Nicole Kidman made another memorable entrance at the Met Gala on May 5, staying true to her legacy of daring red-carpet moments. The "Big Little Lies" star arrived in a custom black Balenciaga Couture gown, strapless and sculpted, paired with long black gloves.

But while the ensemble was designed to impress, reactions were anything but uniform. Kidman's gown drew swift and sharp commentary online. Its dramatic silhouette and voluminous structure raised eyebrows among viewers.

"The dress seems to accentuate her hips in an unflattering way," one person noted. Another added, "The dress has too many can cans under the skirt. They are causing her difficulties in walking. Seems they may be heavy or are throwing balance off. Beautiful if you just stand still, lol [sic]."

There were more critiques. "Are padded hips a thing?!!" asked one viewer. Some aimed the tailoring. "The front of the dress is so tacky and the length is weird girl that's just badd [sic]," read another comment. The dress' condition also came under scrutiny, "Someone should be fired for not steaming properly that wrinkle!" one person wrote.

Others honed in on the fit. "The middle part is weird where it cuts into her. Didn't do her justice," observed one commenter. And while the intention may have been couture elegance, a few felt the styling fell short. "

She is a stunning but the look is too plain,"[sic] one person remarked. "It's like her jewels fell off in the limo. Where are your jewels and bling Nic?"

Perhaps the most talked-about element of Kidman’s appearance wasn't the dress—but her dramatic new hairstyle. Known for her long, platinum locks, she arrived this year with a cropped, neck-length cut, revealing dark brunette roots beneath the blonde.

The change drew both applause and confusion. "As a lover of short hair on women, I love that she chopped her hair!" one fan wrote. Another chimed in, "Think she looks elegant an hair is so pretty an she looks so much better [sic]."

Yet not all were impressed. One person described the look as "nice," but added, "Completely forgettable, but nice. Her hair is driving me insane though. It looks like she forgot to touch up her roots for a few months. At least blend [sic]?"

Still, some found a middle ground, appreciating the edginess of the "dirty blonde up do," even if they felt the overall styling lacked sparkle.

Nicole Kidman's 2025 appearance followed a pattern she and stylist Jason Bolden began the year prior. In 2024, she wore a reimagined 1950s Cristóbal Balenciaga gown, created under the direction of Demna. This year, they revisited Balenciaga’s archives once more.

"Balenciaga is a house that has developed and evolved in such a specific way over the years," Kidman told Vogue. She described the creative process behind her dress, citing Demna's sketch as a major source of inspiration. "He was able to take such a beautiful piece from the house’s past and modernize it in a way that felt so uniquely me."

Despite her long history with the Met Gala — her debut dates back to 2003 — Kidman remains as energized as ever. "I still get nervous walking up those stairs," she admitted. This year's theme focused on dandyism and expressive tailoring, aligned perfectly with her collaborative approach with Balenciaga.

Her appearance, whether loved or critiqued, embodied that spirit. From the dramatic gown to the daring haircut, Kidman once again made the Met Gala her stage.

Here are some additional photos from the night, capturing the stunning looks and memorable scenes from other stars who graced the event.