Harry and Meghan’s latest Hollywood project falls short, experts question what comes next

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have pursued a range of media and business projects since stepping back from royal duties. Their latest theatrical project is “Cookie Queens“, a documentary about 4 young Girl Scouts navigating the pressures and opportunities of cookie-selling season, which Harry and Meghan executive produced through Archewell Productions.

The film premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival and received largely positive reviews, but its theatrical opening was modest.

Following the box-office performance, royal commentator Kinsey Schofield advised Harry and Meghan to step back professionally for a period, reduce the number of announcements they make, and focus on one strongly executed project.

A Sundance documentary reaches theaters

“Cookie Queens” follows 4 young Girl Scouts through cookie-selling season. Harry and Meghan served as executive producers through Archewell Productions, while filmmaker Alysa Nahmias wrote and directed the documentary.

The film screened at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in January, with its Park City premiere taking place on January 25. Roadside Attractions acquired U.S. distribution rights in March.

“Cookie Queens” opened in a limited U.S. theatrical release on August 7 across 446 theaters. Its opening-weekend performance was modest despite generally positive critical reviews. Instead, the opening weekend told a much quieter and humbler story.

CatVideoFest out-earns Cookie Queens

“CatVideoFest 2026“, a compilation of internet cat videos, opened during the same weekend in only 255 theaters. Despite playing on considerably fewer screens, it earned approximately $569,000 during the weekend.

By comparison, “Cookie Queens” ultimately grossed $354,262 from 446 theaters during its opening weekend. The contrast quickly became part of the media discussion surrounding the documentary’s commercial performance.

Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield said being beaten by “CatVideoFest” created particularly awkward optics for Harry and Meghan’s project. She argued that their continued ability to generate headlines does not necessarily translate into people buying tickets for projects carrying their names.

The numbers behind Cookie Queens’ theatrical opening

The documentary opened in 446 theaters spread across the entire country. It earned roughly $354,262 over its very first weekend in release. That produced a per-theater average of approximately $794.

“Cookie Queens” finished No. 14 at the domestic box office for the August 7-9 weekend. The finalized figures are higher than the preliminary estimates of roughly $328,000 and $735 per theater that circulated immediately after release.

Critical reception has been substantially stronger than the box-office performance. As of August 19, Rotten Tomatoes lists “Cookie Queens” at 91% from 54 reviews. Neither one arrived fast enough to change those opening weekend numbers.

Kinsey Schofield explains why less is more

Kinsey Schofield hosts the popular YouTube channel Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered. She has closely tracked the Sussexes’ many business ventures for several years now. Her advice to the couple this time was direct and pointed.

She suggested the pair simply disappear from public view for a little while. Schofield wants fewer announcements and far less constant publicity noise from them. She believes real restraint would help far more than another loud campaign.

Schofield argued that reputation recovery rarely comes from a flashy new rebrand. She recommended one strong project handled entirely by experienced professionals instead. Quiet consistency beats another glossy publicity push in her view.

The couple’s media partnerships have evolved

“Cookie Queens” arrives after several changes in Harry and Meghan’s media businesses. Their Spotify partnership ended by mutual agreement in 2023 after Meghan’s “Archetypes” completed one season. Their relationship with Netflix, however, has not ended.

In August 2025, Archewell Productions signed a multiyear first-look film and television deal with Netflix, and that production partnership remains in place. A separate arrangement between Netflix and Meghan’s As Ever lifestyle brand ended in March 2026.

Harry and Meghan’s media partnerships have changed since their original Netflix agreement, while Archewell Productions continues developing projects.

Fun fact: Girl Scouts of the USA has referenced roughly 200 million cookie boxes annually, while Sundance describes the Girl Scout Cookie Program as an approximately $800 million business.

Other commentators point back to the royal connection

British royal commentator Hilary Fordwich argued that “Cookie Queens” reinforces her view that Harry and Meghan attract greater attention when their projects focus on the royal family. That is Fordwich’s assessment rather than a measured conclusion about audience behavior.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliam similarly pointed to the Oprah interview. The “Harry & Meghan” Netflix series and Harry’s memoir “Spare” are their most prominent high-profile successes, all of which focus heavily on their relationship with the monarchy.

Fitzwilliams argued that Harry and Meghan still generate extensive publicity but questioned whether that attention translates into audiences for projects that are not tied to royal subject matter.

What reputation recovery could actually require

Schofield’s core message centers on focus rather than constant reinvention. She wants the couple to choose one lane and truly master it. Schofield argued that pursuing multiple projects could make it harder to establish a clear professional identity.

Building authority in every field at once often backfires rather badly. Schofield explained that approach can leave a person known for nothing at all. A narrower focus could rebuild genuine trust more effectively over time.

Execution now matters far more than another dramatic public announcement. High-value partnerships depend on consistent delivery across many different formats and platforms. Vision alone rarely satisfies a results-driven entertainment industry today.

Commentators say the royal connection remains powerful

Several royal commentators have argued that Harry and Meghan’s most visible projects have been those tied directly to their experiences within the royal family. Fordwich and Fitzwilliams both used “Cookie Queen’s” modest opening to question whether that level of attention carries over to unrelated subjects.

The film’s Girl Scout subject matter is very different from the couple’s previous royal-focused projects, but the box-office result alone cannot establish why audiences chose not to attend. Release strategy, marketing, documentary viewing habits, competition, and audience awareness can all affect theatrical performance.

It therefore goes too far to conclude that viewers actively preferred royal controversy to the film’s coming-of-age subject. What can be said is that “Cookie Queens” opened modestly despite Harry and Meghan’s substantial name recognition.

Little-known fact: Meghan was a Brownie and Junior Girl Scout, and her mother, Doria Ragland, served as her troop leader.

TL;DR

• Cookie Queens opened in 446 theaters and earned about $354,262
• CatVideoFest 2026 out-earned it, bringing in $569,000 from far fewer 255 theaters.
• “Cookie Queens” currently holds a 91% Rotten Tomatoes score from 54 critic reviews.
• Royal expert Kinsey Schofield urged Harry and Meghan to slow down their public appearances.
• Some commentators argue that the couple’s most widely discussed projects have focused on their experiences within the royal family.

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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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