Sydney Sweeney’s Americana Opens Soft at Box Office but Lionsgate Says It’s Part of the Plan

 Los Angeles, August 2025 — Sydney Sweeney’s latest film, Americana, has sparked conversation after a lukewarm opening weekend at the global box office. While many labeled it a flop, industry insiders argue the numbers reflect a calculated strategy by Lionsgate rather than a failure.

According to Cinemablend, the crime-comedy western grossed around $500,000 in its first weekend across more than 1,100 theaters, averaging less than $450 per screen (cinemablend.com). Still, Lionsgate acquired the film for just $3 million and kept marketing costs low. Roughly 60% of its budget has already been recouped through international pre-sales, meaning theatrical box office was never expected to be its primary revenue stream.

Instead, the studio plans to rely on premium video-on-demand and its streaming partner Starz to drive profitability, making the limited theater run more of a visibility boost than a revenue driver.

Director Tony Tost defended the movie in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, calling it a “hidden gem” that was unfairly overshadowed by external controversies tied to Sweeney’s fashion campaign (ew.com). Co-star Halsey also weighed in, blasting critics and fans who boycotted the project, describing the backlash as “denim bulls-t” in comments reported by Page Six (pagesix.com).

Americana follows Sweeney’s character Penny Jo Poplin, a small-town waitress who becomes tangled in a dangerous scheme involving a stolen Native American artifact. The film also stars Paul Walter Hauser and Halsey.

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Where to Watch

The movie is currently screening in select theaters but will soon head to premium VOD platforms before landing on Starz as part of Lionsgate’s release plan.

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Bottom Line

Although Americana may look like a misfire on paper, its indie financial structure means it’s more likely to turn a quiet profit in the long run. And with Sweeney’s star power still strong, the film could find new life once it reaches streaming audiences.