PARK CITY, Utah — Prince Harry and Meghan Markle faced underwhelming turnout at the Sundance Film Festival premiere of their documentary “Cookie Queens” on Sunday. Despite the couple’s appearance at the Eccles Theatre, approximately 150 balcony seats remained empty at the start of the screening, with about 60 unfilled spots remaining after waitlisted attendees were seated. High-priced pass-holders ($6,900 Express Badges) largely skipped the event—a contrast to crowded screenings for higher-profile films like Olivia Wilde’s star-studded “The Invite,” which turned away 100 ticketholders the previous night, or even the lesser-known horror film “Buddy.”
The documentary, which follows ambitious Girl Scouts competing in cookie sales, received an enthusiastic response from the audience present. Meghan addressed the crowd before the film, humorously acknowledging the early timing after a weekend of festival parties, while Harry greeted film collaborators. The Sussexes’ Archewell Productions, founded in 2020, has recently faced challenges, including the cancellation of Meghan’s Netflix series “With Love, Meghan” and reported staff reductions. Their surprise appearance at a Salt Lake City screening the prior day did little to bolster attendance in Park City. Other Sundance premieres featuring Olivia Colman, Charli XCX, and Natalie Portman drew packed crowds throughout the week.