Jessica Chastain's 'Other Mommy' Debuts to Mixed Reviews and $28M Box Office

Key points

• The film earned an estimated $20 million in its opening weekend, with a final domestic total of $28 million.
• Rotten Tomatoes reports a 20% positive rating, indicating largely negative critical reception.
• Jessica Chastain plays both the mother, Ursula, and the demonic entity, 'Other Mommy.'
• The film is based on Josh Malerman's 2024 novel 'Incidents Around the House.'
• Director Rob Savage noted the film contains approximately 50 jump scares.

Background

Jessica Chastain has previously starred in horror films such as 'Mama' (2013) and 'It Chapter Two' (2019), both of which were commercial successes. 'Other Mommy' is a Blumhouse/Atomic Monster production distributed by Universal. The film faced limited early screenings, with critics receiving previews only on Thursday before the Friday release.

How outlets are covering it

The Hollywood Reporter criticizes the film as 'vacuous' and lacking in dread, though it acknowledges Chastain's enjoyment of the role. Bloody Disgusting calls the movie 'flat' and 'devoid of tension,' while The Daily Beast praises its 'unbridled rollercoaster momentum.' IGN notes that the film fails to settle on a coherent identity, smothering Chastain's performance with poor VFX. Deadline highlights the strong box office performance despite the mixed reviews, noting that horror films often perform well in early October. SYFY Wire features Chastain's comments on the film's metaphor regarding parental trust, and Jay Duplass praises her as 'the sharpest knife in the drawer.'

Why it matters

The film's strong box office performance despite poor critical reception highlights the disconnect between audience and critic preferences in the horror genre. It also demonstrates the commercial viability of Blumhouse productions and the continued appeal of Jessica Chastain in horror roles.

What to watch

The film will continue its theatrical run, with international releases staggered across territories including Mexico, the UK, and Australia. Additional critic reviews are expected to continue rolling in.