Sydney Sweeney's 'Americana' struggles at box office after American Eagle ad backlash

Sydney Sweeney is experiencing a career setback as her latest film Americana opens weakly at the US box office.

The crime drama, directed by Tony Tost, earned just $850,000 across 1,100 theatres during its debut weekend, placing 16th overall despite early festival attention.

The film, which premiered at South by Southwest in 2023, stars Sweeney alongside Paul Walter Hauser and Halsey.

It tells the story of a group of outsiders whose lives collide after a rare Lakota Ghost Shirt surfaces on the black market in South Dakota. Reviews have been mixed, and the film currently holds a 68 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

In the lead-up to the release, Sweeney promoted the project on social media, introducing her character Penny Jo, a would-be country singer.

However, her efforts were overshadowed by fallout from her American Eagle campaign, which used the tagline “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans/Genes.” Critics described the play on words as resembling Nazi propaganda, sparking heated online debate.

Sweeney has also faced scrutiny over her political affiliation after registering as a Republican in Florida prior to the 2024 Presidential election. Some critics accused her of aligning with controversial figures, while fans defended her as someone unafraid to challenge cultural expectations.

Despite Americana’s slow start, Sweeney has two high-profile projects on the horizon. Christy, a biopic about boxer Christy Martin, will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, while The Housemaid, a psychological thriller, is slated for a Christmas Day release.