‘Other Mommy’ Opens Strong While ‘The Social Reckoning’ Struggles at the Box Office
October has historically been a robust month for horror films, and 2026 continues that trend. With hits like ‘Obsession’ and ‘Backrooms’ drawing audiences back to theaters, studios are eager to maintain this momentum as Halloween approaches.
Universal and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster strategically released ‘Other Mommy’ three weeks ahead of Halloween. Featuring Jessica Chastain in a dual role and produced on a budget of about $18 million, the film has been positioned to attract horror fans. In contrast, Sony introduced a different offering with Aaron Sorkin’s drama ‘The Social Reckoning’.
Initial box office numbers reveal a clear winner. ‘Other Mommy’ grossed $12.6 million on Friday from 3,365 North American theaters, including Thursday previews, easily taking the top spot. This strong opening suggests it could reach around $28 million by Sunday, surpassing studio expectations and marking a solid success for a film with a modest budget.
Conversely, ‘The Social Reckoning’ debuted to a disappointing $2.15 million on Friday from 2,606 theaters, landing in fourth place. Projections indicate it may only reach about $6 million over the weekend, falling short of the $7 million to $8 million forecasted by Variety earlier this week.
The stark contrast to its predecessor is notable. ‘The Social Network’ opened to $22.4 million in 2010, meaning the new film’s debut is expected to be less than a third of that figure when adjusted for inflation. Sony has marketed the film as a companion piece rather than a direct sequel, and it lacks the involvement of David Fincher and Jesse Eisenberg.
Several factors seem to hinder its performance. Adult dramas have struggled to attract audiences since the pandemic, and the film’s focus on Facebook presents a tougher sell compared to horror. Mixed reviews have not helped its cause either.
The film portrays the true story of Frances Haugen, played by Mikey Madison, who collaborates with Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz, portrayed by Jeremy Allen White, to expose issues within the platform. Jeremy Strong takes on the role of Mark Zuckerberg. Despite a strong cast and Sorkin’s reputation, audience turnout has been lackluster.
Despite its strong opening day, ‘Other Mommy’ faces challenges ahead. The film currently holds a 19% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a D+ CinemaScore from audiences. Such feedback often leads to significant drops in box office performance after the opening weekend.
Analysts caution that the film could see a sharp decline in its second weekend, which would limit its overall earnings. However, with a budget under $20 million, it is expected to surpass its break-even point during its theatrical run. For now, a strong initial performance may be enough to deem it a financial success.
OTHER MOMMY is now playing in theaters.
A young girl forms a relationship with a sinister entity in her home who looks uncannily like her own mother.
Jessica Chastain stars. https://t.co/9mSWbSKewL— The Horror Calendar (@HorrorCalendar) October 8, 2026
Overall, the weekend box office was relatively quiet. ‘Verity’, the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel starring Anne Hathaway, is expected to secure second place in its second weekend. Meanwhile, last weekend’s release ‘Digger’, featuring Tom Cruise, has struggled to attract older audiences and has already faded from discussions.
Sony can rely on the success of ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ to cushion the blow from ‘The Social Reckoning’. However, a weak debut is disappointing for a film that was once considered a potential awards contender. For Universal, this weekend reaffirms that horror remains a reliable draw in theaters.
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