Horror's 'Other Mommy' Tops Box Office Despite Poor Reviews; Sorkin's 'Social Reckoning' Underperforms

Key points

• 'Other Mommy' grossed $12.6 million on Friday from 3,365 theaters, with a projected $28 million weekend total.
• The film, directed by Rob Savage and starring Jessica Chastain in a dual role, has a 19% Rotten Tomatoes critic score and a 46% audience score.
• 'The Social Reckoning' earned $2.15 million on Friday from 2,606 theaters, tracking for a $6 million weekend, below the $7 million projection.
• Aaron Sorkin's film, starring Mikey Madison and Jeremy Allen White, holds a 54% Rotten Tomatoes critic score but a 70% audience score.
• Amazon MGM's 'Verity' took second place with $4 million on Friday, tracking for $14.2 million, while 'Resident Evil' and 'The Heart of the Beast' followed in third and fourth.

Background

Prior to the weekend, 'Other Mommy' was projected to open with $20 million, while 'The Social Reckoning' was expected to debut with $7-8 million. The 2010 film 'The Social Network' opened to $22.4 million and grossed $224 million globally, setting a high bar for its 2026 follow-up.

How outlets are covering it

Variety and The Hollywood Reporter both noted 'Other Mommy's strong box office performance despite poor critical reception, with Variety highlighting its $12.6 million Friday gross and The Hollywood Reporter emphasizing the D+ CinemaScore. Deadline pointed out that 'The Social Reckoning' underperformed its predecessor, with a $6 million weekend projection versus the 2010 film's $22 million opening. The New York Times review of 'Other Mommy' described it as a 'campy charisma' schlockfest, contrasting with the more serious tone of 'The Social Reckoning.'

Why it matters

The weekend results highlight the resilience of horror films in the lead-up to Halloween, even with poor reviews, and the challenges faced by high-profile dramas in a crowded market. 'The Social Reckoning's' underperformance may signal shifting audience interest in tech-focused narratives, particularly as AI becomes a more prominent national conversation topic.

What to watch

Box office analysts will monitor 'Other Mommy's' hold in its second week, given its poor audience scores, and track whether 'The Social Reckoning' can recover from its soft opening. 'Verity' and 'Resident Evil' are expected to maintain strong holds, with 'The Odyssey' also showing notable resurgence in its 18th week.