AceShowbiz - For the second weekend in a row, new major movie releases have struggled at the box office, with total weekend earnings falling below $90 million, TheWrap reports. Despite the weak overall market, the horror film Other Mommy claimed the number one spot, even though it faced harsh criticism from both reviewers and audiences.

Deadline confirms that Other Mommy, produced by Universal, Blumhouse, and Atomic Monster, opened to about $27.5 million across 3,365 theaters, outpacing other new releases. Forbes adds that this strong debut is notable given the film’s low ratings, holding a 20% critics score and a 47% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, along with a D+ grade from CinemaScore—the lowest since the September 2024 release of Megalopolis. Meanwhile, Sony, Columbia, and Alcon’s political drama The Social Reckoning struggled with an opening weekend of roughly $6 million at 2,606 locations, far below expectations and its predecessor’s 2010 box office haul. Deadline notes that The Social Reckoning, written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, was produced on a $30 million budget and explores Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen’s story.

Other Mommy is a horror movie directed by Rob Savage and stars Jessica Chastain in dual roles as a real mother and a sinister doppelgänger. The film’s production budget was approximately $19 million, and it was produced by Blumhouse Productions, Atomic Monster, and Spin a Black Yarn. Despite mixed reviews, the film’s box office performance suggests it may break even by the end of its theatrical run.

This ongoing box office slump highlights the challenges new films face in attracting audiences amid a cautious market. The success of Other Mommy despite poor reception underscores the enduring appeal of horror, while the underperformance of more serious, politically charged films like The Social Reckoning points to limited audience appetite for topical dramas at the multiplex.

This article is based on reporting originally published by TheWrap.