Meghan Markle’s Latest Project Bombs at Box Office — Insider Explains Why

Meghan Markle’s latest project is a dud. 

The Duchess of Sussex-produced documentary Cookie Queens opened in theaters this weekend. But moviegoers largely ignored the film about the big business of Girl Scout cookie sales. 

‘Cookie Queens’ isn’t a hit with moviegoers 

The doc, which is directed by Alysa Nahmias, took in just over $327,000 from 446 theaters this weekend, according to Box Office Pro. That’s a modest $735 per screen. 

Cookie Queens faced plenty of competition at the country’s multiplexes. Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey are continuing to capture the attention of audiences, while Toy Story 5 and Minions & Monsters appeal to families with kids. No one expected a low-key movie about four girls on a cookie-selling journey to bring in huge numbers. But Cookie Queens was also beat by CatVideoFest 2026, which took in more than half-a-million dollars in its opening weekend, as well as the Anthony Bourdain biopic Tony, which earned nearly $349,000 even though it was playing on just six screens. 

So, why did Cookie Queens bomb at the box office? The problem isn’t the movie itself. It has a 94% positive rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, who described it as “charming” and “adorable.” But its late-summer release date was a massive misstep, an expert says. 

“The documentary probably should have been released at the height of Girl Scout cookie season, when the cookies, and the girls selling them, are part of the national conversation,” Jeff Bock, senior media analyst at Exhibitor Relations, told Page Six Hollywood. “For a small documentary, timing is marketing. It missed the very window that could have made it feel relevant and turned curiosity into ticket sales. Guess that’s the way the cookie crumbles.” 

Meghan Markle said ‘Cookie Queens’ brought back ‘great memories’ 

Meghan, along with Prince Harry, was an executive producer on Cookie Queens, which was released under their Archewell Productions banner. The company’s first theatrical release struck a personal chord with Meghan, who said it brought back “great memories” of her years as a Girl Scout when she was growing up in Los Angeles. It also has an important message, she said.

“These girls are our future leaders and amazing role models,” she told People. “I found this element of the film so important; showing young female entrepreneurs, girls with financial literacy, skills that will set them up for future success, and learning how to work to achieve their goals is so inspiring.”

Cookie Queens is in theaters now. 

For more​​ news and exclusive interviews, follow Showbiz Cheat Sheet’s Instagram.