Sydney Sweeney's R-Rated Thriller That Made 11x Its Budget Is Officially Dominating Streaming - MCE Notices | California State Portal

There is no stopping Sydney Sweeney’s R-rated psychological thriller, The Housemaid. Nearly six months after it debuted in theaters, it is still in the conversation, asserting its dominance on the streaming charts.

The Housemaid was originally released in theaters back on December 19, where it would go on to earn over $400 million globally (more than 11 times its production budget). The success has not stopped there, though. Sweeney’s hit literary adaptation quickly climbed the PVOD charts after its digital release in early February, doing the same when it came to Starz on April 1.

However, now, just over two months after its streaming debut, The Housemaid has not gone anywhere. The 2025 blockbuster remains in the Starz U.S. Top 10 more than 70 days after it originally came to the platform, per FlixPatrol. While other titles have come and gone from the platform’s most popular titles, The Housemaid has remained, with no signs of slowing down.

What Happens in The Housemaid?

Based on Freida McFadden’s 2022 psychological novel of the same name, The Housemaid follows Millie Calloway, a young woman who is out on parole for manslaughter, who gets hired as a live-in maid for the Winchesters, a wealthy family with a dark secret. As Millie is desperate to keep her job, she accepts the position, which also includes her living in an attic bedroom that can be locked from the outside.

The erotic psychological thriller had Paul Feig at the helm, directing from a script by Rebecca Sonnenshine. Aside from Sweeney, who played Millie Calloway, the cast also included Amanda Seyfried as Nina Winchester and Brandon Sklenar as Andrew Winchester, as well as Michelle Morrone, Elizabeth Perkins, and Indiana Elle.

Considering that McFadden’s novels are extremely popular, they came with an already established fanbase that made the film a tremendous success. While critics gave the film a mostly positive reception, with a Certified Fresh 73% rating out of 200 reviews, audiences truly loved the adaptation, as it features a 92% Verified Hot score.

Moviegoers praised how faithful the adaptation was, but also noted that it’s extremely entertaining for those who haven’t watched the film, either.

Produced on a $35 million budget, The Housemaid grossed more than 11 times its budget, ending its theatrical run with an astounding $397.5 million haul worldwide.

The Housemaid 2 Is Already Happening

With such a great reception, it didn’t come as a surprise when Lionsgate confirmed a sequel to The Housemaid. Luckily for fans, the decision isn’t just based on the success of the adaptation but also because Freida McFadden has published more books. The sequel, The Housemaid’s Secret, premiered in February 2023, and there is a third book out, as well, The Housemaid Is Watching.

Although Lionsgate hasn’t confirmed the franchise will also adapt the third entry, The Housemaid’s Secret will officially start production this year. Rebecca Sonnenshine is returning to write the script, with director Paul Feig producing and expected to direct. Sweeney and Morrone are also returning, and will introduce Kirsten Dunst. Other new members haven’t been confirmed, but The Housemaid’s Secret has already set a release date two years from the original’s release on Dec. 17, 2027.

The Housemaid is streaming on Starz.