Sydney Sweeney’s New R-Rated Thriller Sets All-Time Streaming Record Amid Major Franchise Update

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Sydney Sweeney’s latest R-rated thriller is a huge hit, breaking streaming records after also performing very well in theaters.

Sydney Sweeney first gained recognition with prominent roles in popular TV shows like HBO’s The White Lotus and Euphoria. She’s now achieving success in film, starting with the hit 2023 romantic comedy Anyone but You. Although not all of her movies have been box office hits—like Christy—her latest thriller series is proving to be a major success, performing well in both theaters and on streaming platforms.

Starz announced that The Housemaid, starring Sweeney, is now its most successful Pay 1 movie ever. Since premiering on Starz on April 1st, the well-received film has attracted more viewers than any other recent streaming release, making it the platform’s biggest hit in that category.

In the thriller The Housemaid, Alex Wolff plays Millie Calloway, a maid with a difficult history who takes a live-in position with the affluent Nina Winchester (Amanda Seyfried) and her husband, Andrew (Brandan Sklenar). She soon discovers that the seemingly perfect house holds unsettling and dangerous secrets.

Starz reported that women are the main reason The Housemaid has been so successful on streaming. This aligns with how the film performed in theaters when it was first released on December 19, 2025. Director Paul Feig told The Hollywood Reporter that the movie’s success was due to its popularity with female viewers.

Throughout my career, I’ve repeatedly had to convince Hollywood that movies starring women can be box office hits, and they always prove me right. Films like Bridesmaids, Spy, and The Heat all demonstrated that audience, and even Simple Favor, despite not reaching my expectations, was still profitable due to its low budget. It’s a pattern I’ve seen again and again – the industry seems constantly surprised when women actually go to see these films. I just don’t understand what it will take for people to realize there’s a huge audience for these stories that simply isn’t being catered to.

Despite opening against popular movies like Avatar: Fire and Ash and Marty Supreme, The Housemaid earned an impressive $399 million worldwide on a budget of just $35 million. The film, based on Freida McFadden’s 2022 novel, became director Sweeney’s most successful movie ever, exceeding the box office results of her previous hit, Anyone but You.

As a huge fan of The Housemaid, I was thrilled to hear it’s getting a sequel! Lionsgate clearly saw the film’s success, and they’ve officially scheduled the follow-up for December 17, 2027, with Sydney Sweeney returning. Even better, they’ve announced Kirsten Dunst will be joining her, and it’s all based on author Freida McFadden’s second book, The Housemaid’s Secret. For those who loved the first one as much as I did, there’s even a third book, The Housemaid Is Watching, which came out in June 2025, so hopefully, we’ll see that adapted too!

Starz has recently added several 2025 films to its streaming service, including Americana with Sydney Sweeney, the Stephen King adaptation The Long Walk, and Good Fortune starring Keanu Reeves. With The Housemaid currently performing very well on Starz, anticipation is building for the sequel, potentially making it another big hit for Sydney Sweeney in theaters and on streaming next year.

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2026-04-10 19:50