The Duchess of Sussex's latest project, the documentary film Cookie Queens, has failed to make an impact at the box office, adding to a series of professional setbacks for Meghan Markle.
Released in 446 US cinemas on August 7, the film struggled to secure £257,000 in its opening weekend. It failed to make the top 10 releases and was overshadowed by CatVideoFest 2026, a 70-minute compilation of cat videos that landed in 255 theatres.
Hollywood setbacks mount
Meghan, who moved to Montecito with Prince Harry, has been attempting to establish herself in the media industry. Her podcast, Archetypes, was axed after one season following the conclusion of her multimillion-dollar deal with Spotify in 2023.
Her lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, was cancelled after two seasons on Netflix, and the tell-all docuseries Harry & Meghan received mixed to negative reviews. Prince Harry's docuseries Polo was also axed.
Upcoming projects offer hope
The couple, through their media company Archewell Productions, are set to executive produce Meet Me at the Lake, a film adaptation of Carley Fortune's bestselling novel. Fortune has commended Meghan and Harry on their approach to the story and assured fans that the project is in "good hands" with them.
They are also working on an untitled drama series set in the competitive world of polo and have signed on to adapt Jasmine Guillory's rom-com novel The Wedding Date for Netflix.
Meghan's reputation in Hollywood is currently fragile, with a lack of commercial appeal and bargaining power. If she loses her Netflix deal, she will have burned the biggest bridge of them all. The As Ever founder needs to prove she has an eye for storytelling and can succeed in the media world.
