Amanda Seyfried is making an argument she shouldn't have to make in 2026: women are showing up to theaters when you make movies for them.
Speaking about the success of The Housemaid and Testament of Ann Lee, Seyfried pointed out what should be obvious - there's a hungry audience for original adult dramas aimed at female viewers. Both films have performed solidly in a theatrical marketplace supposedly dominated by superheroes and franchises.
She's absolutely right. But the fact that she has to argue this point is depressing.
Hollywood has spent years claiming that "women don't show up for movies" while simultaneously refusing to make movies women actually want to see. Then when a Barbie does $1.4 billion or The Housemaid finds its audience, studios act surprised.
The real question is whether this changes anything. Will studios actually greenlight more original adult dramas for women? Or will they use this as cover for more adaptations of bestselling novels starring whoever just won an Oscar?
My cynical take: we'll get a brief window where "female-driven content" becomes the buzzword, studios will develop a dozen projects, cancel most of them, and release two. Then when one underperforms, they'll use it as justification to go back to making Fast & Furious 47.
But my hopeful take: The Housemaid and Testament of Ann Lee are proof that counterprogramming works. Not every weekend needs a $200 million spectacle. There's room for smart, mid-budget adult dramas that trust audiences to show up for quality storytelling.
Seyfried has been making interesting choices lately - The Dropout, , and now these films. She's proven you can be a movie star without chasing franchises. More actors should follow her lead.
