Sydney Sweeney’s ‘The Housemaid’ Outpaces ‘The Equalizer’ at Global Box Office
Sydney Sweeney’s steamy thriller ‘The Housemaid’ is closing in on $200 million worldwide, overtaking ‘The Equalizer’ and earning rave reviews. Lionsgate has already greenlit a sequel, ‘The Housemaid’s Secret’.
After a run of less-than-stellar releases, Sydney Sweeney has found her stride with the suspenseful hit, The Housemaid. The film is on track to hit the $200 million mark at the global box office, marking a major turnaround for Sweeney, who copped a fair bit of flak last year for her side hustles flogging everything from bath water to jeans. That’s all in the past now, as The Housemaid has not only put her back in the good books, but also managed to outdo some pretty solid films along the way—including a modern action favourite.
As of 14 January 2026, The Housemaid has raked in $193,212,884 worldwide, nudging just ahead of Denzel Washington’s 2014 vigilante flick, The Equalizer. That film, directed by Antoine Fuqua, wrapped up its cinema run just shy of $193 million, which was enough to kick off two sequels (with more rumoured). While The Housemaid and The Equalizer are chalk and cheese in terms of genre and mood, at their heart, both stories are about people making sure those who’ve done them wrong get what’s coming. As one punter put it in their Rotten Tomatoes review:
“Great movie! Sydney [Sweeney] is the avenger we need!”
If you’ve caught The Housemaid, you’ll know what they’re on about. By the end, Sweeney’s character is every bit the vigilante hero, not unlike Washington’s role in The Equalizer. That’s about where the similarities stop, including how each film was received. The Housemaid is both Certified Fresh and Verified Hot on Rotten Tomatoes, boasting scores of 73% and 92%. The Equalizer, while still holding its own, sits at 61% with critics and 77% with fans.
Sequel Confirmed: What’s Next for The Housemaid?
Given The Equalizer’s $192 million haul was enough to spark two follow-ups, it’s no surprise that The Housemaid’s numbers have paved the way for a sequel. Lionsgate has already given the nod to The Housemaid’s Secret, the next instalment based on Freida McFadden’s trilogy that inspired Sweeney’s films. While it’s still up in the air whether Amanda Seyfried will make an appearance, Sweeney and Michele Morrone are both set to return. Morrone played Enzo Accard, the Italian groundskeeper for the Winchesters, who ended up being central to the film’s big twist. Paul Feig is back in the director’s chair, with Rebecca Sonnenshine on script duties.
The official synopsis for the sequel hasn’t dropped yet, but the book’s blurb gives a fair idea of what’s in store:
“In The Housemaid’s Secret, Millie Calloway takes a job with the wealthy Garricks, only to uncover a chilling web of lies and betrayal. When she’s framed for murder, she must outwit danger and expose the truth in this twist-filled psychological thriller.”
Release Plans and What to Expect
There’s no set release date for The Housemaid’s Secret just yet, but it’s tipped to land sometime in 2027. In the meantime, the first film is still showing in cinemas across the country, and should be available digitally in the coming weeks. With the buzz around Sweeney’s performance and the film’s strong reception, locals are keen to see where the story goes next.