Actress Sophie Thatcher is making waves in the horror and sci-fi genres following her breakout role in the Showtime series Yellowjackets. A recent report highlights her early cinematic success in a $60 million A24 horror film that is currently nearing the end of its run on HBO Max.
The $60 million A24 sleeper hit
Before her recent work in divisive genre films, Sophie Thatcher starred in a significant horror success released by A24. Directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods—the writing duo behind A Quiet Place—the film features Thatcher as a conflicted missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As the report notes, the film follows her character as she becomes trapped in a mysterious house during a storm, joined by a cast that includes Chloe East and Hugh Grant, who plays a menacing homeowner.
The film has proven to be a substantial commercial success, grossing over $60 million at the box office. While it has emerged as one of the distributor's most successful sleeper hits, viewers in the United States should act quickly, as the movie is currently streaming on HBO Max but is expected to leave the platform soon.
Trading franchise safety for Zach Cregger and Nicolas Winding Refn
Rather than pursuing the predictable path of major studio franchises, Thatcher has leaned into increasingly experimental genre cinema. Following her acclaimed performance in Yellowjackets, she has sought out projects with distinct directorial voices. This includes the sci-fi film Companion, which was produced by Zach Cregger, and the more recent Her Private Hell.
This strategy places Thatcher in a specific niche of "prestige genre" filmmaking. By choosing projects from directors like Nicolas Winding Refn,she appears to be prioritizing artistic complexity and "weirdness" over the broad,mass-market appeal typically found in blockbuster superhero or action sequels.
The $1 million box office reality of Her Private Hell
This commitment to experimental cinema does not always translate to massive commercial returs. According to the source, Thatcher’s recent appearance in Nicolas Winding Refn’s Her Private Hell—a title that debuted at the Cannes Film Festival—faced a much harder road. The film grossed only $1 million at the box office and received a polarizing response from audiences and critics alike, landing a 40% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes.
This disparity between her $60 million horror hit and the $1 million performance of Her Private Hell highlights the inherent volatility of the high-concept genre market. It underscores the risk involved in Thatcher's career trajectory, where critical interest and stylistic boldness often come at the expense of box office stability.
What follows the polarizing reception of Her Private Hell?
While Thatcher's ability to anchor a $60 million hit is established, several questions remain regarding her long-term career direction. It is currently unclear if her recent move toward more divisive, auter-driven projects will lead to more mainstream opportunities or if she will remain a staple of the indie horror circuit.
Furthermore, the report does not specify what her next major project will be following the release of Companion. Whether she will eventually pivot toward the major franchises she has currently avoided, or continue to double down on "weird" genre films, remains an open question for industry observers.
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