Lionsgate's 'The Housemaid' surges to UK-Ireland box-office crown in its third weekend

Industry chatter has been buzzing ever since the modest thriller slipped into its third weekend and suddenly found itself atop the British and Irish ticket charts. The film's steady climb, powered by a mix of sharp word-of-mouth and a growing appetite for adult-oriented suspense, has pushed its earnings past the £17 million mark, a milestone that feels especially sweet for a title that entered the market without the fanfare of a blockbuster launch. Analysts point to the film's tight storytelling and a cast that has quietly resonated with audiences, turning what could have been a fleeting run into a sustained presence. At the same time, the awards corridor is humming with its own surprises. Universal's period drama, which has been making the rounds in festival circuits, managed to pull in a respectable four-million-plus haul, underscoring how prestige projects can still command a solid box-office pull even as the season leans toward heavyweight franchises. The parallel success of these two very different movies illustrates a market in which both genre grit and high-brow storytelling can thrive, provided they connect with the right audience at the right moment.