The film's disappointing opening has inspired debate over whether it could be categorized as a box office bomb. Halsey encourages people to see Americana film a

The film's disappointing opening has inspired debate over whether it could be categorized as a box office bomb.

Halsey encourages people to see Americana film amid Sydney Sweeney 'denim bulls---'

The film's disappointing opening has inspired debate over whether it could be categorized as a box office bomb.

By Mekishana Pierre

Published on August 25, 2025 01:08PM EDT

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Sydney Sweeney and Halsey attend a screening of 'Americana' on Aug. 3, 2025. Credit:

Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

Halsey is urging moviegoers to give her film *Americana* a chance despite costar Sydney Sweeney's many controversies.

On Thursday, the singer took to her Instagram Stories to defend the recently released modern-day western after its disappointing box office opening. The film opened to an estimated $500,000, inspiring much debate over whether it could be categorized as a box office bomb.

"You should go see this movie. because [director] @tonytost made an exceptional film, in honor of a genre he knows intimately," the 30-year-old wrote in a since-deleted post shared by fans on social media alongside a promo poster of the crime thriller.

She added, "Because his work and his vision are greater than the 24 hr gossip tabloid denim bulls---. He's an incredible artist who made a great film with a group of hardworking, talented people. If you love cinema, then you should know that cinema comes first. This is cinema."

Billed as a modern-day western, *Americana* concerns an eclectic group of characters, including an aspiring country singer waitress (Sweeney) and a military veteran (Paul Walter Hauser), who clash over the possession of a rare Native American artifact while in the crosshairs of criminals working on behalf of an antiquities dealer.

The film also stars Eric Dane, Zahn McClarnon, and Simon Rex.

Paul Walter Hauser, Sydney Sweeney, and Halsey in 'Americana'.

Courtesy of Lionsgate

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After the singer seemingly received feedback for her post, she followed up with another Instagram Story, expanding on her previous slide.

"I do agree that our words are important in this climate," she wrote alongside a closeup selfie. "I don't, however, think that it's fair for the news cycle to predatorily rip a hardworking director and his hardworking crew for their film that is completely separate-from and unrelated-to a (pretty dumb) advertising take."

She tacked on, "If it's not clear who the actual people I'm standing up for are, I'm sorry look closer."

In a since-deleted X post shared by *Daily Mail*, Halsey responded to fans' comments, writing, "I'm not upset the film's release is being hurt by the timing. I am upset that bunch of non celebrity people involved in this film are being bullied by the media."

She added, "I have said everything I am permitted to say about my feelings on the ad. And if you're a fan of mine and think I 'support eugenics' then idk what to say idk why you're a fan then tbh..."

Sydney Sweeney is a Dolly Parton wannabe in 'Americana'

Donald Trump is now a fan of Sydney Sweeney's 'fantastic' American Eagle ads after learning she's a registered Republican

*Americana *director Tony Tost has also spoken out in defense of his directorial feature debut, lamenting that his film being "gobbled up by the zeitgeist" on social media, but reminaing hopeful that the tides will change.

"One of the great things about movies is that they outlive the zeitgeist into which they were released," the director wrote on X on Aug. 22. "As someone whose first film sorta got gobbled up by the zeitgeist, I'll be curious to see how it'll stand up after this moment is over. Hopefully fairly well!"

In a separate post, Tost added that even during the early post-production process, "I knew I was creating a 'hidden gem' type movie (as opposed to a blockbuster, or auteur masterpiece)."**

Sweeney, who broke out for her role as Cassie Howard on HBO's *Euphoria*, first courted controversy in 2023 after photos emerged from her mother's 60th birthday featuring red MAGA-inspired hats. "There were so many misinterpretations," she said of the photos that year. "The people in the pictures weren't even my family."

That was followed by a controversial partnership with Dr. Squatch involving limited-edition soap marketed as Sweeney's bath water earlier this year, then the much more contentious American Eagle ad campaign released last month, which played up the homophone "good jeans" and "good genes."

Sydney Sweeney for American Eagle.

Since the campaign dropped on July 23, conservative public figures such as Megyn Kelly, JD Vance, and even President Donald Trump have voiced their thoughts on the campaign, mocking those against the seemingly innocuous ad and giving their support for Sweeney.

On the other end of the spectrum, content creators flocked to TikTok to share their thoughts on the brand's messaging, calling American Eagle out for having a white, blonde, blue-eyed woman talking about "good genes," and seemingly promoting eugenics during a particularly divisive era.

Stars like Doja Cat and Lizzo have enjoyed poking fun and parodying the ads. Sweeney herself has yet to address the campaign or the backlash it sparked.**

Original Article on Source

Source: "AOL Movies"

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