when you move from a scene about Sam’s genuine fear of losing his identity to a scene where a giant stuffed Barney the Dinosaur gets punched in the face at a toy store.
But audiences didn't care. It made nearly $300 million worldwide.
Why? Because the "fear of the unknown" is universal. Even if you don't like kids, the idea of your life changing irrevocably is terrifying. The movie taps into that anxiety and then resolves it with a happy ending and a cute baby. It’s comfort food.
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The Production Context: A Remake of a Remake
Most people don't realize this isn't an original story. It's a remake of a French film called Neuf mois (1994) by Patrick Braoudé. Hollywood in the 90s was obsessed with snatching up French comedies and "Americanizing" them. Think The Birdcage or Three Men and a Baby.
Chris Columbus didn't change the skeleton of the plot much, but he cranked up the physical comedy. He brought in Hans Zimmer for the score, which is wild to think about now considering Zimmer is the "Inception" and "Dune" guy. Back then, he was doing breezy rom-com melodies.
Practical Insights for Your Next Watch
If you're planning a 90s movie night, here is the best way to approach it.
- Check the resolution. Some older digital copies of Nine Months are stuck in SD or poor-quality HD. If you’re watching on a big 4K screen, it might look a bit grainy. Look for the "Remastered" tags if they exist on your platform of choice.
- The Soundtrack is a Time Capsule. It features "The Luckiest" by Ben Folds later on (in some versions/trailers) and a lot of classic 90s adult contemporary. It’s very specific to that era’s "lifestyle" vibe.
- Contextualize the "Red Flags." Sam’s behavior throughout the first two acts is... questionable. By modern standards, he’s kind of a jerk. But that’s the point. The movie is about a selfish man learning to be unselfish. If you go in expecting a "perfect" protagonist, you’re going to be frustrated.
Technical Specs for the Nerds
- Director: Chris Columbus
- Runtime: 103 minutes
- Rating: PG-13 (for some "language and sensuality," which is very mild by today's standards)
- Cinematography: Donald McAlpine (who did Moulin Rouge! and Predator—talk about range)
Actionable Next Steps
To get the most out of your viewing experience:
- Check JustWatch: Before paying $20 for a digital purchase, use a site like JustWatch to see if it has moved to a "free" tier on Peacock or Tubi this month. Streaming rights for 90s Fox movies are notoriously fluid.
- Double-Feature it: If you want a full 1995 experience, pair this with Father of the Bride Part II. Both movies deal with the "unprepared father" trope and were released in the same year. It’s a fascinating look at how the mid-90s viewed family dynamics.
- Watch the French Original: If you’re a film buff, track down Neuf mois. It’s a bit more cynical and "French" in its humor, providing a great contrast to the sugar-coated Hollywood version.
- Look for the Cameos: Keep an eye out for Jeff Goldblum. He plays Sean, Sam’s artist friend who represents the "single life" Sam is so afraid of losing. Goldblum is doing maximum Goldblum things here, and it’s delightful.
The movie isn't a masterpiece of high cinema. It’s not trying to be. It’s a loud, messy, sentimental journey through the panic of adulthood. Whether you're watching it for the first time or revisiting it for the nostalgia, it remains a quintessential piece of the 90s romantic comedy boom.