Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Documentary Underperforms at Box Office, Raising Questions About Commercial Appeal

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s latest cinematic venture is testing whether their ability to generate media buzz translates into paying audiences. The Archewell Productions documentary “Cookie Queens,” which the couple executive produced and which premiered theatrically this past weekend, failed to meet box-office expectations in its initial release.

“Cookie Queens,” a film documenting four Girl Scouts competing in the competitive cookie sales market while exploring themes of ambition and leadership, grossed approximately $354,000 across 446 theaters. The underperformance became more stark when the documentary finished below “CatVideoFest 2026,” a compilation of viral cat videos that earned approximately $569,000 despite screening in only 255 theaters.

Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield told Fox News Digital that the disparity reveals a fundamental distinction for the couple. “Harry and Meghan remain extraordinarily effective at generating headlines, but headlines and paying customers are two very different things,” Schofield said, noting that their names no longer guarantee audience curiosity as they once did.

Schofield suggested that the distinction between fame and infamy carries significant commercial weight. “There’s a significant difference commercially” between positive recognition and the notoriety the couple has accumulated, she explained, arguing that people may engage with news about them without translating that interest into ticket purchases.

British royal expert Hilary Fordwich echoed this assessment, stating the box-office results indicate audience interest depends largely on royal-family-related content. “Unless they are bashing the royals and sharing inside stories, secrets and betraying the privacy of the family, there isn’t much they have that is at all in demand,” Fordwich told the outlet.

The couple’s most successful projects have centered on their departure from royal life. Their 2022 Netflix docuseries “Harry & Meghan” and Prince Harry’s 2023 memoir “Spare” both generated substantial public attention by focusing on their royal experiences and grievances with the monarchy.

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams noted that projects unrelated to royal drama have consistently underperformed. “The world knows who they are, but isn’t curious enough to tune in” for their other ventures, Fitzwilliams said, referencing the limited success of Meghan’s lifestyle brand and other non-royal projects.

Schofield characterized the broader challenge facing Archewell Productions as a question of execution versus publicity. She argued that announcements and press coverage mean little without tangible finished products and audience engagement, suggesting the couple risks credibility if they continue announcing ambitious projects without delivering results.

The “Cookie Queens” performance has intensified scrutiny of whether the Sussexes can succeed in mainstream entertainment without relying on royal-family narratives. Industry observers suggest that six years after relocating to California, the novelty of their brand has diminished and producers now face conventional expectations about what they can create and sell.