‘Other Mommy’ Dominates Box Office Despite Poor Reviews and D+ CinemaScore

Horror enthusiasts are familiar with the October tradition. As Halloween nears, audiences flock to theaters for thrills, often ignoring critical warnings.

This weekend exemplified that trend, as a chilling new film starring Jessica Chastain demonstrated that a well-timed jump scare can overshadow unfavorable reviews.

Following the success of ‘Obsession’ and ‘Backrooms’, which made 2026 a standout year for horror, studios are optimistic about audience turnout. Horror films have amassed over $1.1 billion at the domestic box office this year.

With Halloween just around the corner, Universal and Blumhouse’s Atomic Monster capitalized on the timing. Their new release hit theaters three weeks before the holiday, a period that has historically favored horror films.

Jessica Chastain’s ‘Other Mommy’ debuted with an estimated $27.5 million at the domestic box office across 3,365 screens, securing the top position. The Hollywood Reporter estimated the weekend total at around $28 million, surpassing Universal’s initial projection of $20 million.

The numbers continued to rise. Thursday previews brought in $3.6 million from 2,850 theaters, while Friday’s earnings reached approximately $12.3 million, according to Deadline. Pre-release forecasts varied, with estimates ranging from $17 million to $22 million, and some predictions even reaching as high as $35 million.

The film’s production budget was reportedly between $18 million and $19 million, meaning it has effectively recouped its costs in just one weekend, not accounting for marketing expenses.

However, the reception has been less favorable. Critics have assigned the film an 18% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences gave it a rare D+ CinemaScore, placing it alongside titles like ‘Borderlands’, ‘Die My Love’, and ‘Battlefield Earth’.

Not all reviews were negative. One critic praised Chastain as an unhinged delight, while another described the film as a familiar horror that moves too quickly. A D+ score typically indicates a significant drop in the following weekend’s earnings, so the film’s longevity will be closely monitored.

Directed by Rob Savage and produced by James Wan’s Blumhouse Atomic Monster, ‘Other Mommy’ tells the story of Bela, an 8-year-old girl played by Arabella Olivia Clark. She develops a relationship with a malevolent entity that emerges from her closet, resembling her mother.

Chastain portrays both Bela’s real mother and the sinister creature known as Other Mommy. The cast also features Jay Duplass as Daddo, along with Dichen Lachman, Arian Moayed, and Karen Allen.

The film is based on Josh Malerman’s novel ‘Incidents Around the House’, with a screenplay by Nathan Elston. It is rated R and has a runtime of 92 minutes.

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 premise has drawn comparisons to ‘Coraline’, which also features an alternate mother with dark motives. Reviewers noted that, unlike Henry Selick’s film, ‘Other Mommy’ is decidedly not for children.

The movie also evokes memories of ‘Mama’, the 2013 horror film in which Chastain played a woman caring for children haunted by a mysterious maternal figure. That film grossed $148 million on a $15 million budget.

Part of the film’s successful opening can be attributed to its marketing. The trailer, featuring a particularly terrifying jump scare from Chastain as Other Mommy, went viral after being shown before screenings of ‘The Odyssey’.

Strong trailers and TV spots marketed the film as accessible, gateway horror. Such campaigns can lead to significant openings, even when audience feedback is less than favorable.

The overall market had a challenging weekend. Total earnings fell below $90 million, marking the second consecutive weekend where new major releases struggled. Sony’s ‘The Social Reckoning’ debuted in fifth place with around $6 million, falling short of expectations.

Meanwhile, ‘Verity’ and ‘Resident Evil’ maintained solid performances, and ‘The Odyssey’ re-entered the top 10. One analyst predicts ‘Other Mommy’ will conclude its run with earnings between $55 million and $60 million, which would be a respectable return for a low-budget horror film.

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