Although Sydney Sweeney’s superhero film Madame Web may not have soared at the box office, her 2023 romantic comedy, Anyone But You, has surpassed expectations, outpacing several notable titles from the same year. Starring Sweeney alongside Glen Powell, the film follows Bea and Ben as they navigate a fake relationship at a destination wedding, masking their initial attraction turned sour to maintain appearances, leading to unexpected twists and revelations about love and authenticity.
Despite receiving mixed critical reviews, the romantic comedy has become a sleeper hit, grossing over $180 million worldwide, exceeding major franchise films like Shazam 2 and Blue Beetle, and is also expected to surpass even MCU’s The Marvels soon.
Sydney Sweeney’s Anyone But You is Rising Above Blockbuster Franchises
Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell’s romantic comedy hit theaters over Christmas weekend, facing tough competition from movies like Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and The Iron Claw. Although its initial box office earnings were modest, bringing in just $6 million over the weekend, the film has since become a surprise hit.
As it entered its sixth weekend in theaters, it defied expectations by surpassing the $100 million mark globally. It has since become the first breakout hit of the new year and the most successful R-rated romantic comedy since 2016. The romantic comedy has now crossed $180 million worldwide, surpassing the total gross of DC films like Shazam 2 and Blue Beetle.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods earned $134 million against a budget of $110–125 million, while Blue Beetle grossed $130 million with a production budget ranging from $104–125 million, making it the lowest-grossing film in the DC Extended Universe. Not just DC, Sydney Sweeney’s Anyone But You is also expected to triumph over Brie Larson’s MCU film The Marvels.
The Marvels grossed $206 million worldwide and became the lowest-grossing film in the franchise. The romantic comedy starring Sweeney and Glen Powell has grossed over $85 million domestically and $104 million internationally on an estimated budget of $25 million, and its successful box office trajectory is expected to continue.
Sydney Sweeney’s Romantic Comedy Garners Audience Appreciation
Anyone But You has been received very well by the audience, earning an 87% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, and viewers have described it as a “feel-good movie.” Many also took to X (Twitter) to praise the romantic comedy.
“I watched it, and it was worth it,” an X (Twitter) user said. Others compared it to Marvel’s superhero film Madame Web, which stars Sydney Sweeney as Julia Cornwall, one of the Spider-Women targeted by Ezekiel Sims. Madame Web, which was released on the occasion of Valentine’s Day, has grossed $51 million worldwide.
Love this movie
— cheekygirl (@baharataei1) February 19, 2024
I saw this movie by mistake, I thought it was the ryan gosling movie where he's a stunt guy, but I guess I got my money's worth
— hades (@hades69099) February 18, 2024
I watched it and it was worth it
— Generic Marketable Plushie (@The_Last_One_in) February 19, 2024
We need a sequel
— joey (@Fan_FlickOn) February 18, 2024
And rightfully so too. #AnyoneButYou
— Vincent Perrone (@futuremoview) February 19, 2024
Will cross 200m milestone soon https://t.co/xKvmrTKZOH
— Box Office Forecast 🎬 (@BoxOfficeFcst) February 18, 2024
The success of Anyone But You has also led to discussions of a sequel, and fans expressed the same on social media, as they said, “We need a sequel.” Sweeney has addressed the possibility of a sequel recently as she shared that she and Glen Powell have discussed the prospect and that fans would have to wait for any potential update.
Anyone But You and Madame Web are playing in theatres.
