Halloween is prime time for horror, and this year's spooky season has been no exception. While last year's big winner was Black Phone 2, which dominated the Halloween weekend with a $132 million global haul, 2026 has seen a new horror sensation rise from the shadows: Other Mommy, starring Academy Award winner Jessica Chastain.
Directed by Rob Savage, known for The Boogeyman, Other Mommy is based on Josh Malerman's 2024 novel Incidents Around the House. Chastain plays a dual role as a sinister entity that haunts an 8-year-old girl named Bela (Arabella Olivia Clark), taking the form of her mother. The film opened at #1 on October 9 and has held strong throughout the season.
Last weekend, with an additional $2.5 million from 2,329 theaters, Other Mommy officially crossed the $100 million mark at the global box office. Against a reported production budget of just $19 million, that means the film has earned more than five times its cost—a remarkable feat for any movie, let alone a horror flick with such poor critical reception.
A Box Office Phenomenon Despite Critical Backlash
While Black Phone 2 managed to balance commercial success with critical acclaim, Other Mommy has not been so lucky. The film currently holds a dismal 19% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, drawing some of the harshest reviews of the year. Critics have been especially tough given the strong response to other 2026 horror releases like 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, A24's Backrooms, and Curry Barker's breakout hit Obsession.
Despite the negative press, audiences have flocked to theaters, proving that word-of-mouth and star power can sometimes outweigh critical opinion. The film's success is a testament to the enduring appeal of a well-crafted scare, even when the experts aren't impressed.
For those who want to own the film, Other Mommy is already available for pre-order on 4K, Blu-ray, and steelbook editions. And if you're in the mood for more horror, check out our interview with Jenn Wexler about her latest project, or see how Resident Evil is faring at the box office.
With Halloween just around the corner, Other Mommy is still playing in theaters nationwide. Whether you're a fan of Chastain or just love a good scare, this is one horror hit you won't want to miss. Stay tuned for more updates on this and other box office stories.
