Other Mommy opens

Pop culture · Heat 1.0 / 10 · 2 shows · 19m airtime

Rob Savage's horror film Other Mommy, starring Jessica Chastain, opened in theaters on October 9, 2026, after a viral trailer. It cost $18 million, was not screened for critics, and drew a D+ CinemaScore. The discussion has settled on why it fails: critics argue every character believes the haunting from the start, leaving no skepticism or buildup, though effective set pieces like the ball pit scene are noted. What remains open is whether the film's commercial opening outweighs its reception.

How 2 podcasts covered it

1. The Big Picture, 2026-10-13 (24:10 to 35:25)
   Splits the panel and adds the budget and CinemaScore
   Splits the panel on Other Mommy: one host calls it a waste, another defends the balloon and ball pit set pieces. Goes to the production record for the first time - the $18 million budget, the D+ CinemaScore, no critics' screenings, and the Malerman novel underneath.
   New angle: Other Mommy cost $18 million, was not screened for critics, and drew a D+ CinemaScore.
2. Pop Culture Happy Hour, 2026-10-14 (1:00 to 8:17)
   Reviews Other Mommy and faults its lack of buildup
   Reviews the new horror film Other Mommy, covering its viral trailer, Jessica Chastain's performance, and the box office weekend, and faults the movie for having no skepticism or buildup.
   New angle: The critics argue the film fails because every character believes the haunting from the start, leaving no skepticism or buildup.