Hollywood actress Sydney Sweeney is facing criticism after her recent American Eagle ad campaign drew backlash, overshadowing the release of her latest film, Americana.
The controversial advertisement, which featured a wordplay on “gene” and “jeans,” was condemned by some critics for allegedly promoting racism and eugenics.
The negative press has carried over into the release of Americana, a crime drama starring Sweeney alongside Halsey and Paul Walter Hauser. The film, which first premiered at South by Southwest in 2023, finally hit theatres nationwide on Friday. Despite its festival buzz and a cast filled with recognizable names, Americana has only managed to earn a 68 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, with reviews describing it as underwhelming.
Directed and written by Tony Tost, the movie tells the story of a rare Lakota ghost shirt appearing on the black market in a small South Dakota town. The plot follows a group of outsiders whose lives violently collide over the artifact, offering a mix of crime, culture, and conflict.
Ahead of the release, Sydney took to Instagram to promote the film, sharing behind-the-scenes photos from the shoot. She captioned her post, “A few years ago I filmed this little movie with some friends and now you get to meet Penny Jo.”
While Americana struggles to find its footing, Sweeney has more projects lined up for 2025. Her upcoming film Christy, a biopic about professional boxer Christy Martin, is set to premiere on September 5 at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The movie does not yet have a distributor, and its fate may depend on how buyers believe audiences will respond to Sweeney’s performance.
The Emmy-nominated actress will also test her box office appeal again when her psychological thriller The Housemaid opens in theatres on December 25.
As Sydney Sweeney navigates backlash from the ad controversy and mixed reviews for Americana, the coming months will be crucial in determining whether her rising Hollywood star can withstand the challenges.