A documentary about US girl scouts selling cookies, produced by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, was beaten at the US box office by a compilation of cat videos on its opening weekend.
Official figures show the 91-minute film, Cookie Queens, failed to make the top ten releases. It earned less than £250,000 from showings in 446 cinemas across the USA, charting in 13th place according to movie website Box Office Mojo, and generating just £500 per cinema screening.
It was beaten by CatVideoFest 2026, which pulled in £421,334 despite airing in 191 fewer screens than Cookie Queens. CatVideoFest landed in tenth place with a compilation of internet clips including cats on skateboards and surfboards.
Harry and Meghan produced Cookie Queens under their Archewell Productions banner, marking their theatrical debut as executive producers. They attended its world premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in Salt Lake City in January, though there appears to have been little promotion ahead of its release.
Mixed reviews from critics
Neither Archewell Productions nor its distributor, Roadside Attractions, have revealed the costs to make and screen the project. Despite Meghan promising the movie is "absolutely irresistible," it has received mixed reviews from critics.
Variety, once a supporter of the couple, described it as "too much of a reality-show ramble." Critic Owen Gleiberman said the film lacked emotion, writing that Cookie Queens "is a movie about precocious American girls learning to work the system, not fight it." The San Francisco Chronicle said it is "as staged as it is sweet."
Distributor points to girl scout audiences
Roadside Attractions told entertainment website Deadline that the film had performed well with groups of current and former girl scouts, saying it was encouraged by the response and believes the film has a long life ahead reaching its many audiences.
Earlier this year, Netflix dropped Meghan's TV show, and the couple's $100 million contract with the streaming giant was downgraded to a "first look" deal. Cookie Queens was not picked up by Netflix.
