Sydney Sweeney’s independent film, Americana, was released in theaters on August 15, 2025, two years after its premiere at the 2023 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival. The movie follows Penny Jo Poplin, a waitress played by Sweeney, who becomes entangled in a criminal plot involving a stolen Native American artifact in her South Dakota hometown.
The film’s opening weekend generated approximately $500,000 from 1,100 theaters. This launch occurred while Sweeney faced public scrutiny due to her recent American Eagle advertising campaign, sparking discussions about whether the controversy impacted the film’s box office performance. The topic of “Sydney Sweeney Americana box office” is central to understanding the current reception of the movie.
Analyzing the Box Office Performance of ‘Americana’
Following its initial appearance at the 2023 festival, Lionsgate secured global distribution rights for Americana and released it under its Lionsgate Premiere label, which specializes in arthouse and genre films with modest marketing budgets. Industry sources classify Lionsgate Premiere as a division with a highly targeted and limited print and advertising spend.
When compared to other films under the same Lionsgate Premiere imprint, Americana’s opening weekend earnings are consistent with past releases. For instance, Backtrace, which debuted in limited release in December 2018, made $490,636 worldwide. Meanwhile, F*** Marry Kill, launched in March 2025, grossed $31,702 globally, according to Box Office Mojo data.
In the broader context of August 2025 box office rankings, Americana’s figures trail significantly behind blockbuster hits like Weapons, which has grossed $148.7 million worldwide within its first 10 days. Among indie films in 2025, Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme opened at the end of May with $570,000, eventually reaching over $39 million after expanding nationwide. Compared to these, Americana’s performance aligns with typical indie outcomes but struggles against major studio releases.
Variety reported in October 2024 that Lionsgate had witnessed seven consecutive films falling short of box office expectations, including titles such as 1992 and White Bird. Despite this, the studio continues to pursue projects featuring underrepresented stories and unconventional narratives.
“Part of their strategy is filling the gaps. Strategically it’s a smart thing to do,”
Jason Squire, professor emeritus at USC School of Cinematic Arts, explained.
“But this is the ancient struggle of the movie business: You just don’t know if audiences will show up.”
Critical Reception of ‘Americana’ So Far
Americana holds a 67 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes as of this writing, indicating generally positive feedback from critics and viewers. Opinions vary concerning the film’s style and character development.
“A beautiful update to the Western outlaw movie genre,”
wrote one audience member, while another remarked,
“They definitely made an attempt be a Tarantino/ Guy richie type character based movie. But failed to develop the characters to be interesting enough to care about and just a forgettable movie overall.”
Critics have noted the film’s unique approach to its genre. One critic commented,
“The gal from the jeans commercials is back on the big screen in a quirky, modern western,”
adding,
“Americana offers a fresh story with a fun set of characters. The ending might not wrap up in the most satisfying of ways but the ride getting there is not too shabby.”
Sydney Sweeney’s Perspective on the Film’s Release
On August 14, 2025, a day before Americana’s theatrical debut, Sydney Sweeney shared behind-the-scenes photos on Instagram featuring her and the film’s ensemble cast, including Paul Walter Hauser, Halsey, Eric Dane, Zahn McClarnon, Gavin Maddox Bergman, Simon Rex, Derek Hinkey, Toby Huss, Harriet Sansom Harris, and Donald Cerrone.
“A few years ago I filmed this little movie with some friends and now you get to meet penny jo ♥️,”
Sweeney captioned the post.
The post sparked mixed reactions among social media users, with some referencing the American Eagle controversy as their reason for hesitating to watch Americana. A commenter expressed,
“I love how she pisses so many people off by just exisiting [SIC],”
while another defended Sweeney, saying,
“Stay salty over Sweeney having great jeans.”
Details Surrounding Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle Campaign and Fallout
Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad campaign launched on July 23, 2025, featuring the tagline “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans.” One of the commercials stirred debate when Sweeney said,
“Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color. My jeans are blue,”
This statement triggered controversy as some critics argued the script appeared to endorse eugenics concepts, prompting widespread discussion among celebrities and fans alike.
American Eagle quickly addressed the issue with a clarification posted on Instagram on August 1, 2025:
“‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ is and always was about the jeans,”
followed by the tagline “Her jeans. Her story.”
The company’s message concluded,
“We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
An insider shared with Us Weekly that
“Sydney thinks this whole thing has been blown out of proportion.”
The source added,
“She’s focusing her energy on work, including being back on set with her Euphoria family.”
Implications of the Controversy on ‘Americana’s’ Commercial Performance
Despite the American Eagle campaign controversy dominating headlines during Americana’s opening, the film’s moderate box office numbers suggest that the dispute neither dramatically boosted nor substantially hindered ticket sales. While Americana fits into the landscape of contemporary indie films with limited marketing backing, the attention drawn by Sweeney’s advertising campaign has complicated public perceptions.
The film’s modest earnings reflect the challenges faced by arthouse and genre films navigating a market often dominated by blockbuster releases, particularly those with extensive promotional budgets. Lionsgate’s continued investment in niche and unique scripts, despite previous underperformers, signals a commitment to diverse storytelling that may influence future indie film prospects.
For Sydney Sweeney, Americana serves as a testament to her growing presence in cinema, while the American Eagle controversy highlights the complexities facing celebrities navigating brand endorsements and public opinion simultaneously.
