‘Other Mommy’ Looks Promising at Box Office, ‘Social Reckoning’ Not So Much

As the theatrical market enters a slower period, two upcoming horror films, Universal/Blumhouse-Atomic Monster's "Other Mommy" and Sony/Columbia/Alcon's "The Social Reckoning," are expected to drive this weekend's box office. Both titles are anticipated to provide limited support to lift the earnings of cinemas, which have been in a deep slump during recent autumn seasons.

"Other Mommy," starring Oscar-winning Jessica Chastain, is a tale of a mother and her sinister doppelganger tormenting her daughter. The film's release comes when Blumhouse-Atomic Monster is enjoying success from recent horror hits "Obsession" and "Backrooms." Blumhouse CEO Jason Blum produced "Obsession" after purchasing its rights at TIFF, while Atomic Monster's James Wan served as a producer for "Backrooms."

The studio has also seen success with franchises like "The Black Phone," "Five Nights at Freddy's," and "Insidious." However, Blumhouse has struggled to consistently attract audiences for original high-concept horror since 2024, with examples such as "Wolf Man," "Drop," and "The Woman in the Yard" failing to generate new franchises, despite having low budgets.

On the other hand, "The Social Reckoning," a companion piece to Aaron Sorkin's 2010 hit "The Social Network," seems unlikely to perform well. The film, set to open in more than 50% fewer theaters than its predecessor, is currently projected to open with a box office similar to the $8 million debut of the 2010 bomb "Digger." Given the challenges faced by films that address politics and current events, "The Social Reckoning," which tackles Mark Zuckerberg and Meta's handling of social media, might not find a receptive audience.