Ashley Judd is looking back at her 1997 thriller Kiss the Girls with a critical new lens. In a candid Instagram post shared on Sunday, March 8, 2026, the actress condemned the Paramount Pictures film for its handling of sensitive themes. Judd, who starred as Dr. Kate McTiernan alongside Morgan Freeman’s Alex Cross, opened up about the psychological impact of the production on both the cast and the audience.

Judd described the film as making "entertainment out of sexual terror." She reflected on the 1997 release as an example of "collective denial" regarding male sexual violence against women. According to the actress, the portrayal of such trauma for the sake of a cinematic thriller was inherently "traumatizing" and lacked the necessary social responsibility. This shift in perspective follows Judd’s years of public advocacy and her work as a UN Population Fund Goodwill Ambassador.

The film, directed by Gary Fleder and based on the novel by James Patterson, was a commercial success that earned over $60 million at the domestic box office. Despite its status as a career-defining moment, Judd now views the project through the context of the #MeToo movement. She urged the entertainment industry to reconsider how violence is utilized for public consumption, marking a significant reevaluation of her early career milestone.