Sydney Sweeney's Christy fizzled into existence with a devastating $600,000 haul from 2,184 screens, but debuted with a somber #10. Was this the slow burn queen's moment? Not even close to a million, in fact. The film was billed as a crucial test of Sweeney's abilities, showcasing her talents. However, it seems audiences had other priorities.
In the other corner, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's The Smashing Machine dominated the box office with a thunderous $2.7 million opening day, fully four times what Christy managed. That makes Sweeney's box office effort a staggering 78 percent lower. Is it star power? Budget? Or did audiences prefer to watch The Rock smash skulls than Sydney Sweeney shaking off verbal abuse and uppercuts? Regardless, The Smashing Machine swung hard, while Christy barely raised an eyebrow.
Critics are obsessed, but viewers were no-shows. The film traces Martin's breathtaking ascension to fame in the 1990s as she becomes a household name in America's female boxers and her nightmarish escape in 2010 when her trainer-turned-husband tries to unleash a fatal attack upon her. It's emotive, explosive, and trailer-tempting stuff.
"Maybe the marketing was bad. Maybe people just aren't ready to see euphoria sweetheart's face smeared with blood instead of rhinestones. Or perhaps it's because 'it looks like a commercial for Gatorade with trauma,' as one hysterical tweeter pointed out."
Despite the lackluster initial release, Christy remains hopeful like a boxer who refuses to throw in the towel. Rumors swirl that the awards season could inject some life into this film, with Sweeney potentially receiving nominations for putting her body and soul into this project. Meanwhile, The Smashing Machine hopes film critics will be willing to forgive its commercial weaknesses, as sources indicate it's already counting its losses. Christy has something smashing - pre-Oscar buzz for its star. With a significant win at the Academy Awards, Smashing could go the Hurt Locker route.
Slow burn queen? We'll see. Christy may ultimately go down in history as that Hollywood conundrum: the film that proves Sydney Sweeney is the real deal, but can't quite open a film that was greenlit exclusively because she's in it yet. She's conquered streaming. She's conquered fashion. She's turned interviews into viral sensations. But box office supremacy? That's a whole other ball game.
Nevertheless, Christy currently holds a beautifully messy status within Hollywood itself, representing a 'be the moment' and 'flop' position simultaneously. Christy, featuring actors Sydney Sweeney, Ben Foster, Merritt Wever, and Katy O’Brien, was theatrically released on 7th November through Black Bear Pictures.
