Sydney Sweeney's 'The Housemaid' Breaks Lionsgate's 2025 Box Office Record

Sydney Sweeney's latest film is making waves at the box office, positioning itself to become Lionsgate's most successful opening of 2025. The erotic thriller, helmed by director Paul Feig, features Sweeney alongside Amanda Seyfried in what's shaping up to be a breakout hit.

Box Office Projections Signal Major Success

Industry analysts predict the psychological thriller will generate between $20 million and $25 million across 3,000 theaters during its debut weekend. With a production budget of $35 million, these numbers represent a strong start for the studio adaptation of Freida McFadden's popular novel.

The film's projected earnings would eclipse other major Lionsgate releases from this year. Mark Wahlberg's action film 'Flight Risk' brought in $12 million from 3,161 North American theaters during its opening weekend. Meanwhile, Ana de Armas starred in 'Ballerina,' which earned $24.5 million from 3,409 venues, though that figure fell short of studio expectations.

Critical Reception Exceeds Expectations

The psychological drama tells the story of Millie Calloway, portrayed by Sweeney, a young woman with a troubled background who becomes employed by the affluent Winchester family. Her new position quickly becomes complicated as she uncovers disturbing family secrets.

Sweeney described her latest project as "juicy and delicious" in recent interviews, emphasizing its entertainment value. "It's fun, it's juicy, it's delicious. It's all the different feels," she explained. "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."

Author Praises Film Adaptation

Critics have responded positively to the thriller, awarding it a 78% rating and Certified Fresh status on Rotten Tomatoes. The critical consensus describes it as "a sly throwback to the lurid thrillers that used to dominate multiplexes" that "cleans up nicely thanks to its wicked sense of fun and a delightfully unnerving performance from Amanda Seyfried."

Audiences have been even more enthusiastic, giving the film a 90% score on the platform's audience meter. One viewer praised the production, writing: "Great cast and beautiful cinematography. Good pacing with suspense along with some interesting twists."

Perhaps most surprisingly, original author Freida McFadden has expressed overwhelming enthusiasm for the adaptation. After attending a preview screening, she declared her love for the film and made the rare admission that it surpassed her source material. "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.')," McFadden shared on social media.