Maika Monroe (“Longlegs”) and Mary Elizabeth Winstead star in 20th Century Studios’ remake of Curtin Hanson’s “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle.” Michelle Garza Cervera (“Huesera: The Bone Woman”) directs from a screenplay by Micah Bloomberg (“The Report”).
The remake, which only wrapped production in March 2025, is being fast-tracked for a straight-to-streaming Disney+ debut this October 22. No theaters. That’s an unusually quick turnaround.
The original 1992 film, directed by the late, great Hanson, was a deliciously trashy suburban thriller. Rebecca De Mornay played the archetypal “nanny from hell,” a grieving woman who infiltrates a family under the guise of childcare, with plans to steal both the kids and the husband.
Hanson’s film was never meant to be profound — it was camp, pure and simple, and some audiences lapped it up. Hopefully, Cervera’s remake hits that sweet spot — nothing more, nothing less. However, based on the trailer, it’s not looking good. There seems to be a good reason why this one was dumped on streaming, and the evidence can be seen on-screen.