Disney+ has added the new remake of an iconic thriller movie

The original is also now streaming on Disney+.

The original film was released in 1992 and stars Rebecca De Mornay as a vengeful woman who poses as a nanny. This is so that she can infiltrate the home of a married couple (Annabella Sciorra and Matt McCoy) whom she blames for ruining her life.

Directed by the late and great Curtis Hanson (8 Mile, LA Confidential) and also featuring Ernie Hudson, Julianne Moore and Madeleine Zima as part of its cast, the 1992 movie took its title from a famous poem by William Ross Wallace.

The poem praises motherhood as the preeminent force for change in the world and is titled: 'The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Is the Hand That Rules the World'.

Praised upon release for its great performances, its darkly compelling story and its tense set-pieces, the film was also a huge hit at the box office, grossing a reported $140 million on a $11.9 million budget.

Now, a remake of the thriller has arrived from director Michelle Garza Cervera (Huesera: The Bone Woman) and writer Micah Bloomberg (Homecoming).

Starring Maika Monroe (Longlegs) in the De Mornay part and Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) in the role of Sciorra's, the plot synopsis for the reimagining reads:

"Suburban couple Caitlin (Winstead) and Miguel Morales (Raúl Castillo) hire seemingly sweet Polly (Monroe) to take care of their newborn baby. But Polly’s true motives have little to do with singing lullabies — much to the horror of the couple."

So far, the 2025 version of The Hand That Rocks the Cradle has earned mixed write-ups from critics.

A recurring complaint about the remake is that it is less campy and fun than the original, with some reviewers finding its finale underwhelming.

That said, other critics have praised its lead performances, its changes to the original and its feminine themes.

You can read a sample of some of these positive reviews below:

FlickDirect: "Mary Elizabeth Winstead commands the screen in a smart, modern reimagining that trades 90s hysteria for grounded female-driven tension."

RogerEbert.com: "Cerveza has found a way to take an old story and comment on something new without fundamentally altering the source material. In this act of creation, she’s revealed the malleability of the text she’s working with and unlocked its storytelling potential."

San Francisco Chronicle: "Although it holds some of the same contrivances as the original, Hulu’s new remake also maintains tension and features a masterful performance, this time by Mary Elizabeth Winstead as the mother."

The Times (UK): "Winstead, in her most fruitful role since 2012’s Smashed, is a powerhouse, while Monroe, though never camp, is frequently and fabulously boo-hiss."

How to watch The Hand That Rocks the Cradle

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Both the original and new versions of The Hand That Rocks the Cradle are streaming on Disney+ now.