Sydney Sweeney’s latest project, Americana, has hit a rough patch at the box office following controversy surrounding her recent American Eagle advertisement.
The campaign, which attempted a play on the words “gene” and
“jeans,” quickly drew backlash, with many critics accusing the brand and the
Euphoria star of promoting insensitive themes tied to racism and eugenics.
The timing couldn’t have been worse for Sweeney, as her new
film Americana—also starring pop star Halsey and actor Paul Walter Hauser—was released
nationwide on Friday. Despite building buzz after its premiere at the 2023
South by Southwest Film Festival, the crime drama has faced a lukewarm
reception. Currently, the movie holds a 68 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes,
with reviews describing it as underwhelming despite its intriguing premise and
ensemble cast.
Written and directed by Tony Tost, Americana follows a group
of outsiders whose fates violently intersect after a rare Lakota ghost shirt
surfaces on the black market in a small South Dakota town. While the storyline
promised high tension and cultural depth, critics suggest the execution failed
to fully deliver.
Ahead of the film’s release, Sweeney promoted the project on
Instagram by sharing behind-the-scenes photos from the shoot. She captioned her
post, “A few years ago I filmed this little movie with some friends and now you
get to meet Penny Jo,” referencing her character in the film.
Looking ahead, the Emmy-nominated actress has a busy
schedule. Her next film, Christy, a biopic about legendary boxer Christy
Martin, will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September
5. The movie currently does not have a distributor, and industry experts
believe buyer interest could hinge on Sweeney’s box office pull.
Sweeney will also take center stage again later this year in
The Housemaid, a psychological thriller set for release on December 25. With
multiple projects lined up, the coming months may prove decisive in shaping her
standing as one of Hollywood’s rising stars.
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