The latest trailer for The Housemaid plunges audiences into a twisted psychological game where nothing is as it seems. Sydney Sweeney stars as Millie, a young woman seeking redemption who accepts a housemaid position with the affluent Winchester family, only to discover that their picture-perfect lives conceal sinister truths. Set to Sabrina Carpenter’s haunting rendition of “Please Please Please,” the new footage promises what director Paul Feig calls “a merry little mindf*ck” arriving in theaters December 19, 2025.
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Sydney Sweeney Takes Center Stage as Millie
Sydney Sweeney delivers a performance that showcases her range beyond romantic comedies. As Millie, she portrays a woman with a troubled past desperately seeking a fresh start.
The trailer opens with Millie interviewing for the housemaid position at the Winchester mansion, where she’s immediately hired by the seemingly perfect Nina Winchester. What begins as a dream opportunity—living in a luxurious estate, earning generous wages—quickly transforms into a nightmare as layers of deception peel away.
The Housemaid Character Breakdown
| Character | Actor | Role Description |
|---|---|---|
| Millie | Sydney Sweeney | Ex-convict seeking fresh start as live-in housemaid |
| Nina Winchester | Amanda Seyfried | Wealthy homeowner with dark secrets |
| Andrew Winchester | Brandon Sklenar | Nina’s husband described as “Norman Bates meets Patrick Bateman” |
| Enzo | Michele Morrone | Mysterious groundskeeper who knows family secrets |
| Evelyn | Elizabeth Perkins | Supporting role in Winchester family circle |
Sweeney, who also serves as executive producer alongside author Freida McFadden, brings depth to a character struggling with her criminal record. The trailer hints at Millie’s incarceration backstory without revealing specifics, maintaining the psychological thriller’s essential mystery while establishing emotional stakes.
The Winchester Family: Perfection Concealing Darkness
Amanda Seyfried portrays Nina Winchester, a buttoned-up homeowner whose polished exterior masks something sinister. The trailer reveals Nina’s unsettling behavior—giving Millie a key to lock her bedroom door from the inside “so she’ll feel safe,” making messes just to watch Millie clean them, and exhibiting increasingly bizarre conduct that suggests she’s either unstable or manipulative.
Brandon Sklenar plays Andrew Winchester, Nina’s husband who appears broken and vulnerable. Sklenar teased his character as combining the unhinged qualities of Norman Bates with Patrick Bateman’s dark charisma. The trailer shows Andrew drawing unexpected attention to Millie, creating tension that complicates the household dynamics and threatens to expose whatever secrets lurk behind closed doors.
The Winchester estate itself becomes a character—a marble-hallway mansion filled with priceless artwork, high-tech security, and an attic room that ominously locks from the outside. This architectural detail serves as an early warning sign that something terrible happens within these walls.
Uncovering the Reality Behind Closed Doors
Based on Freida McFadden’s 2022 global bestselling novel, The Housemaid has captivated millions with its shocking plot twists. The book sold over two million copies, spent 83 weeks on Amazon’s bestseller list, and dominated The New York Times bestseller list for 60 weeks. McFadden’s thriller became a BookTok sensation, with readers praising the multiple unexpected reveals scattered throughout rather than saving everything for a final twist.
The film adaptation comes from Rebecca Sonnenshine, who previously worked on The Boys and The Vampire Diaries. Director Paul Feig, known for Bridesmaids and A Simple Favor, brings his expertise in blending dark comedy with suspense. Feig describes the film as “a faithful interpretation but with a good number of added surprises along the way.”
Why The Housemaid Resonates With Audiences
The story taps into universal fears about class disparity, domestic abuse, and the facades wealthy families maintain. Millie’s position as a housemaid places her in an inherently vulnerable role—she depends on the Winchesters for employment, housing, and her chance at redemption. This power imbalance creates natural tension that escalates as she witnesses disturbing incidents and receives cryptic warnings.
Michele Morrone portrays Enzo, the family’s groundskeeper who lurks at the edges of the property. The trailer shows him warning Millie about danger, positioning him as either a protective figure or potential threat. His character adds another layer of mystery—what does Enzo know about the Winchester family, and why hasn’t he spoken up before?
From Page to Screen: Adapting a Bestseller
Author Freida McFadden already watched a preview screening and proclaimed the adaptation might surpass her novel. “I was lucky enough to watch a sneak preview of The Housemaid movie, and I absolutely loved it,” McFadden shared. “The second it was over, I turned to my husband in the theater and said, ‘OMG, I think it was better than the book!'”
This enthusiastic endorsement from the source material’s creator suggests the film successfully captures the book’s twisty nature while adding cinematic elements that enhance the story. The trailer reveals key visual moments—affairs, arson, psychological breakdowns—compressed into an intense two-and-a-half minutes that barely scratches the surface of the full narrative.
The Housemaid Production Details
| Production Info | Details |
|---|---|
| Director | Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, A Simple Favor) |
| Screenwriter | Rebecca Sonnenshine (The Boys, The Vampire Diaries) |
| Producers | Todd Lieberman, Paul Feig, Laura Fischer |
| Production Company | Hidden Pictures, Feigco Entertainment |
| Filming Location | New Jersey |
| Filming Period | January – March 2025 |
| Composer | Theodore Shapiro (7th collaboration with Feig) |
| Runtime | 2 hours 11 minutes |
| Rating | R (strong/bloody violence, sexual assault, sexual content, nudity, language) |
Principal photography wrapped in March 2025 after three months of shooting across New Jersey locations. The production maintained secrecy around plot details, with cast members offering only cryptic descriptions. Brandon Sklenar called it “very dark, dramatic and twisted,” adding that it’s “not gory but it’s twisted. It’s out there for sure.”
Sydney Sweeney’s Career Momentum
The Housemaid represents another strategic move in Sydney Sweeney’s carefully curated career trajectory. Following her breakthrough in Euphoria and Anyone But You, which grossed $220 million worldwide against modest expectations, Sweeney demonstrates range by tackling psychological thriller territory. Her recent horror film Immaculate proved she could carry genre projects, and The Housemaid positions her as a leading actress capable of complex dramatic work.
Sweeney’s involvement as executive producer indicates her commitment extends beyond performance. She championed the project and helped shepherd it through development, ensuring the adaptation honored McFadden’s vision while creating compelling cinema.
Amanda Seyfried brings Oscar-nominated credibility after her stunning portrayal of Elizabeth Holmes in The Dropout. Her transition from ingenue roles to darker characters continues with Nina Winchester, who may be The Housemaid’s most complex figure. The trailer suggests Nina operates on multiple levels—victim, villain, or something more nuanced.
December Release Strategy and Box Office Expectations
Lionsgate moved The Housemaid from Christmas Day to December 19, 2025, positioning it strategically against James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash. While Avatar targets families, The Housemaid offers counter-programming for adult audiences seeking sophisticated thrills. The studio aims to capture the 18-24 demographic home from college who will spread word-of-mouth throughout the holiday season.
This strategy mirrors Anyone But You’s success, which opened the Friday before Christmas 2023 to modest numbers but achieved a remarkable 14.7x multiplier for $88.3 million domestic and $220.3 million worldwide. Lionsgate expects similar legs if The Housemaid connects with target audiences and benefits from holiday moviegoing patterns.
The R-rating for strong violence, sexual content, and disturbing themes clearly establishes adult-oriented material. Feig promises “pure entertainment—a sexy and surprising rollercoaster ride” that delivers the kind of theatrical experience streaming can’t replicate. The director emphasized that The Housemaid rewards multiple viewings as audiences catch details they missed during initial shocked reactions.
Author McFadden’s Thriller Empire
Freida McFadden started as a self-published Amazon author in 2013, building a devoted readership through prolific output. The Housemaid catapulted her to mainstream success, leading to The Housemaid’s Secret (2023) and The Housemaid Is Watching (2024). Her books prioritize plot over character development, delivering twist after twist that readers devour in single sittings.
McFadden’s success stems from accessibility—her straightforward prose at approximately ninth-grade reading level makes thrillers approachable for wide demographics. Critics note similarities between her plots and other popular novels, but fans argue her layered twists and multiple reveals distinguish her work. The Housemaid particularly resonates through its exploration of domestic abuse disguised behind wealth and respectability.
The film adaptation’s December 2025 release coincides with The Housemaid trilogy’s continued dominance on bestseller lists. In France alone, the book sold over 630,000 copies in 2024, becoming the year’s bestselling novel. This international success suggests the film could perform strongly in overseas markets beyond North America.
What Makes This Thriller Different
The Housemaid distinguishes itself through its refusal to reveal everything in marketing materials. Unlike thrillers that showcase major plot points in trailers, this campaign maintains mystery while establishing tone and stakes. Audiences know Millie uncovers dangerous secrets, but what those secrets entail remains tantalizingly unclear.
Paul Feig’s involvement adds sophistication beyond standard thriller conventions. His experience balancing humor with suspense in A Simple Favor suggests The Housemaid won’t take itself overly seriously despite dark subject matter. The use of Sabrina Carpenter’s “Please Please Please” in the trailer—transformed into an ominous echo—demonstrates the film’s self-aware approach to genre expectations.
The ensemble cast brings varied strengths. Elizabeth Perkins adds veteran presence, while Michele Morrone’s international appeal from the 365 Days franchise broadens demographic reach. This combination creates a thriller accessible to genre fans while offering enough substance for discerning audiences.
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FAQs
When does The Housemaid release in theaters?
The Housemaid premieres exclusively in theaters on December 19, 2025. Originally scheduled for Christmas Day, Lionsgate moved the release date one week earlier to maximize the holiday moviegoing season.
Who stars in The Housemaid?
Sydney Sweeney leads as Millie alongside Amanda Seyfried as Nina Winchester, Brandon Sklenar as Andrew Winchester, Michele Morrone as Enzo, and Elizabeth Perkins in a supporting role. Both Sweeney and Seyfried serve as executive producers.
Is The Housemaid based on a book?
Yes, The Housemaid adapts Freida McFadden’s 2022 bestselling psychological thriller of the same name. The book sold over two million copies and spent over a year on various bestseller lists, becoming a BookTok sensation.
What is The Housemaid movie about?
The Housemaid follows Millie, a young woman with a criminal past who accepts a housemaid position for the wealthy Winchester family. She quickly discovers the seemingly perfect family harbors dangerous secrets behind closed doors, leading to a psychological game of manipulation and survival.
Who directed The Housemaid?
Paul Feig directed The Housemaid from a screenplay by Rebecca Sonnenshine. Feig previously directed Bridesmaids, A Simple Favor, and Another Simple Favor, bringing his expertise in blending dark comedy with suspenseful thrillers to the project.
