Sydney Sweeney’s been frequently hailed as one of Hollywood’s next big stars, for good reason. After rising to fame with a major role in HBO’s Euphoria, Sweeney’s booked roles in a wide variety of films. The most prominent of these films is Anyone But You, which pairs her with fellow rising star Glen Powell and became a surprise box office hit. It also elevated Sweeney’s star to new levels, as she had two major films debut last month: the crime thriller Americana, which also features Paul Walter Hauser in a major role, and Eden — aka Ron Howard’s star-studded survival piece. Both films were major box office bombs, and when you combine that with the rising amount of controversies surrounding Sweeney, it’s not good news. Sweeney isn’t to blame for Eden and Americana’s poor performances, though — both films were victims of abysmal timing.
Back-to-Back Releases & A Crowded Slate Affected Sydney Sweeney’s Latest Films
Timing is everything when it comes to movies, especially when it’s an indie project. Smaller films have to fight for air with major blockbusters, runaway hits, and films that have the money to pour into a marketing campaign; Eden and Americana are two of the biggest examples of this. America dropped in the one-two punch of Weapons, which is proving to be yet another major win for Warner Bros., and Freakier Friday, another major Disney sequel that benefited from millennial nostalgia. Eden ran into a bigger obstacle, as its opening weekend took place on the same weekend that KPop Demon Hunters made its limited debut in theaters; needless to say, Netflix’s animated hit won the box office. Of course, Sweeney was no stranger to starring in flops, as last year’s Madame Web was a major misfire that eventually led to Sony rethinking the way it’s approaching its Spider-Man movies.
Eden and Americana also made their debuts in a widely different landscape for movies. It’s not enough to have a big-name star attached to a movie, as films starring legends like Matthew McConaughey aren’t being picked up due to studios hedging their bets. Viewing habits have also changed, as most people tend to either wait for a movie to hit streaming or wait on word of mouth, resulting in 2025’s summer box office taking a surprising dip. Even film festivals can play a role in shaping a movie’s theatrical journey, as Deadline reports that Eden’s lackluster reviews during TIFF’s 2024 edition led to hesitation before Vertical Entertainment picked it up for distribution. Despite her recent box office bombs, Sweeney continues to rack up roles.
Sydney Sweeney’s Next Film Could Turn The Tide
