<\/p>\n
Sydney Sweeney\u2019s new niche film \u201cAmericana\u201d came in 16th at the box office in its opening weekend after the controversy surrounding her American Eagle ad campaign.<\/p>\n
The film, shown in just 1,123 theaters domestically, also starred Paul Walter Hauser and Halsey. Written and directed by Tony Tost, \u201cAmericana\u201d is estimated to have brought in an underwhelming\u00a0$500,000 during its opening weekend, according to The Hollywood Reporter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Related: John Oliver Reaches Brutal Conclusion Over Trump’s ‘Tough Guy’ Takeover Of DC<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n By contrast, \u201cWeapons\u201d earned $25 million playing in 3,450 theaters domestically and $18.4 million internationally in its second weekend (after\u00a0earning<\/a>\u00a0$43.5 million domestically and $71.8 million globally when it opened the prior weekend). \u201cFreakier Friday,\u201d which also opened the prior weekend, earned $14.5 million domestically in 3,975 theaters and $4.9 internationally this past weekend.<\/p>\n Related: Jennifer Aniston Makes Bold Statement About Elon Musk\u2019s Sex Appeal<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Despite the numbers, the Lionsgate indie film was apparently catering toward a niche group and will still be profitable for its Lionsgate Premiere Releasing label, Deadline reported<\/a>. The label<\/a> is home to the company\u2019s \u201cspecialty\u201d films that cater to the \u201cnext generation.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s not completely clear whether Sweeney\u2019s ad affected the film\u2019s success.<\/p>\n The crime and thriller Western made its premiere in 2023 at SXSW, but wasn\u2019t released in theaters until Friday. The film\u2019s theater release comes about two years after its original financier,\u00a0Bron Studios, went bankrupt, according to Deadline<\/a>.<\/p>\n The film also arrived on the heels of Sweeney\u2019s controversial ad campaign that boasted about her \u201cgreat jeans,\u201d a play on words that referenced her genes. Critics of the ad called it racist and said it was promoting eugenics.<\/p>\n \u201cGenes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color,\u201d Sweeney\u00a0says in the ad<\/a>. \u201cMy jeans are blue.\u201d<\/p>\n A voice-over then says: \u201cSydney Sweeney has great jeans.\u201d<\/p>\n The Hollywood Reporter<\/a> called it \u201cthe biggest controversy of her career.\u201d Yet, the White House defended the ad and President Donald Trump praised the \u201cEuphoria\u201d star for it.<\/p>\n White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said the criticism<\/a> of the ad was indicative of \u201ccancel culture run amok.\u201d<\/p>\n