Who Cares About Sydney Sweeney's Bombs?

(editorialized for those who can't watch)

ICYMI, Sydney Sweeney's latest movie, 'Christy', is currently bombing at the box office. It's an indie movie about the tragic life of real-world boxer, Christy Martin. I haven't seen it yet but, by most accounts, Sweeney's performance is really good but the overall movie is just average at best. This was also not her first bomb of the year.  

'Christy' made $1.3m in 2,000 screens. 'Americana' made $500k in 1,100 and 'Eden' made $2.5 in 660. So now, people who aren't really interested in movies are using these box office numbers to attack Sweeney becuase of this pseudo-political controversy is is stuck in. My question is this: Who the hell cares? 

Firstly, if you don't work for a studio, pocket watching a movie (especially an indie) is crazy. The point of movies, and art in general, is not only to make money. Basically every director you know and love has echoed that sentiment over the years, Scorsese included.

Secondly, there is a fundamental misunderstanding of box office economics going on here. Indie movies like 'Christy' and 'Americana' are not built to bring down the house. And 'Christy' is a pretty niche movie from a money-making perspective. Think of every way it's narrowed down:

1. It's a sports biopic. (not typically money makers) 
2. It's about a female boxer that, all due respect, people do not know. 
3. Outside of Sweeney, this is not a stacked cast no pun intended. I LOVE Ben Foster but he is like, 10 tiers below Sweeney from a noterietay standpoint 

This should never have been released in 2,000 screens and I only assume it was expanded after release dates of other movies were shifted around, freeing up this weekend for a lot of theaters. Putting it up against an establish IP like 'Predator: Badlands', was also a losing strategy. 

Thirdly, like Robbie Fox mentioned in his linked blog, this movie had zero to no marketing. The first time people are hearing about it is learning that it was a bomb. Some of that might be ineffective marketing but, again, this was a small production. Not some MCU or establish IP entry with $100m earmarked just for advertising on Clash of CLans. 

Lastly, mocking young actors for indies underperforming is lame. We should always want rising stars taking chances on small projects! If a star like Sweeney doesn't sign up for a movie like this, it never gets financed. Without Indies, what do you get? Grey. Nothing but grey. The only thing that would ever get green lit is established IPs. More remakes, sequels, prequels, marvels etc.