The Housemaid‘s trailer pits Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried against one another, but that might not be their only face-off at the end of 2025. Directed by Paul Feig and based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Freida McFadden, The Housemaid looks to be an intense psychological thriller, with some seductive and mysterious touches.

The Housemaid‘s trailer is a great showcase for both actresses, with Seyfried’s unnerving, wealthy wife going up against Sweeney’s enigmatic new housemaid. It’s a fun pairing, but one that could take on an additional layer if the two actresses’ other big performances of the year earn Oscar nominations, pitting them against each other in real life too.

Amanda Seyfried And Sydney Sweeney Face Off In The Housemaid

The Housemaid‘s trailer sets the stage for Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried’s thriller, which could portend their place as compeтιтors for the Best Actress race at the Oscars for their other 2025 films. The Housemaid focuses on Sweeney as Millie Calloway, a young woman who becomes a live-in housemaid for Nina and Andrew Winchester.

The Housemaid trailer underscores the dangerous, mysterious, and seductive elements of the original novel that made a movie adaptation a no-brainer. It also positions Millie and Nina against one another, with the trailer repeatedly putting emphasis on scenes where the two of them are alone and either faking niceties or where Nina is sneaking up on an unsettled Millie.

The trailer recalls director Paul Feig’s A Simple Favor films, which also benefited from some ᴅᴇᴀᴅly thriller elements — albeit in a more overtly dramatic form compared to A Simple Flavor‘s dark comedy. This trailer sets up both Millie and Nina as dangerous and mysterious figures, circling one another and manipulating one another for some unseen purpose.

The fact that both actresses are skilled at playing both the unᴀssuming hero and the calculating villain makes the film all the more exciting. Even from the trailer for The Housemaid, it’s hard to tell which character is genuinely dangerous, an aura of mystery that could help ensure the final film is a perfectly tense thriller.

It’s an exciting pairing, especially because Millie seems like exactly the kind of role the typically terrific Seyfried would have played if The Housemaid had been made in the past. Sweeney has also proven to be a strong actor. It’ll be interesting to see the depths they’re able to take these two women to, especially as conflict brews.

Sweeney And Seyfried Are Both In The Conversation For Best Actress

The Housemaid might not be the only place Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney are facing off, though. Both actresses are considered to be on the shortlist for potential Best Actress nominations at the upcoming 98th Academy Awards, which means The Hosuemaid co-stars might be in direct compeтιтion with one another for Hollywood’s most prestigious award.

Sydney Sweeney made a splash at the Toronto International Film Festival in Christy, a boxing biopic. Even critics who were mixed about the film (like Screen Rant’s Rachel LaBonte) cited Sweeney’s performance as the highlight of the film. It’s exactly the kind of movie that tends to do well in award season, making Sweeney a genuine contender for the Oscar.

By contrast, Amanda Seyfried’s potential Oscar contender is a far more singular and purposefully strange film. The Testament of Ann Lee is a dramatic musical, focusing on the formation of the Shakers religious sect in the 19th century. The film earned strong reviews when it premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, with Seyfriend singled out for her performance.

While Seyfried is something of a dark-horse contender in a stacked year where Jessie Buckely, Cynthia Erivo, and Emma Stone are among the expected frontrunners, the film’s unique energy and memorable elements could help propel it into the conversation even as other performances fall by the wayside. That’s where Christy‘s broader appeal could hurt it.

Sweeney’s performance in Christy is being well-received, but the movie has been met with a more muted reception overall. It’s also possible that Christy‘s “true story” narrative in award season gets overshadowed by Dwayne Johnson’s The Smashing Machine, a similar biopic about a combat sports story that’s expected to be an awards contender.

The release of The Housemaid could be a boon to both actresses and keep them in the minds of the Academy voters during a crucial period for nominations. This makes its holiday release all the more important, as it could tip the scales for either performer going into the Oscar nominations.

Sweeney’s Christy could pick up real steam once it reaches the general movie public, while the singular elements of The Testament of Ann Lee could ensure that Seyfried’s one-of-a-kind performance remains with voters. The Housemaid looks to be a lot more of a genre-thriller, but it could highlight exactly why these two are in the best actress discussion.