Sydney Sweeney isn’t letting disappointing box office numbers shake her confidence.
The Euphoria and White Lotus star addressed the underwhelming opening weekend for her latest film Christy, an R-rated boxing biopic about trailblazing fighter Christy Martin, which earned just $1.3 million across more than 2,000 U.S. theaters—a historically low debut for such a wide release.
Taking to Instagram, Sweeney shared a heartfelt message about the film’s deeper purpose: “We don’t create art solely for financial gain; we do it to make an impact. Christy has been the most influential project of my career.”
Directed by David Michôd and co-starring Ben Foster, Merritt Wever, and Katy O’Brian, the film follows Martin’s rise from small-town West Virginia to boxing stardom in the 1990s—while also confronting the domestic abuse she suffered at the hands of her trainer-turned-husband.
Critics have praised Sweeney’s powerful performance, though some reviews described the film itself as formulaic. The Guardian’s Benjamin Lee called it “a slog that fails to cement Sweeney’s status as a rising star.”
Still, Sweeney is proud of the film’s social impact. “This story represents survival, courage, and hope,” she wrote. “If Christy empowers even one woman to take her first step toward safety, we’ve achieved our goal.”
The actress also highlighted her campaign’s efforts to raise awareness about domestic violence, noting that the film’s message “could save lives.”
Despite Christy’s commercial stumble, Sweeney’s star remains bright. Her romantic comedy Anyone But You grossed $220 million globally, and she’s set to appear next in Paul Feig’s psychological thriller The Housemaid, co-starring Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar, premiering December 19.
In an era where adult dramas continue to struggle at the box office, Sweeney’s response is a reminder that not all victories are measured in ticket sales.
