Sydney Sweeney’s Thriller Upstaged by Animated Biblical Epic
A steamy thriller and a faith-fuelled musical went head-to-head at the box office, with punters turning out in droves for both. But which film came out on top? The answer might surprise you.
It was a weekend of unexpected box office results as Sydney Sweeney’s latest, The Housemaid, found itself in a tight race with an animated biblical musical. Angel Studios’ David just edged out Sweeney’s steamy thriller, making for a rather odd pairing at the top of the charts. David pulled in an estimated $22 million, marking the studio’s best opening to date, while The Housemaid followed closely with $19 million. The thriller, directed by Paul Feig and based on Freida McFadden’s 2022 bestseller, features Sweeney alongside Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar.
Critics have been fairly kind to The Housemaid, which currently sits at a 74% “certified fresh” rating. Meanwhile, David has been a hit with faith-based audiences, boasting a near-perfect 98% audience score. Both films have managed to draw crowds, showing that whether it’s a bit of risqué drama or a story straight out of the Old Testament, there’s still plenty of interest from local punters.
Box Office Face-Off
Here’s how the numbers stacked up over the opening weekend:
Film Title Studio Opening Weekend Gross David Angel Studios $22 million The Housemaid Lionsgate $19 million
With both films now screening, it’s clear that stories about faith and desire can still get bums on seats. The weekend’s results were anything but predictable.
Sweeney’s Best Box Office Yet
This release marks a major turnaround for Sweeney, who was in need of a hit after a string of underwhelming results. The Housemaid has already outperformed her previous lead role in Christy by a huge margin. That sports drama wrapped up its entire run with just $2 million, despite Sweeney’s well-received performance. The Housemaid not only did better at the box office, but it’s also scored higher with critics, holding a 74% rating compared to Christy’s 66%.
After commercial flops like Eden and Americana, and with her last three films barely scraping together $5 million, Sweeney finally has a solid win. The Housemaid has given her the financial boost she needed, and the reviews suggest she’s back on track.
Inside the Animated Contender
Angel Studios’ David is a 2025 animated musical adventure based on the Book of Samuel. It continues the Young David miniseries, following the journey of a shepherd who becomes King of Israel. Phil Wickham voices the adult David, with Brandon Engman as the younger version. The cast also includes Asim Chaudhry, Mick Wingert, Will de Renzy-Martin, and Lauren Daigle.
The story kicks off in Bethlehem, where David protects his father’s sheep and gains recognition after fending off a lion. He’s anointed by the prophet Samuel and called to King Saul’s court to play the lyre. When the Philistines, led by Goliath, challenge Israel, David steps up, relying on faith rather than armour, and wins with a single stone. Over time, he becomes a soldier, befriends Jonathan, and eventually faces betrayal and exile before being recognised as king.
Production, Cast, and Reception
The production team did their homework, researching locations across Israel and drawing on local history and artefacts. Grammy winner Jonas Myrin composed the music, recorded with the Budapest Film Orchestra, giving the score a distinctly Hebrew flavour.
Here’s a quick look at the main voice cast:
Character Voice Actor David (Adult) Phil Wickham David (Young) Brandon Engman Saul Adam Michael Gold Jonathan Mark Jacobson King Achish Asim Chaudhry Goliath Kamran Nikhad Rebecca Lauren Daigle
Box office numbers for David are strong, with $22 million domestically and $26 million worldwide so far. Critics have given it a 74% rating, while audiences have been even more enthusiastic, handing it a 98% score and an A on CinemaScore. Whether The Housemaid can keep up its momentum or David will continue to draw crowds remains to be seen.