Other Mommy Tops Box Office at $28M Despite Poor Reviews; Social Reckoning Underperforms

Key points

• Other Mommy earned $3.6 million in Thursday previews and $12.3 million on Friday, totaling $28 million for the weekend across 3,365 theaters.
• The Social Reckoning grossed $650,000 in previews and $2.15 million on Friday, totaling $6 million for the weekend across 2,606 theaters.
• Other Mommy holds an 18% Rotten Tomatoes score, while The Social Reckoning holds a 57% score, though audience scores are higher for the latter at 70%.
• The Social Reckoning is a follow-up to The Social Network, with Jeremy Strong replacing Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg, and stars Mikey Madison and Jeremy Allen White.
• Other Mommy is based on Josh Malerman's novel Incidents Around the House and stars Jessica Chastain in a dual role as a mother and a demonic entity.

Background

Previous coverage indicated that Other Mommy was projected to lead the weekend with $20 million, while The Social Reckoning was expected to open with $7 million. The Social Reckoning had faced speculation about reshoots and the omission of Donald Trump from the script, which Aaron Sorkin clarified were voluntary improvements and his own initiative, respectively.

How outlets are covering it

The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline both report on the box office performance, with THR emphasizing the $3.6 million in previews and $20 million projection for Other Mommy, while Deadline highlights the $28 million weekend total and the $6 million debut for The Social Reckoning. The Guardian provides a critical review of Other Mommy, noting its reliance on jump scares and lack of narrative depth, contrasting with the more positive audience reception of The Social Reckoning. All sources agree on the box office numbers but differ in their emphasis on critical reception and audience engagement.

Why it matters

The box office performance of Other Mommy and The Social Reckoning highlights the current state of the horror and thriller genres, with horror films performing well in the Halloween season despite poor reviews, while thrillers struggle with mixed critical reception. The Social Reckoning's underperformance also raises questions about the relevance of Facebook-centric stories in the current cultural landscape, where AI is leading the national conversation.

What to watch

The longevity of Other Mommy's run will depend on audience reception and word-of-mouth, while The Social Reckoning may struggle to find its audience due to mixed reviews and a lower-than-expected debut. Aaron Sorkin has left the door open for a third Facebook-centric film, indicating potential future projects in the same genre.