Sydney Sweeney’s The Housemaid Defies Expectations With Strong Reviews

After a series of underwhelming performances at the box office, Sydney Sweeney’s latest project, The Housemaid, appears to be reversing her fortunes. Following the much-hyped but ultimately disappointing Christy, which was once tipped for awards glory, Sweeney’s new release is enjoying a notably warmer reception. Early critical responses have been encouraging, with the film currently boasting a 78% approval rating from 41 reviews on the Tomatometer.

Critical Response and Sweeney’s 2025 Prospects

Although these initial reviews may shift as more critics weigh in, the outlook is promising for Sweeney, who has faced a challenging year. While positive notices do not always guarantee commercial success, the Euphoria star is not carrying the entire production alone this time. The Housemaid, adapted from Freida McFadden’s popular novel, also features Amanda Seyfried in a leading role, providing a strong ensemble to support the film’s ambitions.

Unlike some of Sweeney’s previous ventures, this adaptation arrives with a ready-made fanbase. McFadden’s book has enjoyed considerable popularity, particularly among BookTok communities, which could translate into a broader audience for the film.

Box Office Hopes and Literary Roots

With a reported production budget of $35 million, The Housemaid is projected to achieve a domestic opening exceeding $30 million. This forecast aligns with the novel’s impressive sales, which have reached approximately 4.5 million copies. Sweeney herself has expressed enthusiasm for the project, noting that her character remains faithful to the original story. She remarked:

I think that it’s going to be really exciting to see the movie come to life. I mean, I’m a huge fan of the book. So, being able to see all of these twisted elements and the secret smiles and how just dysfunctional this family has come to life is going to be really exciting.

Millie is really true to the book, which I was really happy about. Uh, she is just trying to figure out how to navigate a very, very complicated situation. And she finds herself in something way bigger than she thought she was prepared for.

Competition and Audience Appeal

The December release calendar is already rather crowded, with Zootopia 2 dominating and Avatar 3 looming on the horizon. However, The Housemaid is targeting a different demographic, which may work in its favour. Should word of mouth and audience scores prove positive, the film could finally bring an end to Sweeney’s recent run of disappointments, offering a much-needed highlight to her uneven year.

The Housemaid is set to arrive in cinemas on 19 December 2025.