Sydney Sweeney has drawn significant criticism for her German accent in the recently released film, Eden. The 28-year-old actress plays Margret Wittmer, a real-life German settler who moved to the Galápagos Islands in the 1930s. The film, directed by Ron Howard, tells the story of European settlers striving to survive on a remote island, facing challenges like greed and betrayal.
Eden premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last September, then hit theaters in August, before becoming available for streaming on October 24. While the film gained attention for its strong cast including Ana de Armas, Jude Law, Vanessa Kirby, Felix Kammerer, and Daniel Brühl, audiences notably disapproved of Sweeney’s portrayal of Wittmer’s German accent.
Context and Reception of the Film’s German-Speaking Characters
Margret Wittmer and her husband relocated to the Galápagos hoping to start fresh, an experience documented in Wittmer’s 1959 biography, Floreana: A Woman’s Pilgrimage to the Galápagos. Eden explores the settlers’ hardships on the island through a tense historical survival narrative. Despite the film’s dramatic setting and strong ensemble, viewers especially focused on how Sweeney’s German accent failed to convincingly capture the character’s heritage.
Fans expressed their dissatisfaction across social media platforms. One viewer remarked,
“My favorite part of this movie was when Sydney Sweeney stopped trying to do a German accent and just started doing a British one by the end of the movie.”
Another critiqued the casting choice, stating,
“Casting Sydney Sweeney in a movie that takes place in the 1920s and making her do her lines in the worst German-American accent ever attempted has to be one of the oddest choices in the history of cinema.”
Criticism extended to her co-stars as well. A fan observed,
“Is it Eden? The one where Sydney Sweeney, Ana de Armas & Vanessa Kirby compete to see who can do the worst ‘ZE GERMANS’ accent?”
Additionally, one user succinctly commented,
“Sydney Sweeney was struggling with that accent, Jesus….”
Upcoming Projects and Overall Impact
Despite the backlash surrounding her German accent, Sydney Sweeney is preparing for her next role in the upcoming sports biopic Christy, set for release on November 7. The negative response to her performance in Eden highlights the audience’s heightened expectations for authenticity in historical portrayals, especially when accents play a key role in character believability.
As Eden continues to generate discussion, the controversy around Sweeney’s accent may influence future casting and coaching decisions for films requiring specific linguistic skills. The film’s reception also underscores the challenges actors face when depicting characters with distinct cultural and historical backgrounds.
my favorite part of this movie was when sydney sweeney stopped trying to do a german accent and just started doing a british one by the end of the movie https://t.co/AZ4VwPHLvw
— Kaiman (@Somnomnom01) November 1, 2025
Casting Sydney Sweeney in a movie that takes place in the 1920s and making her do her lines in the worst German-American accent ever attempted has to be one of the oddest choices in the history of cinema
— Jake Golen (blue check mark) (@jakegolen) August 23, 2025
Is it Eden? The one where Sydney Sweeney, Ana de Armas & Vanessa Kirby compete to see who can do the worst 'ZE GERMANS' accent? pic.twitter.com/DeYL1fp762
— Robby Richmond (@Robbyrichmond) November 1, 2025
Sydney Sweeney was struggling with that accent Jesus….
— gabeeee🩶🍂 (@gabewtwt) October 31, 2025
