Sydney Sweeney’s ‘The Housemaid’ Sets New Lionsgate Box Office Milestone

Sydney Sweeney ’s newest film, The Housemaid, is making waves as it heads toward what could be Lionsgate ’s top-grossing debut of the year. With a projected opening weekend haul between $20 million and $25 million across 3,000 theaters, the erotic thriller is leaving recent studio releases in the dust. Directed by Paul Feig and featuring Amanda Seyfried alongside Sweeney, the movie was produced on a $35 million budget and is already generating major industry buzz.

Box Office Showdown: Outperforming Wahlberg and de Armas

The Housemaid is poised to surpass the opening numbers of other high-profile Lionsgate films this year. Mark Wahlberg’s Flight Risk managed $12 million from 3,161 theaters during its first weekend, while Ana de Armas’s Ballerina brought in $24.5 million from 3,409 locations. Although Ballerina’s performance was solid, The Housemaid is on track to claim the studio’s top spot for 2025 if it meets expectations. The question remains: can this steamy thriller outshine its competition and become the year’s breakout hit?

Inside the Story: Sweeney and Seyfried Lead a Dark Thriller

Based on Freida McFadden’s bestselling novel, The Housemaid follows Millie Calloway, played by Sweeney, as she takes a job with the wealthy Winchester family. What starts as a fresh start quickly spirals into chaos as Millie uncovers the family’s disturbing secrets. Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, Michele Morrone, and Elizabeth Perkins round out the cast, bringing the suspenseful tale to life under Feig’s direction and Rebecca Sonnenshine’s screenplay.

Sweeney described the film as “juicy and delicious,” promising audiences a wild ride.

If you want to be able to go and have a good time … you’re going to be screaming at the screen, you’re going to be laughing, you’re going to be crying. There’s so much that we give everybody. So, it’s a good emotional cleanse for yourself.

Early reviews seem to back her up, with critics awarding the film a Certified Fresh badge and a 78% rating. The consensus highlights its throwback style and Amanda Seyfried’s standout performance, while audiences have given it a 90% score for its suspense, pacing, and unexpected twists.

Author’s Take: When the Movie Outshines the Book

Freida McFadden, whose novel inspired the film, has offered glowing praise for the adaptation. After attending a preview screening, she admitted she was blown away, even telling her husband that the movie might be better than her own book—a rare admission for any author. She shared,

The second it was over, I turned to my husband in the theater and said, ‘Omg, I think it was better than the book!’ (And he said, ‘Yeah.’).

With both critical and fan acclaim, The Housemaid is shaping up to be a must-see for anyone craving a suspenseful, emotionally charged experience. The film is now playing in theaters nationwide.