Actress Sydney Sweeney has publicly defended her latest film project after it dramatically underperformed at the box office during its opening weekend.
Box Office Disappointment
The 28-year-old Euphoria star took to Instagram on Monday to share an impassioned response following news that Christy had grossed just $1.3 million after being released across 2,011 theatres. According to industry publication The Wrap, the film ranked among the top 12 worst-performing movies ever shown on more than 2,000 screens, averaging a meagre $649 per venue.
Sweeney's post came during a challenging period for the actress, who has recently found herself at the centre of multiple media storms. These include controversy over her political views as a registered Republican voter, the end of her seven-year relationship, and what appeared to be cold treatment from peers at A-list events.
Sweeney's Powerful Response
In her emotional Instagram statement, Sweeney wrote: "I am so deeply proud of this movie. Proud of the film David made. Proud of the story we told... Proud to represent someone as strong and resilient as Christy Martin. This experience has been one of the greatest honours of my life."
The actress emphasised that the film's value extended beyond financial metrics, stating: "This film stands for survival, courage, and hope. Through our campaigns, we've helped raise awareness for so many affected by domestic violence. We all signed on to this film with the belief that Christy's story could save lives."
Sweeney concluded with a powerful defence of artistic purpose over commercial success: "We don't always just make art for numbers, we make it for impact. And Christy has been the most impactful project of my life."
Physical Transformation and Injuries
In promotional interviews last Friday, Sweeney revealed the extensive physical commitment she made to portraying Hall of Fame boxer Christy Martin. The Emmy-nominated actress told The Sun that she insisted on realism in fight scenes, declaring to her co-stars: "I want you to hit me. And I want you to hit me hard. And can I hit you?"
The Washington-born star confirmed that all fight sequences were genuine, resulting in actual injuries including a bloody nose and concussion. "When you watch all those fights, we're actually hitting each other," Sweeney explained. "We were knocking each other out, we were getting bloody noses. I got concussion. We were actually fighting."
Sweeney described the intense training environment, noting that she and her female co-stars became like family while pushing themselves to physical limits, sometimes ending sessions by "singing our hearts out on the ring floor."
Christy Martin's Legacy
The film tells the story of Christy Martin, a pioneering figure in women's boxing who gained national recognition in March 1996 when she captured the World Boxing Council women's lightweight championship in a bloody Las Vegas bout against Deirdre Gogarty.
Martin, nicknamed The Coalminer's Daughter, made history as Don King's first-ever female client and appeared on the undercard of the infamous 1997 bout where Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield's ear. She remains the only female boxer ever featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine.
According to BoxRec, Martin holds an impressive professional record of 49 wins, 7 losses and 3 draws, with 31 career knockouts. Her final fight was a 2012 loss to Mia St. John.
This isn't the first time Martin's life has attracted cinematic interest - actress Amy Schumer was linked to a film about the boxer back in April 2018.
Sweeney's defence of the project highlights her commitment to stories with social impact, even as the film faces commercial challenges. Her statement reinforces that for some artists, success isn't measured in box office returns alone, but in the potential to inspire change and raise awareness for important causes like domestic violence.
