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Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Rocky’ Replacement Is a Knockout on HBO Max
Sydney Sweeney's boxing drama "Christy" flopped at cinemas late last year but has found a much larger audience since arriving on HBO Max, climbing into the global top 10 in more than 25 countries. The film's streaming success marks a notable turnaround for Sweeney, whose 2026 has been dominated by higher-profile projects, and it stands in contrast to the theatrical fortunes of both this film and her other 2025 releases.
Christy was made for just $15 million but earned only $2.3 million at the worldwide box office after its November 2025 release, making it one of the biggest financial disappointments of Sweeney's career. It followed a far bigger success earlier that year, the erotic thriller "The Housemaid" with Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar, which grossed over $400 million against a $35 million budget and is now getting a sequel, "The Housemaid's Secret," with Sweeney returning and Kirsten Dunst newly cast. Sweeney also starred in the rom-com hit "Anyone But You" and has reprised her role as Cassie in Euphoria's third and final season; Christy co-stars Coleman Pedigo and Merritt Weaver.
In short
- Sweeney's flop film "Christy" is now a top-10 hit on HBO Max
- Christy made just $2.3m at the box office on a $15m budget
- Contrasts with Sweeney's $400m hit "The Housemaid," now getting a sequel
Explained simply
Sydney Sweeney is an American actress best known for her role as Cassie in the HBO drama series Euphoria. Christy is a boxing drama film she starred in that was marketed as comparable to the classic sports film Rocky.
When Christy was released in cinemas in November 2025, it earned only $2.3 million at the worldwide box office despite a $15 million budget. This made it one of the worst commercial performances of Sweeney's career.
In contrast, Sweeney's other major film release in 2025, the erotic thriller The Housemaid with Amanda Seyfried, was a major commercial success. It earned over $400 million worldwide.
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