Jessica Chastain’s ‘Other Mommy’ Keeps Cashing In Despite Brutal Reviews and a Steep Drop

Horror has a long history of proving that bad reviews don’t always matter at the box office. A cheap production, a creepy hook and a big opening weekend can turn even a critically panned film into a financial win. Jessica Chastain’s latest scary movie is the newest example.

‘Other Mommy‘ is a Universal and Blumhouse release directed by Rob Savage, the filmmaker behind ‘Host’ and ‘The Boogeyman’. It is based on Josh Malerman’s novel ‘Incidents Around the House’, with a script by ‘Succession’ writer Nathan Elston and producer James Wan involved. The story follows a young girl named Bela who forms a relationship with a sinister entity in her home that looks uncannily like her own mother.

The film arrived in theaters on Oct. 9, and its money story is now clear: it has grossed roughly $78.7 million to $78.8 million worldwide against a budget of about $18 million. One projection circulating among box office watchers has it eyeing a finish between $95 million and $110 million. That would be a strong return for a movie that critics and audiences largely didn’t enjoy.

‘OTHER MOMMY’ has grossed around $78.8M worldwide — now eyeing a $95-110M finish. It cost $18M to produce. https://t.co/TZxCVbG1DC

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) October 18, 2026

The debut was the film’s biggest asset. ‘Other Mommy’ opened at No. 1 with an estimated $27.5 million domestically from 3,365 theaters, well above the roughly $20 million that Variety had projected. Adding $17.69 million from international markets, the worldwide opening reached $45.2 million.

Thursday previews brought in $3.6 million, and Friday totaled $12.6 million including previews. It was the best opening weekend for a Blumhouse film in 2026, though Atomic Monster’s ‘Backrooms’ opened bigger. For a movie made on a modest budget, it paid for itself almost immediately.

The warning signs came quickly. Opening-night audiences gave the film a D+ CinemaScore, and the movie holds a Rotten Tomatoes score of about 17% to 18% from critics. A grade that low usually predicts a steep drop in week two.

That is exactly what happened. In its second weekend, ‘Other Mommy’ fell about 70% to $8.3 million and landed in third place. One analysis called it one of Blumhouse’s biggest drops ever.

Even with that drop, the numbers add up. The film’s domestic total reached $44.8 million, and one analysis put its estimated break-even point at around $45 million, which it nearly hit from the domestic run alone. Variety called it a hit despite the decline.

The film also moved up Chastain’s career rankings. It passed ‘Lawless’, which earned $37.4 million, to become the ninth-highest-grossing film of her career at the U.S. box office. That is a notable result for an actress better known for dramatic roles.

Reviews have been harsh. One critic found the script a bit thin and said Savage seemed more interested in showing off the visual effects than in the story. The review praised the chemistry between Chastain and Jay Duplass, and said Karen Allen was good in support.

Audience reaction was also sharp, with some viewers saying the movie should have been a comedy. That reaction fueled a wave of online chatter that has kept the film in the conversation. Sometimes, the loudest backlash can help curiosity.

Chastain plays two roles: Ursula, Bela’s mother, and the supernatural Other Mommy. The cast also includes Arabella Olivia Clark as Bela, Dichen Lachman, Arian Moayed and Karen Allen. The trailer drew comparisons to ‘Coraline’ because both stories center on a creepy, otherworldly mother, though ‘Other Mommy’ is aimed at adults.

The trailer itself generated plenty of buzz, with one report noting that it left ‘The Odyssey’ moviegoers terrified. That early marketing helped build anticipation before the opening weekend. In hindsight, it set expectations that the film struggled to meet.

New trailer for ‘OTHER MOMMY’, starring Jessica Chastain and Jessica Chastain. The film follows a young girl who is threatened by a sinister demon that looks exactly like her mother. In theaters on October 9. https://t.co/Xwu3FI6pYz

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 15, 2026

The next few weeks will determine how far the movie goes. Horror films are often front-loaded, and a 70% second-weekend decline suggests the run will taper quickly. Reaching the $95 million to $110 million range would require solid international business.

Even so, the film has already delivered what Universal and Blumhouse wanted: a profit on a small investment. Whether it becomes a franchise or a one-off remains to be seen. For now, it is a reminder that horror audiences show up on opening weekend, whatever the reviews say.

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