[5] It was released theatrically in France on 5 November 2014 by Mars Distribution and in the United States on 18 September 2015 by Cohen Media Group.

The website's critics consensus reads, "While flirting with camp, François Ozon's The New Girlfriend offers thoughtful – and humorous – commentary on sexual and gender identity.

[8] Writing for The Hollywood Reporter, David Rooney expressed his compliments on The New Girlfriend: "a delectable riff on transformation, desire and sexuality that blends the heightened reality of melodrama with mischievous humor and an understated strain of Hitchcockian suspense".

[9] At Variety, Justin Chang said, "even as [Ozon] heads down any number of tantalizing if borderline-nonsensical alleyways, Ozon maintains his diabolical wit, his infectious sense of play and his essential affection for his characters" and the film was "powered by beautifully controlled performances from Anaïs Demoustier and Romain Duris".

The song "Hot n Cold" by Katy Perry is played in the film[11] but it is not available in the official soundtrack.