The erotic thriller "The Housemaid" is making a significant impact at the domestic box office, engaging in a fierce battle for the number two spot during its opening weekend against the animated film "David". As it heads into its second weekend, the film is projected to earn at least $12 million domestically, mirroring the expected performance of "David". Both films will also face new competition from upcoming releases, including "Song Sung Blue," starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, and the wider release of "Marty Supreme," an Oscar contender featuring Timothée Chalamet. Despite the stiff competition, James Cameron's "Avatar: Fire and Ash" is anticipated to remain at the top of the charts, with an impressive projected four-day haul of $75 million.

"The Housemaid" offers crucial counter-programming in the current cinematic landscape, drawing parallels to the success of star Sydney Sweeney's previous film, "Anyone but You," during the holiday season. Remarkably, in less than a week of its release, "The Housemaid" has already surpassed the total domestic box office gross of one of the greatest erotic thrillers ever made, "Body Heat." Released in 1981, "Body Heat" marked the directorial debut of Lawrence Kasdan, renowned for his writing contributions to "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "The Empire Strikes Back." Heavily inspired by the classic film noir "Double Indemnity," "Body Heat" starred William Hurt and Kathleen Turner and concluded its theatrical run with $24 million, a figure now exceeded by "The Housemaid."

"Body Heat" garnered tremendous critical acclaim upon its release, holding a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics' consensus praising it as being "Made from classic noir ingredients and flavored with a heaping helping of steamy modern spice, Body Heat more than lives up to its evocative title." Its influence was such that it even sparked a notable critical debate between Pauline Kael, who panned it, and Roger Ebert, who eventually included it in his "great movies" list, commending Kathleen Turner's debut performance as a "sexually confident" woman capable of mesmerizing William Hurt's character. This rich lineage traces "The Housemaid" back to the traditions of 1940s film noir.

Directed by Paul Feig, and also starring Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar, "The Housemaid" has similarly opened to positive reviews. It boasts a "certified fresh" 75% critics' score and a "verified hot" 92% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The critical consensus for "The Housemaid" describes it as "A sly throwback to the lurid thrillers that used to dominate multiplexes, The Housemaid cleans up nicely thanks to its wicked sense of fun and a delightfully unnerving performance from Amanda Seyfried."

The film, with a runtime of 131 minutes and a release date of December 19, 2025, falls under the Thriller and Mystery genres. It was written by Rebecca Sonnenshine and Freida McFadden, and produced by Todd Lieberman. The compelling plot of "The Housemaid" follows Millie Calloway (portrayed by Sydney Sweeney), a woman seeking a fresh start by becoming a domestic worker for the affluent couple Nina (Amanda Seyfried) and Andrew Winchester (Brandon Sklenar). As Millie adapts to her new role, she begins to uncover dangerous and perilous secrets hidden within the family, challenging her perceptions of the household's true nature and her own position within it. Additional cast members include Michele Morrone as Enzo.

Audiences can catch "The Housemaid" in theaters. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates on this intriguing new thriller.