Jessica Chastain’s supernatural horror film Other Mommy is heading for a surprisingly strong opening weekend at the North American box office, while Aaron Sorkin’s The Social Reckoning is struggling to attract audiences despite its connection to the acclaimed 2010 film The Social Network. Both movies arrived in theatres on October 9, 2026, but their early earnings reveal a considerable gap in audience interest, with the horror release currently projected to earn more than four times as much as the Facebook drama.
According to Deadline’s Friday box-office update, Universal Pictures’ Other Mommy is on track to collect approximately $27.5 million from 3,365 theatres during its three-day opening weekend. The film earned an estimated $12.3 million on Friday, including $3.6 million from Thursday preview screenings. The numbers put it on course to claim the top spot at the domestic box office, despite receiving largely negative reviews from critics.
The Social Reckoning, meanwhile, is facing a much quieter debut. Sony Pictures’ drama earned an estimated $2.3 million on Friday, including $650,000 from Thursday previews. Its opening weekend is now projected at approximately $6 million from 2,606 locations, placing it around fifth on the domestic chart.
These are early estimates and projections rather than final weekend collections. However, the initial figures already point to two very different commercial outcomes.
Other Mommy beats expectations despite negative reviews
Directed by Rob Savage and produced by James Wan alongside Blumhouse and Atomic Monster, Other Mommy stars Jessica Chastain in a dual role as Ursula and a frightening supernatural entity that resembles her. Based on Josh Malerman’s novel Incidents Around the House, the film follows a young girl whose family becomes threatened by a mysterious presence attempting to take her mother’s place.
The movie’s early box-office performance is particularly interesting because its critical reception has been overwhelmingly negative. Reviewers have criticised the film’s chaotic storytelling, excessive jump scares and underdeveloped psychological horror, although Chastain’s performance has received some appreciation.
Nevertheless, those reviews have not prevented audiences from turning up during its opening days. The film’s $3.6 million Thursday preview collection provided an early indication of demand, while Friday’s estimated $12.3 million reinforced expectations of a strong debut.
The projected $27.5 million opening would also represent a solid commercial start for a film reportedly produced for approximately $19 million. While a domestic opening larger than the production budget does not automatically make a movie profitable, since marketing expenses and the theatrical revenue split must also be considered, it gives Other Mommy an encouraging foundation for its theatrical run.
There is also a useful comparison within Universal’s recent horror releases. The Black Phone 2 opened to approximately $27.3 million, while The Exorcist: Believer debuted with $26.5 million. If the current projection holds, Other Mommy will begin slightly ahead of both films.
The timing has worked in its favour, too. October traditionally provides opportunities for supernatural thrillers and horror releases, particularly as audiences look for genre entertainment ahead of Halloween. Other Mommy appears to be benefiting from that seasonal interest, even without strong critical support.
