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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Screen & Stage • Film

The Housemaid

The Housemaid is the title of several films, most notably a 1960 South Korean domestic thriller directed by Kim Ki-young, a 2010 South Korean remake directed by Im Sang-soo, and a 2025 American psychological thriller directed by Paul Feig.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

The Housemaid is a title shared by several film adaptations, most notably a 1960 South Korean thriller and a 2025 American psychological thriller. The 2025 film is based on Freida McFadden's 2022 novel and stars Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried.

What it is

The Housemaid refers to multiple film adaptations, not a single work. The best-known are a 1960 South Korean domestic thriller, a 2010 South Korean erotic psychological thriller, and a 2025 American psychological thriller directed by Paul Feig.

Key details

The 2025 film is adapted from Freida McFadden’s 2022 novel and stars Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, and Brandon Sklenar. It was written by Rebecca Sonnenshine. The 1960 film was written and directed by Kim Ki-young, and the 2010 film was directed by Im Sang-soo.

Plot themes

Across versions, the story centres on a household where the arrival of a housemaid triggers sexual tension, manipulation, and psychological conflict. In the 2025 film, Millie becomes a live-in maid for a wealthy couple and discovers dangerous secrets.

In short

  • The Housemaid is a title shared by multiple films, including a 1960 South Korean thriller and a 2025 American adaptation.
  • The 2025 film is based on Freida McFadden’s novel and stars Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried.
  • The story across versions involves a housemaid disrupting a wealthy household with tension and secrets.

Quick questions

What is The Housemaid about?
It is a thriller title used for several films about a housemaid whose arrival destabilises a wealthy household through tension, secrets, and conflict.
Who wrote The Housemaid?
The 2025 film was written by Rebecca Sonnenshine and is based on Freida McFadden’s 2022 novel. The 1960 film was written by Kim Ki-young.
Who stars in The Housemaid?
The 2025 film stars Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, and Brandon Sklenar.

Sources

  1. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Housemaid_(1960_film)
    Supports: 1960 South Korean film details, director, cast, and premise
  2. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Housemaid_(2010_film)
    Supports: 2010 South Korean film details, director, cast, and premise
  3. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Housemaid_(2025_film)
    Supports: 2025 film details, director, writer, cast, and source novel
  4. Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_housemaid_2025
    Supports: 2025 film synopsis, cast, and source novel
  5. Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hanyo
    Supports: 1960 film plot summary
  6. IMDbhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt27543632/
    Supports: 2025 film premise and plot summary
  7. IMDbhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt1314652/
    Supports: 2010 film premise and cast