'Other Mommy' Opens Strong but Poor Word of Mouth Threatens Box Office Success

Horror films are notorious for their front-loaded box office performance. Audiences flock to theaters quickly, and the fate of a film often hinges on its second weekend’s performance.

The latest figures for Jessica Chastain’s thriller are particularly revealing. While it topped the weekend box office, the rapid shift in audience sentiment is noteworthy.

The success of horror films often relies on their second weekend. Positive reactions can lead to extended runs, while negative feedback typically results in significant declines.

Recent examples illustrate both scenarios. For instance, January’s ‘Send Help’ debuted with $19.1 million and ultimately grossed $64.7 million domestically, buoyed by favorable word of mouth. Conversely, films that receive poor reactions can see their audience halve in just a week.

R-rated horror #OtherMommy starring #JessicaChastain had a strong debut at US #BoxOffice, but awful WOM already hit it over the weekend (see breakdown below) with STRONG 27.5M 3-day Opening weekend (vs #Scream5’s 30M, #M3GAN’s 30.4M, #TheExorcistBeliever 26.5M, #TheBlackPhone 23.6M, #LongLegs 22.4M, #IronLung’s 17.8M) Breakdown 3.6M THU Previews 9M PURE FRI (12.6M FRI Op. Day including previews) 9M SAT -0.6% from PURE FRI (-29% from FRI+Previews) 5.9M SUN* -33.5% drop from SAT *Could be lower/higher when actuals come on MON The biggest ace in Blumhouse’s sleeves is always keeping budget under control, and with a 19M production price tag not including marketing, #OtherMommy should have no trouble to make most of the investment back while still in theatres even if it crashes next weekend.

— Luiz Fernando (@Luiz_Fernando_J) October 11, 2026

‘Other Mommy’ debuted with an estimated $27.5 million over its opening weekend, a solid figure for an R-rated horror film. A detailed breakdown of the earnings reveals:

Thursday previews: $3.6 million
Friday: approximately $9 million, or $12.6 million including previews
Saturday: around $9 million, steady from Friday but down about 29% from Friday plus previews
Sunday: an estimated $5.9 million, reflecting a 33.5% drop from Saturday

The Sunday figure is an estimate and may adjust when actual numbers are reported on Monday. However, the weekend’s trajectory is clear: a strong start, stable Saturday, followed by a decline, which is typical for front-loaded films.

The $27.5 million opening aligns well with recent horror successes. ‘Scream’ launched with $30 million, ‘M3GAN’ with $30.4 million, while ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ opened at $26.5 million. Other films like ‘The Black Phone’ and ‘Long Legs’ had openings of $23.6 million and $22.4 million, respectively.

The previews were also promising. The $3.6 million earned on Thursday surpassed ‘Iron Lung’ and ‘Scream’, both of which made $3.5 million, prompting forecasters to raise their expectations throughout the week.

Screenshot 2026 10 10 at 08 55 08 Other Mommy Rotten Tomatoes

However, the warning signs are evident. The film currently holds an 18% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a rare D+ CinemaScore, indicating poor audience reception.

Comparisons to ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ serve as a cautionary tale. That film opened with $26.5 million and received a C CinemaScore, subsequently dropping about 58% in its second weekend to $11 million, ultimately finishing with $65.5 million domestically. If ‘Other Mommy’ experiences a similar 60% drop, it could earn around $11 million next weekend.

This is where the film’s financials come into play. With a reported production budget of $19 million, excluding marketing, some estimates suggest it could be as low as $18 million.

Blumhouse’s strength lies in its ability to manage costs effectively. The film has nearly recouped its budget in just one weekend, meaning even a significant second-weekend decline could still result in a profitable run while it remains in theaters.

First look at an eerie crying billboard for ‘OTHER MOMMY’, starring Jessica Chastain. The film follows a young girl who is threatened by a sinister demon that looks exactly like her mother. https://t.co/4g0jwHVQE6

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 8, 2026

The film also benefited from a relatively sparse marketplace. Total weekend earnings were below $90 million, marking the second consecutive weekend where new releases faced challenges. Sony’s ‘The Social Reckoning’ debuted in fifth place with around $6 million.

Films like ‘Resident Evil’ and ‘Verity’ maintained solid performances, while ‘The Odyssey’ re-entered the top 10. In this context, a $27.5 million opening appears even more impressive.

One analyst predicts ‘Other Mommy’ will finish with a domestic total between $55 million and $60 million. While this is below some optimistic projections made prior to its release, it still represents a strong outcome given the budget.

The film has other positive aspects to consider. Director Rob Savage’s ‘The Boogeyman’ opened at $12.35 million and concluded with $43.2 million domestically, while Chastain’s 2013 horror film ‘Mama’ grossed $148.1 million on a $15 million budget.

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