Sydney Sweeney’s latest film, Americana, a crime thriller directed by Tony Tost, opened to a disappointing $840,000 across 1,100 U.S. theatres, averaging just $460 per cinema.
Industry analysts attribute the lacklustre debut to backlash from Sweeney’s recent American Eagle advertisement and her reported affiliation with the Republican Party. Despite a talented cast, including Paul Walter Hauser and Halsey, the film struggled to gain traction.
In Americana, Sweeney plays Penny Jo Poplin, a diner waitress with dreams of becoming a country singer, entangled in a conflict over a rare Native American artefact. The film’s modest opening highlights the challenges of small theatrical releases in today’s polarised climate. Sweeney promoted the project on Instagram, sharing behind-the-scenes photos with the caption, “A few years ago I filmed this little movie with some friends and now you get to meet Penny Jo.” However, comments quickly turned to her recent controversies, with users expressing disappointment over her political stance.
Sydney Sweeney’s new movie, ‘Americana,’ flops after American Eagle controversy https://t.co/P8FE3DmX0y pic.twitter.com/HclDopndaS
— Page Six (@PageSix) August 17, 2025The American Eagle Ad Controversy
The controversy began with Sweeney’s American Eagle campaign, featuring the tagline “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans.” In the ad, she says, “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality, and even eye colour. My jeans are blue.” Critics accused the ad of echoing eugenics rhetoric, sparking a heated online debate. Celebrities like Doja Cat and Lizzo mocked the campaign, while American Eagle defended it, stating, “We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way.”
Surprisingly, the ad received support from former President Donald Trump, who called it “fantastic” on Truth Social, further fueling the controversy. Despite the backlash, American Eagle reported a 4% stock surge post-campaign, suggesting commercial success.
Adding to the storm, public records revealed Sweeney registered as a Republican in Florida’s Monroe County in June 2024, intensifying scrutiny. Social media reactions were swift, with Instagram users commenting, “Bye Sydney! Being a registered Republican in 2024 is a choice,” and “Perfect, won’t be watching it.” This backlash likely contributed to Americana’s poor box office performance, as polarised sentiment swayed potential viewers.
