What's Inside?
- Sydney Sweeney scores a major redemption as The Housemaid turns profit fast, proving her box office pull across genres worldwide.
- The psychological thriller races past break even, fuels a three year success streak, and strengthens Sweeney’s standing in Hollywood today.
- Lionsgate greenlights The Housemaid’s Secret quickly, with Sydney Sweeney and Paul Feig returning for a high demand sequel project soon.
Sydney Sweeney’s career has rarely moved in a straight line. After becoming a breakout sensation as Cassie Howard on HBO’s Euphoria, she faced sky high expectations and the kind of scrutiny that follows young stars everywhere. A few recent projects stumbled theatrically, yet her momentum never fully vanished. Streaming audiences stayed loyal, and industry insiders kept betting on her instincts as both actor and producer. Now, a sharp turn has arrived. With The Housemaid, Sweeney is no longer defending her choices. She is defining them, backed by box office numbers that speak louder than any review cycle.
Sydney Sweeney Finds Redemption Through The Housemaid
For Sydney Sweeney, The Housemaid feels like a recalibration moment rather than a simple hit. The psychological thriller arrived quietly, without the noise of franchise branding, and still exploded. Made on a $35 million budget, the film has already crossed $135 million worldwide, sailing past its break even point and turning a healthy profit. In an era where mid-budget adult thrillers struggle, that performance stands out.
Amanda Seyfried says she “guarantees” a “Housemaid 2” will happen. #PSIFF pic.twitter.com/gW6JQEzqTI
— Variety (@Variety) January 4, 2026
The success also reframes Sweeney’s recent years. Projects like Eden and Madame Web did not connect in theaters, but they found new life once audiences discovered them on streaming platforms. That pattern hinted at star power waiting for the right vehicle. The Housemaid became that vehicle. It gave Sweeney a hit in 2025 and extended a rare three-year box office streak. It began with Anyone but You in 2023, an R rated romantic comedy that surprised Hollywood by grossing $220 million on a $25 million budget. It continued with 2024’s Immaculate, a lean horror film that turned $9 million into $35 million worldwide.
In The Housemaid, Sweeney plays Millie, a young woman running from her past who accepts a live-in job with a wealthy couple hiding dark secrets. The role demands restraint, vulnerability, and a slow-burning intensity. It also proves her range beyond glossy studio fare. Audiences responded, and so did the industry. The film’s projected $220 to $250 million run now places it alongside her biggest successes and signals that her box office appeal is no longer accidental.
Sydney Sweeney Returns as The Housemaid Sequel is Confirmed
The response was so immediate that a sequel arrived almost overnight. Only 17 days after release, Lionsgate officially announced The Housemaid’s Secret, confirming that Sydney Sweeney and director Paul Feig will return. The move reflects confidence, not caution.
The Housemaid star Sydney Sweeney and director Paul Feig did something bad, and it felt so good that Lionsgate is going to let them do it again
Thanks to the box office success of the psychological thriller, The Housemaid has grossed $133 million in its first two-and-a-half weeks of release — the studio has greenlit a sequel movie, titled The Housemaid’s Secret. The project, based on the second novel in Freida McFadden’s best-selling trilogy, has been in development for the past few months, and Lionsgate is planning a production start for later this year with Feig and stars Sweeney and Michele Morrone returning.
“It’s clear from both the global box office and from the outpouring on social media that audiences have responded strongly — and audibly — to the totally unique and truly theatrical experience of The Housemaid and want to know what happens next,” Adam Fogelson, Lionsgate’s motion picture group chair, said in a statement announcing the greenlight.
“We believed in these stories from the very beginning, and we are beyond excited to bring the next chapter of Millie’s story to life on-screen in collaboration with our outstanding creative partners Todd, Paul, Laura, Carly, Alex, and Sydney,” Fogelson continued. “‘The Housemaid’s Secret’ is another wildly thrilling book in Freida’s series that has captivated readers worldwide, and we look forward to translating it into a similarly rousing and riotous moviegoing experience.”
With the book series selling over 12 million copies worldwide and translated into 40 languages, the sequel arrives with built-in anticipation. For Sydney Sweeney, it confirms something larger. Her recent run is no fluke. She has crossed into a phase where audiences follow her, studios trust her, and her choices shape the market rather than chase it.
