Jessica Chastain's latest horror outing, Other Mommy, is proving that critical disdain doesn't always spell commercial doom. The film, which has been in theaters for just over two weeks, is now on the cusp of crossing the $95 million mark worldwide—even as it sheds a significant number of screens.
Over the weekend, Other Mommy saw its domestic theater count drop from roughly 3,300 to about 2,800, a reduction of 500 locations. This contraction comes as DC's Clayface stormed into the top spot with a $24 million debut, pushing the horror flick down the rankings but not out of the top 10.
Despite the screen loss, the film's performance remains noteworthy. Produced on a reported budget of under $20 million, Other Mommy has grossed $50 million domestically and $95 million globally. That puts it ahead of other recent horror releases like Evil Dead Burn, Lee Cronin's The Mummy, and Send Help on the 2026 box-office chart.
Critics have been less than kind, with the film holding a 20% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus there reads: "Despite a valiant turn from Jessica Chastain as the spectral embodiment of a smothering parent, Other Mommy proves too silly for its intermittently effective jump scares to add up to a spooky whole." Still, audiences seem to be showing up, a testament to Chastain's star power and the enduring appeal of a good scare.
Chastain has a solid history with the genre, having starred in Mama and It: Chapter Two. While Other Mommy hasn't matched the heights of those films—Mama went on to earn $148 million worldwide—it has already surpassed the $80 million global gross of director Rob Savage's previous Hollywood effort, The Boogeyman, in under three weeks.
Savage, who broke out with pandemic-era hits Host and Dashcam, is no stranger to making a splash on a modest budget. His latest film may not be a critical darling, but its commercial resilience suggests it could find a second life when it hits premium video-on-demand. For fans of the genre, it's worth noting that the 90s produced some truly flawless horror masterpieces, and while Other Mommy isn't in that league, it's carving out its own niche.
The film's ability to hold its own against big franchise releases is a reminder that horror remains one of the most reliable bets at the box office. As Clayface demonstrates, the genre is also evolving in exciting ways, with DC showing Marvel how it's done. Meanwhile, Other Mommy continues to defy expectations, even as it loses screens.
With a global haul nearing $95 million, the film is on track to become one of the year's more surprising success stories. Whether it can push past the $100 million mark remains to be seen, but its performance so far is a testament to the enduring power of a well-marketed horror flick—and a star who can draw a crowd.
Stay tuned for more box office updates as Other Mommy continues its theatrical run and prepares for its digital debut.
