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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.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

"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. The 2025 film is based on Freida McFadden’s 2022 novel of the same name and stars Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried.

Film versions

The best-known screen versions are the 1960 South Korean film by Kim Ki-young, the 2010 South Korean remake by Im Sang-soo, and the 2025 American adaptation directed by Paul Feig. The 1960 film is a South Korean domestic horror film about a family disrupted by a housemaid, while the 2010 film is a South Korean erotic psychological thriller about a destructive relationship inside a wealthy household.

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 that the family’s secrets are more dangerous than her own.

Source material

The 2025 film is adapted from Freida McFadden’s 2022 novel, which is the version most commonly associated with current entertainment coverage of "The Housemaid". The 2025 adaptation was written by Rebecca Sonnenshine and stars Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, and Brandon Sklenar.

Key facts

  • The title refers to multiple film adaptations, not a single work.
  • The 1960 film is a South Korean domestic horror film about a family disrupted by a housemaid.
  • The 2010 film is a South Korean erotic psychological thriller about a destructive relationship inside a wealthy household.
  • The 2025 film is an American psychological thriller based on Freida McFadden’s 2022 novel.
  • The 2025 adaptation stars Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, with Brandon Sklenar in a leading supporting role.

Frequently asked 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.
Is The Housemaid a movie or book?
It is both: a book title and a film title. The 2025 movie is based on Freida McFadden’s novel.
Who stars in The Housemaid?
The 2025 film stars Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, and Brandon Sklenar.
What is the plot of The Housemaid?
In the 2025 film, Millie becomes a live-in maid for a wealthy couple and discovers that the family’s secrets are more dangerous than her own.
Is The Housemaid based on a true story?
No verified source identifies it as a true story; the 2025 film is based on Freida McFadden’s novel, and the earlier films are fictional works.

References

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