Universal Pictures gained command of the domestic box office on Friday, Oct. 9, as director Rob Savage’s supernatural thriller “Other Mommy” outpaced competition following a strong start in Thursday previews.
According to studio estimates reported by Deadline, “Other Mommy” is tracking toward a three-day weekend gross of roughly $27.5 million across 3,365 theaters, boosted by an estimated $12.3 million haul on Friday. Variety noted that projections for the film ranged between $22 million and $28 million, with optimistic industry forecasts reaching as high as $35 million.
The film began its theatrical run by generating $3.6 million in early screenings on Thursday afternoon across 2,850 locations, according to studio figures cited by trade outlets. Produced by Blumhouse and Atomic Monster on a reported $19 million production budget, the release capitalized on favorable October timing for horror titles.
Critical pans fail to derail horror debut
The commercial momentum arrived in spite of sharply negative reviews. ComingSoon.net reported that “Other Mommy” held an 18 percent approval rating based on 38 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes upon its release. The film adapts Josh Malerman’s 2024 horror novel “Incidents Around the House,” following an eight-year-old girl named Bela, played by Arabella Olivia Clark, whose home is stalked by a frightening apparition resembling her mother.
Oscar winner Jessica Chastain plays both the mother, Ursula, and the malevolent title entity. The cast also features Jay Duplass, Dichen Lachman, Karen Allen, Arian Moayed, and Sean Kaufman. Speaking at the Los Angeles premiere, Chastain reflected on her affinity for the genre, telling The Hollywood Reporter that horror films frequently provide complex female characters who serve as heroes and defeat monsters.
The movie generated significant online attention ahead of release after an early teaser trailer surprised theater audiences. Savage told The Hollywood Reporter that the viral response occurred while postproduction crews were still working eighteen-hour days to finalize visual effects and sound mixing.
Sorkin’s drama registers quiet opening
In contrast, Sony Pictures faced a sluggish start for “The Social Reckoning,” director Aaron Sorkin’s thematic continuation of his 2010 film “The Social Network.” The whistleblower drama collected $650,000 from Thursday previews and brought in an estimated $2.3 million on Friday, pointing toward a muted three-day opening of roughly $6 million from 2,606 theaters, Deadline reported.
Budgeted at $30 million after tax incentives and co-financed equally by Alcon Entertainment, “The Social Reckoning” dramatizes the 2021 revelations leaked by Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen. Mikey Madison portrays Haugen, Jeremy Allen White plays Wall Street Journal journalist Jeff Horwitz, and Jeremy Strong portrays Mark Zuckerberg. The film registered a 59 percent score among critics on Rotten Tomatoes, according to trade reports.
Chastain, who previously worked with Sorkin on the 2017 film “Molly’s Game,” told The Hollywood Reporter that Sorkin had reached out via email ahead of the weekend to acknowledge their simultaneous releases, describing the box office matchup as friendly.
Holdovers maintain top ranks
Behind “Other Mommy,” Amazon MGM Studios held the second spot with the psychological adaptation “Verity,” which was projected by Deadline to add $13.3 million in its second weekend, bringing its domestic total past $55 million.
Sony’s fourth-week holdover “Resident Evil” and Paramount Pictures’ survival story “Heart of the Beast” occupied third and fourth place, respectively. Final weekend numbers from studios will determine whether “Other Mommy” maintains its lead through Sunday once broader word-of-mouth spreads.
