‘Other Mommy’ Plummets at the Box Office as Jessica Chastain’s Horror Film Faces Bad Word of Mouth

Avatar photoRobert Milaković
oTHER MOMMY 5
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Horror has proven to be a dependable genre at the box office this year, raking in over $1.1 billion domestically. Thus, the rapid decline of Jessica Chastain’s ‘Other Mommy’ is particularly noteworthy. The Blumhouse thriller debuted strongly but saw a dramatic drop in its second weekend, with negative word of mouth becoming increasingly evident.

Directed by Rob Savage and produced by James Wan, the film was released by Universal and arrived with significant buzz and an intriguing premise. However, the latest figures reveal how swiftly audience sentiment can shift when reactions are overwhelmingly negative.

On its second Friday, the film grossed approximately $2.6 million, marking an 80% drop from its opening day total of $12.6 million. This decline is steeper than that of similar horror films at the same stage. For instance, ‘The Black Phone’ fell about 62%, ‘Long Legs’ also dropped 62%, ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ saw a 68% decrease, and ‘Scream 5’ dropped by 72%.

Following Friday’s performance, the movie’s domestic total reached around $39.1 million. Early estimates for the entire second weekend suggest it may earn about $7.8 million, a decline of roughly 72%, bringing its cumulative total to around $44 million, placing it in third behind ‘Street Fighter’ and ‘You Can See Everything’.

The film’s decline is particularly striking given its strong start. ‘Other Mommy’ earned $27.5 million from 3,365 theaters between October 9 and 11, significantly surpassing Universal’s expectations of around $20 million. It also added another $17.7 million internationally, resulting in a global opening of approximately $45 million.

The marketing campaign was effective, featuring a chilling trailer that played ahead of ‘The Odyssey’ and a premise that positioned it as accessible gateway horror. Chastain portrays dual roles as a young girl’s actual mother and the malevolent entity that assumes her identity.

However, trouble was apparent almost immediately. Audiences rated the film with a D+ CinemaScore, the lowest since 2024’s ‘Megalopolis’, while Rotten Tomatoes indicated critics’ scores around 17% to 19%, with an audience score of 46%. Even on Columbus Day Monday, the film earned $2.9 million, reflecting a 54% drop from Sunday.

Critics described the movie as a series of jump scares and poorly developed mythology, although some acknowledged Chastain’s dedication to her role. One analyst had predicted a decline of at least 70% in the second weekend, and the early figures have validated that forecast.

‘Other Mommy’ is adapted from Josh Malerman’s novel ‘Incidents Around the House’, penned by the author of ‘Bird Box’, with a screenplay by Nathan Elston of ‘Succession’. The story follows a young girl named Bela, played by Arabella Olivia Clark, who develops a bond with a creature in her home that eerily resembles her mother.

The cast features Jay Duplass, Dichen Lachman, Arian Moayed, and Karen Allen. The film runs for 93 minutes and is rated R for bloody violence and language, which some reviewers noted made it a poor match for the family audience the marketing seemed to target.

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

Despite this significant drop, the film is unlikely to be a financial failure. With a production cost of about $19 million before marketing, it should recoup a large portion of its investment during its theatrical run, and Blumhouse’s knack for maintaining low budgets remains a crucial advantage. One analyst had projected a final total between $55 million and $60 million before the second-weekend decline, although the latest figures may lead to a downward revision of that estimate.

Marketing expenses have not been disclosed, leaving the final profit outlook uncertain. Nevertheless, a $27.5 million opening against a $19 million budget provides the film with a solid buffer.

The trajectory of the film serves as a reminder that horror can be review-proof for a weekend, but not indefinitely. The genre relies on strong openings, and a film that fails to satisfy viewers can quickly lose traction, especially with new releases like ‘Street Fighter’ and ‘Whalefall’ entering the fray. The comparison to ‘Hereditary’, which also received a D+ CinemaScore but later gained acclaim, offers a glimmer of hope for fans, although the reviews for this film suggest a different outcome.

For Chastain, known for her roles in ‘Mama’ and ‘It Chapter Two’, this outcome represents a setback after an encouraging start. Blumhouse concludes its 2026 slate on a less triumphant note compared to the breakout success of ‘Obsession’.

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