Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · August 25, 2025 · Entertainment

Sydney Sweeney's Box Office Blunder: Jeans Ad Scandal Impact?

Sydney Sweeney, 27, has suffered back-to-back box office flops with two of her new films, Eden and Americana, following her jeans scandal; seen at Americana screening in August

SYDNEY SWEENEY'S BOX OFFICE BOMB: Actress Suffers Back-to-Back Flops with Eden and Americana, Amid American Eagle Ad Scandal

The Hollywood spotlight is shining brightly on 27-year-old actress Sydney Sweeney, but unfortunately, it's not for her impressive acting chops or her latest film releases. The starlet has just experienced two major box office flops in a row - the survival thriller Eden and the crime comedy Americana - leaving fans and critics alike scratching their heads.

First, let's talk about Eden, the $50 million-budgeted survival thriller that tanked at the box office with a dismal $1 million opening weekend. The movie, directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Ron Howard, boasts an all-star cast, including Ana de Armas and Jude Law. However, it seems the film's star-studded ensemble couldn't save it from its lackluster reviews, which currently stand at a mediocre 55% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The latest film starring the actress ¿ Ron Howard's $50 million-budget survival thriller Eden ¿ debuted in 664 theaters this weekend and earned just $1 million; Seen in a still from Eden

But what about Americana, Sydney's other recent film? Well, that one made an even more embarrassing showing, grossing only $500,000 on its opening weekend against a whopping $9 million budget. The crime comedy, directed by Tony Tost and starring Halsey alongside Sydney, was met with mixed reviews from critics but somehow managed to fly under the radar until now.

So, what's going on here? Is it the writing, the direction, or something more sinister at play? We think it might be a combination of both. Sydney's latest film, Americana, premiered at SXSW in March 2023, four months before its production company Bron Studios filed for bankruptcy. That's right; this movie has been stuck in limbo for over two years, and it shows.

But, you know what they say: "there's no such thing as bad publicity." Sydney's latest controversy began with her American Eagle ad, which sparked a social media meltdown after critics accused the ad of being racist and promoting eugenics. The ad, which features Sydney buttoning up a pair of denim jeans while making a cheeky comment about her "good genes," was met with outrage from some corners of the internet.

Sydney had a dramatic make-under for her role as the real-life German settler Margret Wittmer in the movie, which also stars Ana de Armas and Jude Law

However, according to American Eagle insiders, about 70% of respondents to independent polling had a positive reaction to the promo. That's right; despite the backlash, most people seem to love Sydney's ad - and it's clear why. The actress is known for her charming on-screen presence, stunning looks, and infectious personality.

But what about the toll all this drama has taken on Sydney? In an exclusive interview with The Sun, the star opened up about the "disrespectful" messages she receives on social media, saying that her inbox is "not a safe space." She revealed that dealing with trolls has left her feeling anxious and unsure of how to navigate the world of online criticism.

"It's a tricky one because I understand that I am playing a character, that they feel close to me where I don’t know this person. So, like, they might have a relationship with me that I don’t have with them," Sydney confessed.

The film's disappointing box office performance may be partly due to its lackluster reviews, as it currently holds a 55% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, despite it's star studded-cast

Sydney is no stranger to controversy, but it seems her latest box office flops have left fans wondering if she's lost her touch. With several projects in the works, including the Reddit-based thriller I Pretended to Be a Missing Girl for Warner Bros and Jon M. Chu's sci-fi flick Split Fiction for Amazon MGM Studios, will Sydney be able to bounce back from these setbacks?

One thing's for sure: with her beauty, talent, and charisma, this starlet is far from done yet. And who knows? Maybe Eden and Americana were just a couple of bumps in the road on her journey to stardom.

Sydney Sweeney's Filmography:

Sydney pictured who her co-stars Daniel Bruehl, Ana, and Jude at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival

  • Eden (2023) - survival thriller
  • Americana (2023) - crime comedy
  • I Pretended to Be a Missing Girl (2024) - Reddit-based thriller for Warner Bros
  • Split Fiction (TBA) - sci-fi flick for Amazon MGM Studios

Sydney Sweeney's Projects in the Works:

  • Scandalous! (TBA) - feature directorial debut by Colman Domingo, starring Sydney as Kim Novak and Sammy Davis Jr.
  • OutRun (2024) - video game adaptation for Universal, produced by Michael Bay
  • The Untitled Christy Martin Biopic (TBA) - biographical drama directed by David Michôd

It comes after her other film, Americana, made only $500,000 its opening weekend against a $9 million budget, the weekend prior; Seen in a still from Americana

Sydney Sweeney's Endorsement Deals:

  • Samsung Mobile USA
  • Dr. Squatch
  • LANEIGE US
  • Bai
  • HEYDUDE

While the movie emerged as a damp squib at the box office, Sydney's co-star Halsey urged viewers to see it in spite of the '24hr gossip tabloid denim bulls***'; The two seen in a still

The box office failures come on the heels of Sydney's viral ad for American Eagle, which provoked a social media meltdown as frenzied critics compared it to 'Nazi propaganda'