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The Housemaid Reviews: Is Sydney Sweeney’s Psychological Thriller Worth Watching?
The Housemaid reviews are finally in, and the verdict is overwhelmingly positive. Based on Freida McFadden’s bestselling 2022 novel, The Housemaid has become one of the most talked-about psychological thrillers of 2025–2026. Featuring standout performances from Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, the film has impressed critics, thrilled audiences, and delivered impressive box office numbers.
If you’re wondering whether The Housemaid lives up to the hype, here’s a complete breakdown of the movie’s critic reviews, audience reactions, Rotten Tomatoes scores, cast performances, box office success, and whether it’s worth watching in 2026.
What Is The Housemaid Movie About?
Directed by Paul Feig, The Housemaid is a 131-minute erotic psychological thriller released in theaters on December 19, 2025. The screenplay was written by Rebecca Sonnenshine and adapts Freida McFadden’s wildly popular novel, which became a BookTok sensation after selling more than one million copies.
The story follows Millie Calloway (Sydney Sweeney), a young woman desperate to rebuild her life after a troubled past. She accepts a job as a live-in housemaid for the wealthy Winchester family, consisting of Nina Winchester (Amanda Seyfried) and her husband Andrew Winchester (Brandon Sklenar).
At first glance, the luxurious mansion appears to offer Millie the fresh start she desperately needs. However, strange events quickly begin to unfold. The attic bedroom assigned to Millie has a lock on the outside, Nina behaves unpredictably and often cruelly, while Andrew seems to be hiding dangerous secrets behind his charming personality.
As Millie digs deeper, the story transforms from a domestic mystery into a suspense-filled thriller packed with gaslighting, manipulation, shocking twists, violence, revenge, and psychological mind games. Supporting performances from Michele Morrone, Elizabeth Perkins, Indiana Elle, and Ellen Tamaki add even more intrigue to this suspenseful adaptation.
The Housemaid Rotten Tomatoes Score: What Critics Are Saying
One of the biggest questions surrounding the movie has been its critical reception, and The Housemaid reviews have been largely favorable.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a Certified Fresh score between 74% and 80%, based on more than 201 critic reviews, with an average rating of approximately 6.3/10. On Metacritic, the movie earned a score of 65 out of 100, indicating generally favorable reviews.
The official Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus describes the movie as:
“A sly throwback to the lurid thrillers that used to dominate multiplexes, The Housemaid cleans up nicely thanks to its wicked sense of fun and a delightfully unnerving performance from Amanda Seyfried.”
Critics praised director Paul Feig for embracing the classic 1990s erotic thriller formula while giving it a modern, self-aware twist. ScreenRant called it “one of the most fun movies of 2025” and praised its entertaining suspense and unpredictable storyline.
Several respected publications also highlighted the film’s strengths:
| Publication | Review |
|---|---|
| The Telegraph | “A full-tilt throwback to erotic thriller tropes from the 1990s.” (4/5 stars) |
| The Wall Street Journal | “A delightful hall of mirrors in which reality turns out to be subject to infinite modification.” |
| Bloody Disgusting | “Its salacious twists have been dialed up to a delightfully deranged degree.” |
Not every review was glowing. Some critics argued that the second half becomes increasingly implausible and over-the-top, with The Post NZ awarding just 2 out of 5 stars. Even so, most reviewers agreed on one thing: The Housemaid is never boring.
Audience Reviews: Why Viewers Love The Housemaid
While critics enjoyed the film, audiences embraced it even more enthusiastically.
The movie currently boasts a remarkable 92% Verified Hot Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes, based on more than 500 verified audience ratings. That makes it the second-highest audience-rated film of Sydney Sweeney’s career, trailing only Christy (96%).
The Rotten Tomatoes audience summary states:
“Juicy and satisfying pop fare, The Housemaid offers a tantalizing peek through the proverbial peephole, sure to delight both newcomers and fans of the novel.”
Additional audience metrics reinforce its popularity:
- CinemaScore: B
- PostTrak Positive Score: 84%
- Would Definitely Recommend: 63%
Across social media, especially on TikTok and BookTok, fans praised the adaptation for remaining faithful to Freida McFadden’s novel while making the story feel even more cinematic. Viewers consistently highlighted the non-stop twists, suspenseful pacing, stylish visuals, dark humor, and emotional payoff, calling it one of the year’s most entertaining popcorn thrillers.
Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney Deliver Outstanding Performances
One aspect nearly every The Housemaid review agrees on is the exceptional acting.
Amanda Seyfried receives universal praise for her performance as Nina Winchester. Critics describe her portrayal as unnerving, unpredictable, emotionally layered, and darkly funny. She constantly keeps audiences guessing whether Nina is a victim, villain, or something in between.
Sydney Sweeney also earns some of the strongest reviews of her career as Millie Calloway. Following several commercially disappointing projects, including Madame Web, Americana, and Eden, many critics consider The Housemaid to be her major comeback. Her chemistry with Amanda Seyfried creates much of the film’s tension, with reviewers describing the pair as delivering “two titanically exuberant performances.”
Brandon Sklenar effectively balances charm and menace as Andrew Winchester, while Michele Morrone further enhances the film’s sensual and suspenseful atmosphere.
If you’re watching for memorable performances alone, Amanda Seyfried’s performance is easily worth the price of admission.
Book vs. Movie: Is The Housemaid Adaptation Faithful?
For readers of Freida McFadden’s bestselling novel, one of the biggest concerns was whether the adaptation would stay true to the source material.
Fortunately, most The Housemaid reviews agree that the film remains remarkably faithful to the novel’s biggest twists and emotional moments. Director Paul Feig explained his approach:
“The book is so great that you don’t want to mess with it too much, but there were certain things we wanted to do that would make it a little more cinematic and a little more impactful on the screen.”
While the core story remains intact, the movie increases the humor, violence, suspense, and erotic tension, creating a stylish throwback to classic thrillers such as Gone Girl and A Simple Favor. Some critics felt this approach sacrificed deeper character exploration, but most agreed it made the adaptation highly entertaining.
Fans also have more to look forward to. Freida McFadden’s follow-up novels The Housemaid’s Secret and The Housemaid Is Watching provide plenty of material for future films, and Paul Feig has already hinted that “Millie is not done yet,” fueling speculation about a sequel.
Box Office Success and Final Verdict: Is The Housemaid Worth Watching?
Commercially, The Housemaid has been a major success for Lionsgate and Sydney Sweeney.
The film opened with $19 million during its debut weekend, finishing third behind Avatar: Fire and Ash. Even more impressive was its incredible staying power, dropping only 19.5% in its second weekend, an unusually small decline for a psychological thriller.
Within just two weeks, the film had earned $45.8 million, before surpassing $150 million worldwide. Industry analysts now project that it could exceed $200 million globally, making it one of the 100 highest-grossing thrillers of all time and Sydney Sweeney’s biggest hit since Anyone But You. Much of this success has been credited to its outstanding 92% audience score, which generated strong word-of-mouth throughout the holiday season.
So, is The Housemaid worth watching in 2026? Absolutely. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, domestic suspense, erotic thrillers, and BookTok adaptations, this film delivers exactly what fans expect. It’s packed with unexpected twists, tense performances, emotional manipulation, shocking reveals, and satisfying revenge.
Fans of Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train, A Simple Favor, Verity, and Anyone But You will likely find The Housemaid equally entertaining. Those looking for a slow, realistic drama may find it exaggerated, but that’s part of its appeal. The film fully embraces its stylish, suspenseful identity and never pretends to be anything else.
With a 74–80% Certified Fresh critics score, a 92% Verified Hot audience rating, and blockbuster box office performance, The Housemaid proves that a well-crafted psychological thriller with powerhouse female leads can still dominate theaters and streaming platforms. It is currently available on Starz and Fandango at Home, with a broader PVOD release arriving in February 2026, making it one of the must-watch thrillers of the year.