Sydney Sweeney's Family Feud Stunt Drives Housemaid Success
The actress's spontaneous marketing idea turned a film scene into viral promotion, attracting millions of female viewers and securing a sequel for the psychological thriller.
Sydney Sweeney didn't just act in The Housemaid. She changed how audiences discovered it. During production of a tense scene featuring Family Feud, Sweeney suggested turning that moment into real promotion. The idea wasn't part of some studio master plan. It came from pure instinct when she realized Celebrity Family Feud could be perfect marketing.
How a Game Show Appearance Changed Everything
The Celebrity Family Feud appearance created something rare: genuine viral content. Clips generated $1.5 mn in views. More importantly, it repositioned The Housemaid from just another thriller into must-see entertainment for women.
The game show format worked perfectly. Familiar and welcoming, it drew viewers who might skip crime thrillers entirely. It also reached fans of Freida McFadden's novel who hadn't heard about the movie adaptation. French marketing took a different approach, promoting it as erotic thriller content.
Young stars like Timothée Chalamet are following similar paths with unconventional promotion for Marty Supreme. These actors prove that character-driven films can compete with big-budget spectacles like Avatar: Fire and Ash when backed by smart marketing.
Box Office Numbers Confirm Sequel Plans
The Housemaid cost $35 mn to produce. Worldwide earnings now exceed $140 mn. Lionsgate officially confirmed a sequel based on McFadden's second trilogy novel.
Director Paul Feig guided the psychological thriller starring Sweeney alongside Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, and Michele Morrone. Rebecca Sonnenshine adapted McFadden's 2022 source material. Hidden Pictures produced for Lionsgate distribution.
The film earned 73% from critics and 92% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Released December 19, 2025, in US and Canadian theaters, it became one of 2026's first major hits. With the book series' built-in fanbase, the sequel has strong potential if executed properly.