If you've been meaning to catch Shiva Baby, the clock is ticking. Emma Seligman's directorial debut—a claustrophobic, cringe-comedy masterpiece—will exit Netflix in the United States on June 7, 2026. That gives you just a few weeks to experience one of the most uniquely stressful 78 minutes in modern cinema.
Starring Rachel Sennott in a breakout role, Shiva Baby follows a young woman who attends a Jewish shiva with her parents, only to find herself trapped in a room with her ex-girlfriend, her sugar daddy, and his wife and baby. The film is a masterclass in building tension from mundane social interactions, earning it a 96% Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus calls it "a ruefully funny calling card" for Seligman, with strong performances that elevate its sitcom-like setup.
For fans of The Bear, Shiva Baby offers a familiar face: Molly Gordon, who plays Claire in the FX hit, appears here as a supporting character. The film shares DNA with The Bear's most chaotic episodes—think the Berzatto family dinner flashbacks—where anxiety and humor collide in a sweaty, unrelenting spiral. It's no surprise that Gordon, who thrives in that high-wire energy, fits right in.
Beyond Gordon, the cast includes Fred Melamed, who brought a similar deadpan unease to the Coen Brothers' A Serious Man. Sennott, meanwhile, has since become a rising star, co-writing and starring in Seligman's Bottoms alongside another The Bear alum, Ayo Edebiri. In 2025, Sennott created and starred in the HBO comedy series I Love LA.
If you're looking for more hidden gems on Netflix, check out our list of Hidden Gems: The Best Netflix Shows You're Not Watching. And for those who love quick, impactful stories, we've also rounded up 7 Quick Sci-Fi Gems on Netflix (All Under 100 Minutes).
Shiva Baby premiered digitally at South by Southwest in 2020 before a limited theatrical release in 2021. It remains a touchstone for fans of anxiety-inducing dramedies—a genre that the Safdie Brothers (Uncut Gems) and Christopher Storer (The Bear) have also mastered. Seligman's film is a compact, unforgettable entry in that lineage.
Don't wait until it's too late. Stream Shiva Baby on Netflix before June 7, 2026. For more updates on what's leaving and arriving on streaming services, stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot.
