Jessica Chastain’s ‘Other Mommy’ Is Tracking for a Record Horror Debut This Weekend

2026 has been a banner year for horror at the box office. Breakout hits like ‘Obsession’ and ‘Backrooms’ have shown just how hungry audiences are for scares, and with Halloween approaching, studios are eager to cash in on that momentum.

Universal’s next big bet arrives this Friday. ‘Other Mommy’, starring Oscar winner Jessica Chastain, opens in theaters on October 9, with its poster proudly touting ties to both ‘Obsession’ and ‘Backrooms’ through Blumhouse and producer James Wan.

Early tracking suggests the film could make history of its own. According to Global Box Office, ‘Other Mommy’ is now projected to earn between $22 million and $29 million in its opening weekend, which would mark the best domestic debut for a horror book adaptation since ‘It: Chapter Two’ in 2019.

Chastain pulls double duty in the film. She plays Ursula, a devoted mother, as well as the sinister entity wearing her exact face that wants into the family home. Director Rob Savage, known for ‘Host’ and ‘The Boogeyman’, told Entertainment Weekly that Chastain herself performed most of the unsettling physical work on screen.

He has also said he hopes the character becomes a new horror icon that fans dress up as next Halloween. The film adapts Josh Malerman’s 2024 novel ‘Incidents Around the House’. Malerman, who also wrote ‘Bird Box’, serves as an executive producer and has praised Savage’s take on his story.

Chastain is joined by Jay Duplass, Dichen Lachman, Arian Moayed, and Karen Allen. Arabella Olivia Clark, cast at age 8, plays the young lead. The R-rated horror film runs 93 minutes. It comes from Universal and Atomic Monster, with Wan producing.

Jessica Chastain’s OTHER MOMMY is tracking to record the BEST domestic debut for a horror movie book adaptation since IT: CHAPTER TWO (2019). It’s now project to earn $22M-$29M this coming weekend, depending on the reception. https://t.co/aUx8HrnmYk

— Global Box Office (@GlobalBoxOffice) October 6, 2026

Interestingly, the studio is not screening the movie for press ahead of release. That means opening weekend could hinge heavily on audience word of mouth. Forecasts vary depending on the tracker. Box Office Theory has projected an even bigger opening of $28.5 million to $35 million, while Boxoffice Pro’s earlier long-range forecast came in at $15 million to $25 million.

For comparison, Paramount’s ‘Smile 2’ opened to $23 million in October 2024. Savage’s ‘The Boogeyman’ debuted to $12 million, meaning ‘Other Mommy’ could more than double his previous opening.

Universal has had massive October horror hits before, including ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ with an $80 million opening. Still, a debut in the $20 million range would be a strong result for a film of this scale.

New trailer for ‘OTHER MOMMY’, starring Jessica Chastain and Jessica Chastain. The film follows a young girl who is threatened by a sinister demon that looks exactly like her mother. In theaters on October 9. https://t.co/Xwu3FI6pYz

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 15, 2026

Chastain is no stranger to the genre. She starred in ‘Mama’ and was a key part of ‘It: Chapter Two’, which earned $473 million worldwide and remains one of the highest-grossing horror films ever.

That history makes the record comparison especially fitting. SlashFilm argued the film has all the markings of a big October hit and could keep earning right through Halloween if it delivers.

The film’s name has also sparked some playful debate online. One fan joked that it should have been called ‘Other Mother’ instead. Whatever you call it, the creepy marketing has clearly worked. With its eerie tagline warning that “your mommy won’t save you,” the film is poised to give October a frightening start.

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