Prince Harry and Meghan Markle face mounting scrutiny over their commercial viability in Hollywood after their latest executive-produced feature, “Cookie Queens,” brought in approximately $354,000 from 446 theaters during its opening weekend, according to reported box-office figures. The Archewell Productions documentary follows four Girl Scouts navigating competitive cookie sales while examining ambition and leadership. The project finished five places behind “CatVideoFest 2026,” a 70-minute compilation of viral internet cat videos that earned approximately $569,000 on 255 screens.
Royal Commentators Question Commercial Pull Beyond Royal Drama
The underperformance of “Cookie Queens” has prompted industry observers to question whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex can convert headline attention into paying customers. Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield, host of YouTube’s “Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered,” told Fox News Digital that while the couple remains effective at generating headlines, public curiosity does not automatically translate to commercial success.
“Harry and Meghan remain extraordinarily effective at generating headlines, but headlines and paying customers are two very different things,” Schofield told Fox News Digital. “There was a period when simply attaching their names to something guaranteed enormous curiosity. I’m not convinced that’s true anymore.”
Schofield noted that the Duchess of Sussex personally promoted the documentary ahead of its theatrical debut by discussing her childhood experiences as a Girl Scout. Despite that visibility, the opening numbers highlight a growing gap between fame and commercial influence. “People may click on a Meghan Markle headline because they’re fascinated by her or irritated by her. That doesn’t mean they’re going to buy a movie ticket because her name is attached to the project,” Schofield said.
Industry Experts Point to Past Projects as the Primary Driver of Engagement
British royals expert Hilary Fordwich shared a similar assessment with Fox News Digital, arguing that the couple struggles to attract large audiences when their work does not involve the royal family.
“The extremely underwhelming box office is a clear indication that, yet again, 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 nor popular,” Fordwich told Fox News Digital. Kinsey Schofield
Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020 and relocating to California, Harry and Meghan have signed major entertainment deals. Their 2022 Netflix docuseries, “Harry & Meghan,” and Prince Harry’s 2023 memoir, “Spare,” both generated worldwide attention by focusing on their departure from the monarchy.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital that those projects remain the couple’s most significant cultural touchpoints. “We all know their huge hits were the three infamous betrayals of the royal family, on Oprah, the Netflix series ‘Harry & Meghan’ and Harry’s memoir ‘Spare,’” Fitzwilliams said. He added that audiences have not shown the same level of curiosity toward subsequent releases like “With Love, Meghan,” the Invictus Games series “Polo,” or “Cookie Queens.”
Shifting Expectations in Hollywood Production
Schofield emphasized that the novelty surrounding the couple has diminished since their arrival in California six years ago, shifting industry focus toward conventional metrics like finished products and audience building.
“When Harry and Meghan first arrived in California, they were the story,” Schofield said. “Hollywood was essentially buying access to two people who had just walked away from the Royal Family, and the curiosity surrounding them was enormous. Six years later, the novelty has diminished. The questions are much more conventional now: What can you produce? What can you sell? Can you build an audience around something that isn’t royal drama?”
Did You Know?
Archewell Productions executive produced “Cookie Queens,” which was distributed by Roadside Attractions and screened in 446 theaters during its opening weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is “Cookie Queens”?
“Cookie Queens” is a documentary executive produced by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle through Archewell Productions that follows four Girl Scouts competing in cookie sales while exploring themes of ambition and leadership.
How much did “Cookie Queens” make at the box office?
According to reported box-office figures, the documentary earned approximately $354,000 from 446 theaters during its opening weekend.
When did Prince Harry and Meghan Markle step back from royal duties?
The couple stepped back from their roles as senior working royals in 2020 and subsequently relocated to California.
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