Sydney Sweeney's Latest R-Rated Film Breaks Streaming Records

If you breezed past 'Immaculate' when it popped up a couple years ago, you’re not alone. But apparently a lot of people are catching up with Sydney Sweeney’s R-rated nun horror fest on streaming – and it’s not just quietly sneaking by. This movie has suddenly become a top hit on HBO Max, especially in South America, which probably wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card.

Sydney Sweeney Dives Into Horror... and Finds a Huge Audience

Here’s the gist: 'Immaculate' is one of those religious horror flicks that leans hard into creepy-convent vibes. Sweeney plays Cecilia, a devout novice nun who moves into a remote Italian convent expecting some spiritual rejuvenation, and – surprise! – ends up with way more sinister weirdness than blessings. The movie wastes no time letting her (and us) know that there are secrets hiding behind every candlelit corridor.

Streaming Popularity: A (Slightly) Surprising Surge

Fast forward to now: 'Immaculate' is the #2 most-watched movie on HBO Max as of January 19, 2026 – according to FlixPatrol, which tracks this sort of thing. If you’re wondering who could possibly out-muscle Sweeney’s horror run, that would be Leonardo DiCaprio with his heavy-hitting 'One Battle After Another' (honestly, with 460 popularity points, no one’s catching him soon).

But here’s where things get interesting. In countries like Argentina, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, and Venezuela, 'Immaculate' is sitting on the throne at #1. Clearly, the South American contingent loves their ominous nuns.

How 'Immaculate' Stacks Up Right Now:

• 'One Battle After Another' (#1 – 460 points)
• 'Immaculate' (#2 – 209 points)
• 'How to Train Your Dragon' (#3 – 199 points)
• 'Alien: Romulus' (#4 – 195 points)
• 'The Phoenician Scheme' (#5 – 155 points)
• 'Sleepless' (#6 – 149 points)
• 'Ma' (#7 – 97 points)
• 'As Above, So Below' (#8 – 93 points)
• 'The Duchess' (#9 – 91 points)
• 'Karate Kid: Legends' (#10 – 87 points)

Box Office: From Modest Budget to Solid Returns

'Immaculate' wasn’t exactly breaking the bank in production. The budget was reportedly around $9 million, which is pretty lean by genre standards. It made $34.8 million worldwide – not world-beating, but a handy profit, especially for a horror film without an existing franchise attached.

So... Do People Actually Like It?

Well, that depends on who you ask. The critical reception is decent: 72% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences? Not quite as sold – it’s got a 58% audience score there, which (let’s be real) isn’t amazing. Metacritic has it at a 57 from the critics and 5.8 from users, both basically meaning 'it’s okay, but don’t expect a miracle.' Even so, that hasn’t stopped people from hitting play.

The People Behind the Movie

Michael Mohan directed from a script by Andrew Lobel. Sydney Sweeney was also part of the producing team, along with David Bernad, Michael Heimler, Teddy Schwarzman, and her ex-fiancé Jonathan Davino – yeah, this movie has layers both in front of and behind the camera.

The cast is pretty stacked for a contained horror movie: Álvaro Morte, Simona Tabasco, Benedetta Porcaroli, Giorgio Colangeli, Dora Romano, Giulia Heathfield Di Renzi, Giuseppe Lo Piccolo, Giampiero Judica, and of course Sweeney herself.

So Why is 'Immaculate' Suddenly Everywhere?

Sometimes it just takes a streaming push to turn a mid-range horror movie into a minor phenomenon. Whether it’s the creepy convent setting, Sweeney’s intensity, or just the fact people really love R-rated scares that don’t involve ghosts with cellphones, 'Immaculate' has finally found its audience—even if critics and fans still can’t totally agree on whether it deserves the hype.

Bottom line: If you’re in the mood for some unsettling nuns and a movie that’s trending for reasons nobody saw coming, 'Immaculate' is now sitting right there on HBO Max, ready for your skeptical judgment.