‘The Housemaid’: Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried Deliver a Twisty, Box Office-Busting Psychological Thriller

In a holiday season dominated by blockbusters like Avatar: Fire and Ash, one R-rated psychological thriller has emerged as an unlikely champion: Paul Feig’s The Housemaid, starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried. Adapted from Freida McFadden’s bestselling 2022 novel, the Lionsgate release has shown remarkable staying power, dropping just 3% in its latest weekend to push its domestic total near $75 million and worldwide haul to $133 million—on a modest $35 million budget.

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Directed by Feig—known for blending humor with tension in films like A Simple Favor—The Housemaid plunges viewers into a world of deception and danger. Sweeney plays Millie Calloway, a young woman with a troubled past and criminal record who desperately needs a fresh start. She lands what seems like a dream job as a live-in housemaid for the affluent Winchester family. Amanda Seyfried stars as Nina Winchester, the elegant but enigmatic lady of the house, whose polished life hides deepening cracks. Brandon Sklenar portrays Nina’s husband Andrew, with supporting turns from Michele Morrone as the mysterious groundskeeper Enzo, Elizabeth Perkins as Andrew’s mother Evelyn, and young Indiana Elle as the couple’s daughter Cece.

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What begins as salvation for Millie quickly morphs into a nightmare. Drawn deeper into the family’s private world, she uncovers secrets that threaten to destroy everything. The film explores themes of trust, manipulation, class privilege, and the dark underbelly of perfection, with shifting power dynamics and mounting dread behind every opulent door. Feig’s stylish direction amplifies the claustrophobic tension, turning the lavish mansion into a character unto itself.

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Critics have praised the film as a sly throwback to ’90s erotic thrillers, with Rotten Tomatoes boasting a 75-76% critic score and a “Verified Hot” 92% audience approval. Reviewers highlight Feig’s “light touch,” the “wicked sense of fun,” and especially Seyfried’s “delightfully unnerving” and committed performance. Sweeney’s portrayal of the vulnerable yet resilient Millie has also drawn acclaim, marking a triumphant rebound after a string of underperforming 2025 releases.

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Released December 19, 2025, after a New York premiere earlier that month, The Housemaid opened strong and has defied typical drops, thanks to word-of-mouth and female audiences. Its success echoes Feig’s previous hits and signals a revival for mid-budget adult thrillers. With projections eyeing $200 million globally, sequel talks are already buzzing—McFadden’s book has two follow-ups, and Seyfried has called a second film “guaranteed.”

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Behind the scenes, Feig collaborated closely with his stars, praising their handling of intense scenes. Filming took place in New Jersey from January to March 2025, with Theodore Shapiro providing the score. For fans of twisty, glamorous suspense, The Housemaid proves that old-school thrills still pack a punch—and a profit.