Sydney Sweeney took a bold swing with Christy, a boxing biopic about 1990s sports icon Christy Martin. The film, directed by David Michôd and co-written with Mirrah Foulkes, tells the story of a woman who not only broke barriers in the ring but also survived domestic abuse at the hands of her husband and trainer.
The project had all the makings of an inspiring drama, a real-life hero, a female-led production, and an emotional story about resilience. Sweeney, who also produced the film, said she was drawn to Martin’s strength and wanted to show “a fighter in every sense.”
But despite good intentions, Christy struggled badly at the box office. It opened on November 7, 2025, in more than 2,000 theaters and earned only about $1.3 million in its first weekend, one of the weakest debuts for a film with that wide a release. According to The Numbers, the total domestic gross sits around $1.4 million, with international numbers barely making a dent. Considering the budget, reported between $15 and $30 million, the film is a clear commercial miss.
Critics were divided. Roger Ebert praised Sweeney’s dedication, writing that she “gives her all” to the performance. Reviews on Metacritic also pointed out the film’s heart and sincerity. Still, many described it as predictable, a standard sports biopic following familiar beats.
Beyond reviews, there were distractions. The movie faced backlash over casting choices and a social media feud between Sweeney and Ruby Rose, which some outlets say overshadowed the film itself. MovieWeb and Screen Rant both note that weak marketing and heavy competition that weekend didn’t help either.
For Sweeney, this marks another tough release after Eden and Americana failed to connect earlier this year. Some critics now see Christy as a test of her long-term box office power. Still, in her own words to Newsweek, she says she’s “proud” of the film and the message behind it, about survival, strength, and women reclaiming their stories.
Commercially, Christy didn’t land the punch it needed. But emotionally, it still carries weight. For those who see it, it’s not just a boxing story, it’s a reminder of how hard it can be to keep fighting long after the crowd has gone home.
