Jessica Chastain’s horror film “Other Mommy” opened at No. 1 at the North American box office with an estimated $27.5 million from 3,365 theaters over the October 9 to 11 weekend. The film cost about $19 million to produce. Its debut came as the 2026 domestic box office passed $8 billion, running more than 19% ahead of last year.
Key Takeaways
- “Other Mommy” opened in 50 international markets at the same time, bringing its global debut to $45.2 million.
- Opening-night audiences gave the film a D+ CinemaScore, and critics scored it 18% on Rotten Tomatoes.
- Pre-release forecasts from Boxoffice Pro placed the opening between $17 million and $22 million.
- “Verity” placed second with $11.5 million, down 64% from its opening weekend, bringing its domestic total to $53.9 million.
- “The Social Reckoning,” the weekend’s other wide release, opened fifth with $5.5 million from 2,606 theaters.
- The annual domestic box office crossed $8 billion on Friday, October 9.
A $19 Million Horror Film Clears Its Budget in One Weekend
“Other Mommy” made back more than its production cost in its first three days in domestic release alone. That is the core business case for mid-budget horror, and this opening shows it clearly. Rob Savage directed from a screenplay by Nathan Elston, adapting Josh Malerman’s novel “Incidents Around the House.” Chastain plays two roles: the mother of 8-year-old Bela, played by Arabella Olivia Clark, and the doppelgänger entity that gives the film its title. Blumhouse Atomic Monster produced the film, with James Wan among the producers, and Universal Pictures handled distribution.
The opening landed well above most public forecasts. Boxoffice Pro had projected a range of $17 million to $22 million, and some industry tracking ran as high as $35 million before settling lower over the summer. The final number sits near Chastain’s 2013 horror hit “Mama,” which opened to $28.4 million. That comparison suggests her drawing power in the genre has held up across more than a decade.
A D+ CinemaScore Puts the Second Weekend in Focus
The opening weekend tells only part of the story. Opening-night audiences gave “Other Mommy” a D+ CinemaScore, a rare grade for a wide release. Critics were also cool, with the film sitting at 18% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Horror films often draw lower exit-poll grades than other genres, because the audiences who turn out on opening night tend to be the most demanding. Even so, a D+ usually points to a steep drop in the second weekend. Boxoffice Pro had compared the film’s outlook to January’s “Send Help,” another original horror title led by a woman, which opened to $19.1 million and finished at $64.7 million domestic. One analyst projects “Other Mommy” will end its run between $55 million and $60 million. Even at the low end of that range, the film would earn nearly three times its production budget in North America.
Marketing explains much of the gap between the reviews and the receipts. The film’s trailer spread widely after playing in theaters ahead of “The Odyssey” this summer, and a jump scare featuring Chastain became the centerpiece of the campaign. “Other Mommy” also carries an R rating for bloody violence and language. That is a notable choice for a production company whose recent releases have mostly been PG-13.
Holdovers Show How Quickly Audiences Move On
Behind “Other Mommy,” the weekend chart shows how fast audiences shift from one title to the next. “Verity,” the Colleen Hoover adaptation starring Anne Hathaway, slipped to second place with $11.5 million, a 64% decline. The film followed Verity’s $32.6 million debut over the October 2 to 4 weekend, and its 10-day domestic total now stands at $53.9 million.
“Resident Evil” placed third with $8.4 million, lifting its domestic total to $138.5 million after 24 days in release. “Heart of the Beast” took fourth with $7.1 million. “The Social Reckoning” opened fifth with $5.5 million from 2,606 theaters, a soft start for the weekend’s other wide release.
The $8 Billion Mark Sets Up the Holiday Season
The domestic box office crossed $8 billion on Friday, October 9. That puts 2026 more than 19% ahead of the same point last year. Summer releases did much of the work. “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” has earned more than $956 million domestically, and “The Odyssey” has passed $622 million. Mid-budget titles have filled the gaps between those tentpoles.
A 19% year-over-year gain matters for theaters heading into November and December. It points to steady attendance rather than one-off spikes, and it gives exhibitors more confidence going into the holiday season, when family releases and awards contenders typically drive traffic.
For the industry, “Other Mommy” also reinforces a broader pattern. Original horror at a modest budget remains one of the more dependable ways to fill theaters in the fall, even when reviews and word of mouth are poor.
FAQs
How much did “Other Mommy” make opening weekend?
“Other Mommy” earned an estimated $27.5 million domestically from 3,365 theaters over the October 9 to 11 weekend. With 50 international markets included, its global debut reached $45.2 million.
What was the budget for “Other Mommy”?
“Other Mommy” had a production budget of about $19 million. The film earned more than that in its domestic opening weekend.
What CinemaScore did “Other Mommy” get?
Opening-night audiences gave “Other Mommy” a D+ CinemaScore. Critics scored the film 18% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Who directed “Other Mommy,” and what is it based on?
Rob Savage directed “Other Mommy” from a screenplay by Nathan Elston. The film is based on Josh Malerman’s novel “Incidents Around the House.”
How much has the 2026 domestic box office earned so far?
The 2026 domestic box office crossed $8 billion on October 9 and is running more than 19% ahead of the same point in 2025.
