Sydney Sweeney box office struggles continue as her latest sports drama, Christy, recorded a disappointing opening weekend, marking her fourth consecutive commercial disappointment even as her performance garners Oscar attention. The film’s modest earnings highlight challenges for Sweeney despite critical acknowledgments, with the release following the underwhelming run of The Smashing Machine starring Dwayne Johnson.
Multiple Box Office Setbacks for Sweeney
Christy, featuring Sydney Sweeney in the lead as boxer Christy Martin, managed to collect $1.6 million during its first three days in theaters. This result comes only weeks after The Smashing Machine, a similarly themed sports film starring Dwayne Johnson, struggled with $11 million in domestic total on a budget of $50 million, making it Johnson’s largest box office failure. The timing of Christy’s theatrical debut coincided with The Smashing Machine’s availability on PVOD home platforms, complicating the competitive landscape for both movies.
Despite being directed by David Michôd, who has previously collaborated with notable actors such as Brad Pitt, Timothée Chalamet, and Robert Pattinson, Christy has not managed to stand out at the box office. The movie is currently rated at 66% on Rotten Tomatoes. According to the aggregated critics’ consensus,
While Christy falters in tonal cohesion and emotional impact, it remains a compelling showcase for Sydney Sweeney’s transformative performance, grounding a mythic genre in raw, personal storytelling.
A String of Underperforming Projects
Sweeney’s ongoing box office struggles are not limited to Christy. Previously, she appeared as a supporting cast member in Madame Web, which faced negative reviews and collected close to $100 million on an $80 million budget. Her next release, the dark comedy Americana, performed even worse, grossing less than $1 million after a long delay. More recently, she joined the ensemble cast of Ron Howard’s Eden, which only managed to achieve about 5% of its reported $50 million investment. Ross Bonaime of Collider observed in his review that Christy is a “fairly rote boxing film,” but commended Sweeney’s acting, stating that the movie
allows Sweeney to show what she’s got, and it’s a fantastic role for the actress, one that will likely silence the doubters.
– Ross Bonaime, Collider
Cast and Creative Team
Christy is headlined by Sydney Sweeney, who portrays Christy Martin, with Ben Foster taking on the role of James V. Martin. The movie is directed by David Michôd, linking the production to a filmmaker known for working with major names like Brad Pitt and Timothée Chalamet. The box office numbers reflect a challenging environment even for films with talent in front of and behind the camera.
Assessing the Outcome and Next Steps
With Oscar buzz surrounding her role, Sweeney’s opportunity to shift her commercial fortunes relied heavily on Christy’s performance. However, early figures suggest the film may struggle to reach the $10 million domestic mark. These recurring commercial challenges could influence both upcoming casting decisions and the strategies adopted by production studios when working with emerging actors and genre films. The coming weeks will determine if critical praise can translate into sustained interest from audiences or if Sweeney’s box office journey will remain unsettled for now.
