Sydney Sweeney Soars as The Housemaid Crosses $300 Million Worldwide, Her Biggest Hit Yet

Sydney Sweeney just planted another flag at the box office. Her thriller The Housemaid has now passed her rom-com with Glen Powell, Anyone But You, to become her biggest movie yet. Variety pegs the worldwide total at $300 million. On a $35 million budget. Not a bad return, and no surprise Lionsgate is already gearing up a sequel.

Where this puts Sweeney right now

Last year was a one-two punch for Sweeney between the dramatic biopic Christy and the very pulpy, very steamy The Housemaid. The latter is the one that took off, and it is officially her top-grosser to date, edging out Anyone But You at the global box office. Again: $300 million worldwide on $35 million spent. Studios love math like that.

Sequel status: The Housemaid's Secret

Lionsgate actually called the shot before The Housemaid hit that $300 million milestone. The studio had already put the follow-up, The Housemaid's Secret (based on Freida McFadden's second novel), into development. It has been quietly moving through the pipeline for the past few months, with production planned to start sometime this year.

Per the latest press materials, the same team that cracked the first movie is largely back. Screenwriter Rebecca Sonnenshine, who adapted The Housemaid, is writing the sequel. The plan is for Paul Feig to return to direct, with Sydney Sweeney and Michele Morrone expected to be back in front of the camera. On the producing side, here is how it shakes out:

• Todd Lieberman (Hidden Pictures) returning as producer
• Paul Feig and Laura Fischer (Feig's Pretty Dangerous Pictures) returning as producers
• Carly Elter and Alex Young (Hidden Pictures) aboard as executive producers
• Sydney Sweeney executive producing
• Author Freida McFadden also serving as executive producer

Short version: they are sticking with the formula that worked, which is usually a good sign for a quick turnaround.

Sweeney on screen and in the headlines

Sweeney has had the classic post-Euphoria 'It Girl' run where every project hits a spotlight, and every side move gets dissected. Case in point: her recent promo for a newly launched lingerie line, where she posted a video draping bras over the Hollywood sign. That did not go over smoothly with the folks who oversee the landmark.

"There was no permission granted to do this as is required."

"We are still investigating how and under what authority (if any) the Sweeney production accessed the site of the Sign."

Those statements are from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to TMZ, which owns and manages the sign. Whether that leads to anything more than stern phone calls remains to be seen, but yes, that happened.

Bottom line

The Housemaid is now Sweeney's biggest movie ever with $300 million worldwide, and Lionsgate is wasting no time turning McFadden's The Housemaid's Secret into the next chapter. Writing is in motion, production is aiming for this year, and the plan is to bring back Feig, Sweeney, and Morrone. If they keep the momentum (and the budget in check), expect this franchise to stick around.