Sydney Sweeney first gained attention in 2018 with roles in Everything Sucks! and Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale, building her reputation through emotionally intense performances. She made her film debut under Quentin Tarantino’s direction in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, portraying a member of the Manson family. Since then, Sweeney has continued to grow her career with acclaimed roles in HBO’s Euphoria and The White Lotus, both earning her Emmy nominations.
In recent years, Sweeney expanded her range by starring in the HBO drama Reality and the romantic comedy Anyone But You, while entering genres like psychological horror with Immaculate and superhero films with Madame Web. Looking ahead to 2025, she has multiple projects lined up, including the crime thriller Americana, survival drama Eden directed by Ron Howard, and The Housemaid.
Americana Marks a Positive Shift in Sydney Sweeney’s Audience Reception
The film Americana, written and directed by Tony Tost, has broken a persistent pattern of lukewarm audience reactions to Sydney Sweeney’s recent films on Rotten Tomatoes. The crime thriller, set in a small South Dakota town, follows intertwined lives of misfit characters caught in violent struggles sparked by a rare Lakota Ghost shirt entering the black market. The cast features Sweeney alongside Paul Walter Hauser, Halsey, Eric Dane, and others.
Since its theatrical release on August 15, Americana holds a 76% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes based on over 50 verified ratings, a notable improvement compared to Sweeney’s recent projects. The movie also has a 67% critic score. Earlier films such as Echo Valley, Immaculate, and Madame Web received critical scores ranging from 51% to 58%, and audience reception often fell below 50% for titles like Night Teeth and Nocturne.
What the Audience Response to Americana Indicates for Sydney Sweeney’s Career
Although Americana’s box office earnings have been modest, under $500,000 to date, audience feedback has been largely positive. Viewers appreciate the film’s originality, well-drawn quirky characters, and especially Sweeney’s performance, with many likening it to the stylistic influence of Quentin Tarantino and the Coen brothers. This film appears to reflect Sweeney’s growing willingness to take creative risks, which are beginning to yield rewarding results.
As a character-driven, stylistic crime thriller, Americana may signal a turning point in Sweeney’s trajectory, potentially broadening her appeal and opening doors for future diverse and challenging roles. This momentum aligns with her continuing efforts to establish herself as a versatile lead across multiple genres.
