Sydney Sweeney’s newest movie faces a troublesome opening weekend as field workplace numbers fall wanting expectations. The boxing biopic Christy, which stars the 28-year-old actress as pioneering feminine fighter Christy Martin, earned simply $600,000 on its opening day throughout 2,814 theaters, positioning it for a projected three-day debut of round $1.25 million. The movie opened at quantity 11 on the home field workplace, behind Tron: Ares, marking the third consecutive 2025 launch for Sweeney to debut with a three-day whole under $2 million.
Sydney Sweeney Boxing Biopic Bombs at the Box Office
The boxing drama tells the story of Christy Martin, who became America’s most successful female boxer in the 1990s after signing with promoter Don King and appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1996 following her memorable fight against Deirdre Gogarty. In November 2010, Martin’s husband and trainer James V. Martin stabbed her multiple times and shot her in the chest during a violent attack at their Florida home. She survived by escaping and flagging down a passing motorist. James Martin was later convicted of attempted second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Directed by David Michôd and co-written with Mirrah Foulkes, the film has received mixed reviews, earning a 66% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 60 on Metacritic. Critics have praised Sweeney’s physical transformation and commitment to the role but found the overall film formulaic and tonally uneven.
Sydney Sweeney’s Ongoing Controversy
The film’s release comes during a particularly difficult period for Sweeney, who has been at the center of a cultural controversy surrounding her American Eagle jeans campaign. The advertisements, which featured the tagline “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” sparked backlash after critics interpreted the wordplay between “jeans” and “genes” as having eugenic implications. The marketing campaign drew such widespread consideration that President Donald Trump publicly praised Sweeney and recognized her as a Republican determine, although she has by no means publicly commented on her political affiliation.
In her first feedback concerning the controversy, Sweeney informed GQ journal she merely did “a jean advert” and that the sudden response “didn’t have an effect on me a technique or one other.”
When immediately requested concerning the particular criticism that “white individuals shouldn’t joke about genetic superiority” within the present political local weather, Sweeney deflected with: “I believe that when I’ve a problem that I wish to discuss, individuals will hear.” She additionally added, “The advert spoke for itself.”
Christy continues a disappointing box office streak for Sweeney in 2025. Her earlier movies Eden, directed by Ron Howard, opened to simply $1.05 million throughout 664 theaters, whereas the neo-Western Americana earned roughly $500,000 from 1,100 theaters.
Sweeney’s American Eagle marketing campaign and different latest controversies have reportedly created pressure behind the scenes at HBO, with unconfirmed studies suggesting that co-star Zendaya is hesitant to take part in joint promotional actions for Euphoria’s upcoming third season. In accordance with self-proclaimed popular culture investigator Sloan Hooks, Zendaya has reached A-list standing following the present’s second season and doesn’t wish to see her profession trajectory affected by the controversies surrounding Sweeney.
The alleged rift stems from a number of incidents: the American Eagle denims advert controversy, a 2022 birthday celebration for Sweeney’s mom the place attendees wore “Make Sixty Nice Once more” hats, rumors of Sweeney flirting with actor Tom Holland (Zendaya’s accomplice), and her registered Republican standing conflicting with Euphoria’s illustration of various and LGBTQ+ characters.
The film‘s poor business efficiency highlights ongoing challenges for adult-oriented dramas on the field workplace this fall. Christy joins a rising checklist of star-driven impartial movies which have did not translate crucial consideration and competition buzz into significant field workplace returns within the present theatrical panorama.
