Sydney Sweeney is standing firmly behind Christy, her new boxing biopic, after the film opened to just $1.3 million over the weekend. Despite the soft start — making it one of the worst openings ever for a film of its size — the Euphoria star is emphasizing the movie’s message over its early numbers, and she’s doing so in her own words.
Christy stars Sweeney as real-life fighter Christy Martin, a trailblazing boxer whose rise in the 1990s reshaped the perception of women in the sport. The film tracks Martin’s ascent, her tumultuous marriage to trainer Jim Martin, and her harrowing survival after he attempted to murder her in 2010.
While the box office has been underwhelming, critical response to Sweeney’s performance has highlighted the intensity and vulnerability she brings to the role. Now, in the wake of the opening weekend, Sweeney is reiterating what she believes the movie is really about.
What Christy Tells: A Fighter’s Story On And Off The Ropes
Christy isn’t just a sports drama; it’s a portrait of resilience. The film spotlights a champion who made headlines in the ring and then became a symbol of survival beyond it. For audiences unfamiliar with Martin’s story, the biopic situates her groundbreaking professional run alongside the personal trauma she faced at home.
That juxtaposition is central to the project’s mission. By honoring Martin’s achievements while candidly confronting domestic violence, the film aims to do more than chronicle a career — it invites viewers to reckon with the realities many survivors face and the courage it takes to seek safety.
Sweeney’s portrayal, praised for its raw physicality and emotional precision, anchors that balance. The actor leans into Martin’s grit without sanding down the vulnerabilities that made her victory — in life as much as in boxing — so galvanizing.
Sweeney Addresses Online Debate Head-On
The film’s disappointing turnout has stirred online debate, heightened by reports that Sweeney has been registered as a Republican since 2024. Ahead of the release, she was asked whether her political affiliation might keep some viewers away from Christy.
"No. No, I think that if somebody is closed off because of something they read online to a powerful story like Christy, then I hope that something else can open their eyes to being open to art and being open to learning, and I’m not going to be affected by that," she said in a pre-release interview.
Her response underlines a larger point: Sweeney wants the conversation to center on the work. Christy’s subject matter — and Martin’s legacy — is what she’s foregrounding as the movie finds its audience.
"We Don’t Always Just Make Art For Numbers"
Following the opening weekend, Sweeney shared an emotional message on Instagram, thanking supporters and reaffirming her belief in the film. "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 honors of my life," she wrote.
She continued by zeroing in on the story’s core: "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 closed with a message directly to Martin and to audiences engaging with the film. "thank you to everyone who saw, felt, and believed and will believe in this story for years to come. if christy gave even one woman the courage to take her first step toward safety, then we will have succeeded. so yes i’m proud. why? because 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. thank you christy. i love you."
That emphasis on impact dovetails with the film’s outreach efforts, which Sweeney nods to in her post. The team’s campaigns around the movie amplified resources and awareness for those affected by domestic violence — a cause intimately tied to Martin’s real-life story.
For Sweeney, the stakes extend beyond opening weekend metrics. Christy is positioned as a story that can connect over time, especially with viewers who see their experiences reflected in Martin’s journey or who want to understand the pressures that often silence survivors.
Box office can be a crude yardstick for a film with sensitive subject matter, particularly one designed as a biographical drama rather than a four-quadrant crowd-pleaser. In that light, Sweeney’s message functions as both a thank-you and a mission statement: the movie isn’t chasing a quick-win narrative — it’s aiming for lasting resonance.
Christy Martin’s legacy has always been bigger than belts and scorecards, and the film leans into that truth. By tracing her triumphs and traumas with clear-eyed urgency, Christy asks audiences to consider what being a fighter truly means when the bell isn’t ringing.
Whether the film’s numbers grow through word of mouth remains to be seen, but Sweeney’s stance is unequivocal. She is proud of the performance, proud of the story, and proud of the platform the film creates for conversations that matter.
In the end, Christy’s impact will be measured in more than tickets sold. For those who do seek it out, the biopic offers a bruising, empathetic look at a life defined by both damage and defiance — and a reminder of why stories like Christy Martin’s still hit hard.
