Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s executive production debut flopped at the box office last weekend – unfortunately, the reviews weren’t much better, either.
Cookie Queens, produced by the Sussexes’ company Archewell Productions, was released in US theatres on Friday, August 7.
The film, directed by Alysa Nahmias, tracks four young scouts through the fiercely competitive annual cookie-selling season.
In its opening weekend, it grossed a measly £242,000 at the box office despite screenings across 446 cinemas – equating to roughly £540 per showing.
Reviews were equally unkind. Variety described the film as “too much of a reality-show ramble”, adding: “It’s about the business of Girl Scouts making themselves into entrepreneurs. But it’s not about much else.”
And the San Francisco Chronicle said the movie was “about as staged as it is sweet”.
While it has notched an impressive 92 per cent score on online review website Rotten Tomatoes, the critics’ thoughts on the website have been scathing.
One reviewer described the flick as “manipulative”, explaining: “While many of the moments documented come off as organic, some of them seem like Nahmias is actively guiding the participants in order to get a better story.”
Another said: “Adding to my issues with the movie is the haphazard way a trio of editors has shapelessly spliced together the footage.”
A third said it was “a mishmash of interviews,” adding: “I was excited about seeing Cookie Queens. Unfortunately, for me, the final product did not meet my expectations”.
Despite this, the distributor for the documentary, Roadside Attractions, remained positive.
“We’re encouraged by the response and believe the film has a long life ahead as it continues to reach its many audiences,” a spokesman said.
Some critics left theatres with their sweet tooth satisfied; one described the documentary as an “entertaining behind-the-scenes look” into the Girl Scout cookie business.
Another noted: “It’s a delicate balance that Cookie Queens has to walk, but it does so wonderfully well.”
The mixed reviews translated into the box office numbers over the weekend, with Cookie Queens entering the IMDB Box Office Mojo, a popular box office ticket tracker website, in 13th place.
Remarkably, this is behind Tony, a biopic of the late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, despite showing at just six theatres, and CatVideoFest 2026, which is described as “a compilation of the latest and best cat videos” from the internet.