Sydney Sweeney’s career rebound is now official as The Housemaid continues to dominate the box office and silence doubts about her star power. The thriller, directed by Paul Feig and co-starring Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar, has hit nearly $95 million domestically and will likely reach $150 million worldwide by the end of its run.
That kind of momentum marks a major turnaround for Sweeney. After three consecutive box office disappointments; Americana, Eden, and Christy, her 2025 looked unsteady. Those releases faltered in theaters despite later finding audiences on streaming. Analysts say that changed the moment The Housemaid opened. In just weeks, it surpassed Sweeney’s previous biggest success, Anyone But You, the 2023 romantic comedy with Glen Powell that made $88 million in the U.S.
Now, talk of a sequel is picking up. The movie is based on Frieda McFadden’s popular novel, which has two follow-up books, but whether the story becomes a full-fledged franchise remains uncertain. Director Paul Feig rarely directs sequels. Still, he admits he enjoyed making this one. In a recent interview, director Feig said he loved “getting to mess with an audience” and praised the film for being “so extreme” and full of energy. He also described himself as a “maximalist,” when it comes to including heightened twists that keep viewers guessing.
Feig hinted that the project’s success and strong source material could tempt him to return, noting that McFadden’s story already offered “a built-in audience” and that casting “amazing actors” made it an easy decision to take on. While nothing is official, insiders say the studio is already discussing sequel plans amid the film’s global surge.
At the same time, Sweeney has shown a controlled and strategic approach off-screen. Her GQ interview last year, where she blocked a lame attempt to have her disavow Donald Trump’s social media support, was viewed as a master class in deflection. Without taking political bait, she steered the conversation back to her work. That same tone carried over when critics questioned the American Jeans campaign she starred in which leaned into a double-entendre with a line that said she had “great genes,” which sparked brief online backlash for its alleged “racism,” with some wildly calling it a “love letter to white nationalism.”
Sweeney kept her response brief and steady, emphasizing creative freedom and cutting through cultural noise with pointed restraint. Many observers saw that discipline as proof that the young star had no trouble managing the spotlight on her own terms.
So after a few rough spots of early 2025, The Housemaid has not only restored Sweeney’s box office credibility but positioned her back at the top of Hollywood’s rising stars. The film is still in theaters and will soon hit VOD and streaming, where it’s expected to continue its winning streak.
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English (US) · 