Meghan Markle Fails to Sell Out Splashy Sundance Premiere

Published: Monday, January 26, 2026 at 3:52 pm

Sundance Premiere of Meghan and Harry-Produced Documentary Draws Mixed Response

A Sunday morning screening of "Cookie Queens," a documentary produced by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, at the Sundance Film Festival, saw a less-than-full house, according to reports. Despite the presence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the event at the Eccles Theatre left approximately 150 balcony seats empty, along with some gaps on the main floor.

The turnout was in stark contrast to other Sundance events. A Saturday night screening of "The Invite," starring Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz, and Edward Norton, drew a large crowd, with staff reportedly turning away around 100 people due to unassigned seating. A midnight showing of the horror film "Buddy" also exceeded capacity, leaving some ticket holders without seats.

The documentary, which follows the experiences of Girl Scouts selling cookies, was reportedly well-received by those in attendance. Meghan Markle addressed the audience before the screening, expressing gratitude for their early attendance and highlighting the couple's pride in supporting the film. Prince Harry was also seen interacting with members of the documentary's team.

The couple's production company, Archewell, founded in 2020, could benefit from a success. Their Netflix lifestyle series "With Love, Meghan" is not returning for a third season, and the production outfit has a reduced staff. The Royalist understands the couple's involvement with the film began only after it was completed.

BNN's Perspective: The mixed reception at Sundance raises questions about the couple's continued appeal in the entertainment industry. While the documentary itself may have been well-received, the lack of a sell-out crowd suggests a potential shift in audience interest. It will be interesting to see how Archewell navigates future projects and whether they can regain the momentum they once had.

Keywords: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Sundance Film Festival, Cookie Queens, Archewell, documentary, film premiere, entertainment, audience, attendance, Netflix, production company.

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