:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(773x258:775x260)/the-housemaid-sydney-sweeney-2-090925-67facf3d302b4246a770520df4320a59.jpg "Housemaid: Cast, Seasons, Story, Timeline, Soundtracks, & Latest Updates")
The Housemaid, starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, premiered in theaters on December 19, 2025, before becoming available for digital rental and purchase. Directed by Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, A Simple Favor), this psychological thriller adaptation of Freida McFadden’s 2022 bestselling novel delivers a deliciously twisted tale of class warfare, dark secrets, and revenge. Lionsgate has already greenlit The Housemaid’s Secret sequel for 2026 production, ensuring fans can look forward to more twisted adventures with Sydney Sweeney’s Millie Calloway. With its jaw-dropping twists, tense atmosphere, and powerhouse performances, The Housemaid has become one of the most talked-about thrillers of the year.
The Complete Story Breakdown
The Housemaid follows Wilhelmina “Millie” Calloway, a young woman desperate to escape her past and start fresh after being released from prison. With no money, no prospects, and no family to turn to, Millie accepts a live-in housekeeping position with the wealthy Winchester family. The offer seems too good to be true: a spacious attic room in their sprawling mansion, generous pay, and the opportunity to live among the elite.
Nina Winchester, the elegant but eccentric mistress of the house, hires Millie sight unseen, seemingly desperate for help managing her chaotic household. Her handsome husband Andrew, a successful lawyer, appears charming and professional, while their young daughter Cecilia immediately takes a shine to Millie. The job’s only catch? The attic room locks from the outside, a detail Millie dismisses as a quirky security measure.
What begins as a dream opportunity quickly reveals itself as a nightmare. Nina proves demanding, erratic, and increasingly cruel, treating Millie more like a prisoner than an employee. Andrew’s late-night visits to Millie’s attic room suggest inappropriate interest, while Nina’s volatile behavior escalates from petty humiliations to outright abuse. The house itself becomes a character—opulent on the surface but hiding dark secrets behind its perfect facade.
As Millie uncovers the Winchesters’ disturbing family dynamics, she discovers Nina’s history of mental health struggles and Andrew’s questionable professional ethics. The couple’s marriage appears held together by mutual destruction rather than love, with each spouse wielding secrets as weapons against the other. Millie, trained by her prison experience to survive dangerous situations, begins playing her own game, gathering evidence and building alliances while maintaining her subservient facade.
The plot twists multiply as Millie forms an unexpected bond with Evelyn Winchester, Andrew’s formidable mother who lives across the street. Evelyn reveals uncomfortable truths about her son’s marriage and hints at Nina’s dangerous instability. Meanwhile, Millie reconnects with her former cellmate Gloria, who provides street wisdom about surviving toxic power dynamics.
The tension reaches a boiling point when Nina’s behavior becomes physically threatening toward both Millie and Cecilia. In a pivotal moment, Millie must decide whether to continue enduring abuse for financial survival or risk everything to protect the vulnerable child who has come to trust her. The climax explodes in a confrontation that reveals the true extent of the Winchesters’ dysfunction and Millie’s carefully laid plans for revenge.
The film ends with a shocking final twist that recontextualizes everything viewers thought they understood about Millie, the Winchesters, and the nature of power within the house itself. Freida McFadden herself praised the adaptation’s changes, particularly an ending with “more action” that she believes improves upon the book’s conclusion for cinematic impact.
The Cast: Powerhouse Performances in a Powder Keg
The Housemaid assembles a stellar ensemble that brings Freida McFadden’s twisted world to vivid, uncomfortable life.
Lead Cast
Sydney Sweeney stars as Millie Calloway, the ex-convict housemaid whose intelligence and resilience mask deep trauma and strategic thinking. Sweeney, fresh off Euphoria, Immaculate, and Anyone But You, delivers a career-defining performance that balances vulnerability with steely determination. Her ability to portray Millie as both victim and master manipulator creates the perfect unreliable narrator for Paul Feig’s adaptation. Sweeney also executive produces, giving her significant creative input into her character’s journey.
Amanda Seyfried portrays Nina Winchester, the unstable mistress of the house whose perfect facade conceals profound psychological damage. Seyfried, an Oscar nominee for Mank and known for Mean Girls, Mamma Mia!, and The Dropout, transforms Nina from glamorous socialite to terrifying antagonist. Her performance captures Nina’s rapid mood swings and underlying desperation, making every interaction with Millie feel dangerously unpredictable.
Brandon Sklenar plays Andrew Winchester, Nina’s husband whose professional success masks personal moral ambiguity. Sklenar, recognized from It Ends With Us and 1883, brings charm and quiet menace to a character who appears supportive but reveals darker impulses as the story progresses.
Michele Morrone appears as Enzo Accardi, the Italian groundskeeper whose flirtations with Millie create additional household tension. Morrone, known from the 365 Days trilogy, brings brooding intensity to a character whose loyalties remain ambiguous throughout.
Elizabeth Perkins steals scenes as Evelyn Winchester, Andrew’s formidable mother who recognizes Millie’s potential and becomes an unlikely ally. Perkins, a veteran of Weeds and Big, delivers sharp wit and maternal wisdom that contrasts with Nina’s instability.
Supporting Cast
Indiana Elle plays Cecilia Winchester, the young daughter whose vulnerability becomes central to Millie’s protective instincts.
Hannah Cruz portrays Lexi, Millie’s friend from her past who provides outside perspective on the Winchester situation.
Alaina Surgener appears as Amanda, a local housemaid who warns Millie about the Winchesters’ reputation.
Mark Grossman plays Scott Crawford, Millie’s first boyfriend whose appearance complicates her fresh start.
Don DiPetta portrays Officer Jenkins, while Brian D. Cohen plays Det. Smythe, representing law enforcement’s peripheral involvement.
Hannah D. Scott and Emely Cartagena appear as fellow prisoners, representing Millie’s past life.
The chemistry between Sweeney and Seyfried creates palpable tension, with every interaction feeling like a powder keg waiting to explode. Perkins provides crucial grounding as the voice of experience, while Morrone adds dangerous allure to the household dynamic.
Timeline and Setting
The Housemaid unfolds over approximately three months in contemporary America, primarily within the confines of the Winchester mansion and its immediate surroundings. The story begins with Millie’s job interview and acceptance, progressing through her first weeks of employment, the escalating conflicts, and culminating in the explosive climax.
The mansion itself serves as both prison and battleground, with its opulent rooms contrasting sharply with Millie’s attic quarters. The attic room, accessible only by a hidden staircase and locking from the outside, symbolizes Millie’s trapped position while also becoming her strategic advantage. The house’s layout—separate wings for Nina and Andrew, isolated service areas for staff—reflects the class divisions central to the story.
Filming took place primarily in Atlanta, Georgia, utilizing historic mansions and estates to create the Winchesters’ palatial home. The production design emphasizes visual contrasts between gleaming marble surfaces and Millie’s increasingly determined expressions, foreshadowing the power shift to come.
The Soundtrack: Theodore Shapiro’s Tense Score
Music plays a crucial role in building The Housemaid’s atmosphere of mounting dread and psychological tension. Composer Theodore Shapiro, known for his work on Severance, The Devil Wears Prada, and Marley & Me, creates an original score that underscores the film’s twisted power dynamics.
Featured Songs
The soundtrack features contemporary tracks that amplify key emotional beats:
- “I Did Something Bad” by Taylor Swift – Plays during Millie’s increasingly bold actions against the Winchesters
- “Cinnamon Girl” by Lana Del Rey – Scores intimate, unsettling moments within the house
- “Why Is She Still Here?” by Reneé Rapp – Reflects Nina’s growing paranoia about Millie
- “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson – Millie’s triumphant moments of independence
- “Bad As The Rest” by Jessie Murph – Highlights Millie’s acceptance of her darker impulses
- “breaking news” by flowerovlove – Media frenzy surrounding the household drama
- “The Angel And The Saint” by Goldie Boutilier – Ambiguous morality themes
- “take me as I am” by Lyn Lapid – Millie’s demand for respect
- “Tumbling Dice” by Linda Ronstadt – Risky power plays
- “Blue Bayou” by Linda Ronstadt – Nostalgic reflection on lost innocence
Sabrina Carpenter’s “Please Please Please” features in the trailer, teasing the seductive, dangerous dynamics within the Winchester household.
Original Score Highlights
Shapiro’s score includes 19 original tracks across two volumes, blending orchestral tension with minimalist piano for intimate moments:
- “The Privilege of Teeth” – Opening credits establishing danger
- “Grand Tour” – Millie’s first walkthrough of the mansion
- “That Will Be That” – Nina’s threats to Millie
- “Move in Day” – Millie’s arrival and first impressions
- “Enzo” – The groundskeeper’s flirtations
- “Leave Now” – Escalating confrontations
The score’s use of discordant strings and sudden silences mirrors Millie’s growing awareness of the household’s dysfunction, creating auditory discomfort that parallels visual tension.
Latest Updates: Sequel Confirmed
Lionsgate officially greenlit The Housemaid’s Secret, the second book in Freida McFadden’s trilogy, with production targeting a 2026 start date. Sydney Sweeney is in talks to return as Millie Calloway, continuing her character’s story in the sequel.
The Housemaid’s Secret follows Millie in her new job as a personal assistant to a glamorous attorney. When she discovers the attorney’s husband has a violent streak, Millie must decide whether to intervene or protect her hard-won fresh start. Screenwriter Rebecca Sonnenshine returns to adapt the sequel, with producers Todd Lieberman, Paul Feig, Laura Fischer, Carly Elter, Alex Young, and Sydney Sweeney all returning.
While no streaming or theatrical release dates have been announced, the sequel’s development suggests continued theatrical distribution followed by digital availability. Freida McFadden confirmed the adaptation will maintain the series’ twisty DNA while exploring new facets of Millie’s complex character.
The third book, The Housemaid Is Watching, remains unadapted but ripe for future development given the franchise’s momentum.
Book vs. Film: Key Differences
Freida McFadden praised the adaptation’s changes, particularly an ending with “more action” that translates better to screen. Key differences include:
Enhanced Visual Storytelling: The film emphasizes the mansion’s architecture to show class divisions the book describes through narration.
Expanded Supporting Characters: Evelyn Winchester and Enzo Accardi receive more screen time, creating richer dynamics.
Action-Oriented Climax: The book’s psychological confrontations become more physically dramatic for cinematic impact.
Streaming Timeline: While theatrical now, Lionsgate typically brings films to digital platforms within 45 days, suggesting early 2026 availability for home viewing.
Critical Reception
The Housemaid earned praise for its performances and faithful adaptation while sparking debate about its thriller tropes. Sydney Sweeney’s star power drew audiences, while Amanda Seyfried’s unhinged portrayal earned particular acclaim. Critics noted the film’s ability to maintain suspense through familiar genre conventions while delivering genuine surprises.
The film’s box office success and sequel announcement confirm its commercial viability, positioning The Housemaid as a potential franchise starter alongside other book-to-film successes.
Where to Watch
Theatrical: Currently playing in theaters nationwide (December 19, 2025 release)
Digital Rental/Purchase: Expected early February 2026 on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, and YouTube Movies
Streaming: Lionsgate films typically arrive on Netflix or STARZ 3-6 months post-theatrical, suggesting mid-2026 streaming availability
Theatrical audiences praise the film’s visual impact and big-screen tension, making cinema viewing ideal for first-time experiences.
Why The Housemaid Resonates
The Housemaid taps into universal anxieties about class, power, and survival. Millie’s journey from desperate employee to empowered avenger speaks to anyone who’s felt trapped by circumstances. Nina’s unraveling reveals how wealth doesn’t buy mental stability, while Andrew’s moral ambiguity shows how privilege enables bad behavior.
The film’s exploration of domestic spaces as battlegrounds transforms familiar settings into sources of terror. Every mansion room becomes a potential weapon or hiding place, making viewers reconsider their own homes.
Sydney Sweeney’s dual role as star and producer represents the new generation of actors shaping their own careers. Her commitment to Freida McFadden’s material suggests thoughtful adaptation choices that honor source material while expanding its reach.
The confirmed sequel ensures fans can continue Millie’s story, while the film’s success validates psychological thrillers as theatrical draws. Whether exploring further Winchester family secrets or new employers with dark pasts, the franchise appears poised for expansion.
The Housemaid delivers twisted entertainment that lingers, asking viewers to question appearances, trust instincts, and remember that the people cleaning your house might know more about you than you realize.