Tony Tost’s Americana, starring Sydney Sweeney, Paul Walter Hauser, Halsey, and Eric Dane, amongst others, has seen stunning field workplace numbers, however the director stands by his film. Sweeney’s new crime thriller additionally misplaced its good Rotten Tomatoes rating forward of its launch, and now stands at a essential approval score of 68%.
The darkish comedy Western revolves round a bunch of individuals all preventing to accumulate a Native American artifact, and opened in additional than 1,000 film theaters — a restricted launch in comparison with at present’s largest blockbusters. Nevertheless, individuals have been nonetheless shocked when Americana introduced in a record-low $500,000 domestically from its opening weekend.
Most stories have famous that Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle Denims advert controversy doubtless had some impact on the film’s efficiency, as she is undoubtedly the film’s headliner. Director Tost alluded to however did not straight tackle this when he mentioned by way of X that Americana was “gobbled up by the zeitgeist.” Take a look at Tost’s put up under:
Tost additionally shared, by way of X, a screenshot of a Letterboxd put up from 2022, commenting that he all the time anticipated Americana to be a “hidden gem” film. Tost argues that Americana’s field workplace is because of it not being the fitting second or the proper of film, and Lionsgate will nonetheless revenue from it via different distribution offers.
Paul Walter Hauser as Lefty Ledbetter displaying Sydney Sweeney as Penny Jo Poplin the right way to play darts in Americana
Tost sounds pretty assured in Americana’s future cult basic standing, and it may discover its footing on streaming, the place individuals can readily watch it for “free” out of straightforward curiosity. Even in the course of the low season for main theatrical releases, the film has discovered itself with some sturdy competitors from titles like Weapons and even No person 2.
Lionsgate was by no means relying on this to be an enormous earner, and the zeitgeist’s consideration may very well be elsewhere with the explosion of unbelievable horror. One of many stars, Paul Walter Hauser, mentioned in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that he additionally expects Americana to make a comeback someplace down the road:
[…] it is nonetheless going to be one in all these motion pictures that may have long-term success. I do know persons are going to come upon it, and it will turn into some 13-year-old’s favourite film in three years, and it will be like what Reservoir Canines was for me at their age.
Our Take On The Director’s Clarification Of Americana’s Field Workplace Flop
Sydney Sweeney along with her head titled to the aspect as she appears to be like at somebody in Americana
Lionsgate /Courtesy Everett Assortment
I would not be so certain that this film will ever escape its unfavourable first impression. Americana’s finances was $9 million (per Deadline), however Lionsgate solely paid $3 million for it; the corporate that really made it, Bron Studios, filed for chapter in 2023. By the standard metrics {that a} film must make 2.5 occasions its finances to interrupt even, Americana is actually a flop.
I believe it may get a whole lot of consideration on streaming, however this may in all probability be short-lived. Americana actually cementing itself as a “hidden gem” will take much more real high quality, or so-bad-its-good-ness, to turn into a staple of popular culture. On the finish of the day, I severely doubt it has what it takes to reside as much as the standing of Reservoir Canines.
Americana
Launch Date
August 15, 2025
Runtime
110 minutes
Director
Tony Tost
