Americana (2023 film)
| Americana | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Tony Tost |
| Written by | Tony Tost |
| Produced by | Alex Saks |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Nigel Bluck |
| Edited by | Peter McNulty |
| Music by | David Fleming |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Lionsgate |
Release dates |
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Running time | 110 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Americana is a 2023 American crime thriller film written and directed by Tony Tost. It stars Sydney Sweeney, Paul Walter Hauser, Halsey, Eric Dane, Zahn McClarnon, and Simon Rex.
It had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 17, 2023, and it is scheduled to release on August 15, 2025. It received generally positive reviews from critics.
Plot
Numerous people find their lives intertwined in a death match while fighting over an expensive ghost shirt.
Cast
- Sydney Sweeney as Penny Jo Poplin
- Paul Walter Hauser as Lefty Ledbetter
- Halsey as Mandy Starr
- Eric Dane as Dillon MacIntosh
- Zahn McClarnon as Ghost Eye
- Gavin Maddox Bergman as Cal Starr
- Simon Rex as Roy Lee Dean
- Derek Hinkey as Hank Spears
- Toby Huss as Pendleton Duvall
- Harriet Sansom Harris as Tish
- Donald Cerrone as Sheriff Cole Pickering
Production
In February 2022, Sydney Sweeney, Paul Walter Hauser, Halsey, Simon Rex, Gavin Maddox Bergman, Harriet Sansom Harris, Derek Hinkey, Eric Dane, Zahn McClarnon and Donald Cerrone joined the cast of the film, then titled National Anthem, with Tony Tost directing from a screenplay he wrote.[2][3]
Principal photography began in February 2022, in New Mexico.[4]
Release
Americana had its world premiere at the 2023 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival on March 17, 2023.[5] In March 2024, Lionsgate acquired worldwide distribution rights to the film.[6]
The film is scheduled to be theatrically released on August 15, 2025.[7] It was originally scheduled to be released on August 22, 2025.[8]
Reception
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 7 critics' reviews are positive.[9] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 85 out of 100, based on 4 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[10]
For Deadline, Valerie Complex wrote, "Tost's direction manages to avoid the common pitfalls first-time directors encounter by overcomplicating things, but the director keeps it simple by letting characters work within their frame. ... This movie wouldn't be what it is without its rich and enjoyable cast — with Halsey and McClarnon being the standouts — of individuals who are determined, intelligent, uproarious and have different ideas of success and how to achieve it."[11] Rafael Motamayor of IndieWire gave it a B+, writing, "The film is clearly a homage to the [Western] genre and all its sides, both good and bad. The director shoots the vast arid landscapes and secluded rural roads of middle America with a melancholic eye, capturing the iconography of the genre while contemplating whether it still has a place in cinema today. With a film like this now in its arsenal, it surely does."[12]
References
- ^ "National Anthem". South by Southwest. Archived from the original on February 24, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (February 3, 2022). "Sydney Sweeney, Paul Walter Hauser, Halsey, Simon Rex & Others Set For Bron's 'National Anthem'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 4, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (February 14, 2022). "Eric Dane Among Three Added To 'National Anthem' Cast At Bron Studios". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 24, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ Vitu, Teya (February 4, 2022). "Two more movie shoots come to N.M.; 'Oppenheimer' calls for more extras". The Santa Fe New Mexican. Archived from the original on February 24, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 24, 2023). "'Americana' Starring Sydney Sweeney, Paul Walter Hauser And Halsey To World Premiere At SXSW". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 24, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 7, 2024). "Sydney Sweeney & Paul Walter Hauser Movie 'Americana' From SXSW 2023 Sells To Lionsgate". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ "Theatrical Release Changes for the Week Ending June 22, 2025". The Numbers. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
- ^ "Americana (2025)". The Numbers. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
- ^ "Americana". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ "Americana". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ Complex, Valerie (March 18, 2023). "'Americana' Review: Tony Tost Turns The Western Genre Upside Down In Dramedy Starring Sydney Sweeney And Halsey – SXSW". Deadline. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ Motamayor, Rafael (March 18, 2023). "'Americana' Review: The Western Gets New Life in This Charming, Tarantino-Esque Heist Film". IndieWire. Retrieved May 18, 2025.