Sydney Sweeney’s Overlooked New R-Rated Western Thriller Movie Redeemed As No. 1 On Streaming In The U.S.

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Sydney Sweeney recently had a hit movie in theaters with The Housemaid. Now, another one of her films, a crime drama set in the Wild West that didn’t do well in theaters back in August, is becoming popular on streaming services.

The thriller Americana didn’t perform well in theaters earlier in 2025, earning around $500,000. However, it’s recently become very popular on Starz, reaching the #1 spot on the streamer’s list of top 10 U.S. movies as of January 9, 2026, as more people discover it at home.

Filmed in New Mexico in 2022, Americana premiered at SXSW in 2023 to positive reviews, earning a 65% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Although Lionsgate acquired the rights to distribute the film, its release was postponed for two years.

Despite starring Todd Sweeney and receiving positive reviews from a few critics, the movie Americana had a disappointing opening weekend, reaching only #16 in the box office charts. This was one of the worst debuts for a film released in over 1,000 theaters. Ultimately, the movie earned only about $500,000, far short of its $9 million production budget.

As a huge movie fan, I was really surprised when Americana didn’t do well in theaters. A lot of people immediately pointed fingers at the controversy surrounding Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad, suggesting audiences were punishing the film because of it. The director, Tony Tost, even hinted in a later post that the drama around the ad had unfortunately overshadowed his movie, which was a shame.

Tost noted that movies often endure beyond the trends of their time. He added that he’s eager to see how his first film will be remembered once the current moment passes, expressing hope that it will hold up well.

I was so thrilled to see Halsey, my co-star in Americana, publicly support the film! She shared on Instagram that everyone should go see it because [Tost] really created something special – a fantastic movie made by someone who truly understands and loves the genre. She even said his talent and unique vision are far more important than any silly, fleeting drama you might read about elsewhere.

Paul Walter Hauser, the actor from Americana, is hopeful the film will eventually connect with viewers. He told The Hollywood Reporter that he believes it will become a favorite for a new generation, much like Reservoir Dogs was for him when he was a teenager.

Despite some criticism over her recent jeans advertisement, Sydney Sweeney’s movie The Housemaid was a huge success, earning $139 million at the box office. Because of this success, a sequel is now in the works.

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2026-01-10 00:09