Sydney Sweeney and director Paul Feig have shattered box office expectations with their latest collaboration, proving once again that audiences are hungry for compelling female-led thrillers.
The Housemaid has demolished financial records, becoming both stars’ highest-grossing film ever.
More than a month after release, the psychological thriller continues its remarkable theatrical run, silencing critics who doubted its commercial viability.
Based on Freida McFadden’s bestselling potboiler, this adaptation marks a stunning career resurgence for both filmmaker and star.
Breaking Records Against All Odds
As of Monday, January 26, The Housemaid has accumulated an extraordinary $294.6 million worldwide against its modest $45 million budget. That’s a return of over six times production costs—a ratio most studios only dream about.
Over the weekend, it surpassed Feig’s beloved 2011 comedy Bridesmaids, which earned $289.6 million worldwide, to become his highest-grossing film of all time. For Sweeney, it handily eclipsed Anyone But You and its $220 million global haul.
Industry insiders predict The Housemaid could top out somewhere in the low-to-mid $300 million range as it continues dominating cinema screens.
Ending Sydney Sweeney’s Theatrical Drought
The success feels particularly sweet for Sweeney, who endured a brutal 2025 before The Housemaid arrived. She had two other significant theatrical releases that year—Americana and Christy—both of which failed to surpass $2 million at the box office.
Christy managed just $1.98 million worldwide during its limited November release. Americana performed even worse, earning somewhere between $500,000 and $840,000 upon its domestic-only August release.
Those disappointments made The Housemaid‘s phenomenal performance all the more unexpected—and necessary for Sweeney’s big-screen credibility.
Paul Feig’s First Major Hit in a Decade
The Housemaid represents Feig’s first bona fide theatrical success in at least 10 years. His last film to crack $200 million was his underrated 2016 Ghostbusters reboot, which earned nearly $230 million worldwide yet was still branded a disappointment by the studio.
That perceived failure effectively ended Feig’s relationship with major studios. Since then, his theatrical releases struggled to gain traction.
His 2019 holiday rom-com Last Christmas took $123 million worldwide—respectable but not blockbuster territory. In recent years, he pivoted to streaming, directing three films for various platforms: The School for Good and Evil (2022), Jackpot (2024), and Another Simple Favor (2025).
None received critical acclaim. None generated significant cultural conversation.
Hollywood’s Persistent Blind Spot
Feig has built his career championing female-led stories, repeatedly proving their commercial viability despite industry skepticism. Yet somehow, he still faces resistance every time he pitches one.
I don’t know how many times in my career I’ve had to prove to Hollywood that women will show up at movie theaters, but they still do.
He continued reflecting on his track record of female-focused hits:
It happened with Bridesmaids, it happened with Spy, it happened with The Heat, and Simple Favor to a lesser degree, since it didn’t do as well as I wanted to. But it still is considered a success because the budget was so small.
Despite this consistent pattern of success, Feig expresses frustration at Hollywood’s perpetual surprise when these films perform well:
The town always seemed so amazed when women show up. So these movies, I don’t know what it’s going to take for people to just get it that this is a giant audience out there that just needs to be served.
What Made The Housemaid Connect?
Several factors contributed to The Housemaid‘s unexpected triumph:
- Built-in audience: McFadden’s novel had already cultivated millions of devoted readers hungry to see the adaptation
- Star power: Sweeney’s rising profile gave the project mainstream appeal beyond book fans
- Genre appeal: Psychological thrillers with domestic noir elements have proven consistently marketable to female audiences
- Modest budget: At $45 million, financial success was achievable without needing Marvel-level grosses
- Counter-programming: Released among superhero films and action blockbusters, it offered something different
The combination created perfect storm conditions for breakout success.
Sequel Already Greenlit
Studios moved quickly to capitalize on The Housemaid‘s momentum. The Housemaid’s Secret, based on McFadden’s sequel novel, has already been greenlit following the first film’s semi-cliffhanger ending.
Sweeney’s character returns in the follow-up. While insiders note she hasn’t yet signed a deal, it’s understood she’ll headline any sequel—likely with a significantly larger paycheck this time.
For Feig, this represents vindication after years in the streaming wilderness. For Sweeney, it’s proof she can anchor a major theatrical release when given material worthy of her talents.
The Housemaid remains in cinemas nationwide, continuing to defy expectations with each passing week.