Sydney SweeneyandGlen Powelldefinitely took advantage of all the off-screen affair rumors surrounding their romantic comedyAnyone but You.The “effortless chemistry” between the two actors, according to Powell, helped to stoke the fiery speculation swirling about the performers’ real lives, which helped promote the movie. And now, the rom-com sits atop Netflix’s top movies after dropping on the streaming service on Wednesday. Powell said of the steamy promotional tactics taken to help the film in an interview (perDeadline):
“The two things that you have to sell a rom-com are fun and chemistry.Sydney and I have a ton of fun together, and we have a ton of effortless chemistry.That’s people wanting what’s on the screen off the screen,and sometimes you just have to lean into it a bit— and it worked wonderfully.Sydney is very smart.”
Anyone But You
Anyone But You is a romantic comedy by director Will Gluck starring Sydney Sweeny and Glen Powell. Sweeny and Powell star as Bea and Ben, two strangers with an incredible first date that goes sour following one incident at the tail end. Thinking the worst is behind them, the two are roped into a destination wedding in Sydney, Australia, where they’ll have to pretend to be a couple despite absolutely hating each other.
Sweeney and Powell most notably sold the off-screen rumors about their supposed real-life romance when the two appeared together when Sweeney hostedSaturday Night Liveearlier this year. Sweeney added:
“I was on every call. I was in text group chats.I was probably keeping everybody over at Sony marketing and distribution awake at night because I couldn’t stop with ideas.I wanted to make sure that we were actively having a conversation with the audience as we were promoting this film,because at the end of the day,they’re the ones who created the entire narrative.”
Sydney Sweeney Knows How to Play the Game
Anyone but Youquickly dethronesRebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiveras the top movie on Netflix.And Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell both admitted to having leaned into the romance rumors surrounding their real lives in order to promote their successful rom-com. Playing the Hollywood game isn’t anything new for Sweeney, because she also fessed up to making the financial train wreckMadame Webas a means of building a relationship with Sony. Sweeney said in an interview withBritish GQ:
“To me, that film was a building block,it’s what allowed me to build a relationship with Sony.Without doingMadame WebI wouldn’t have a relationship with the decision-makers over there.Everything in my career I do not just for that story, but strategic business decisions.Because I did that,I was able to sell Anyone but You.I was able to get Barbarella.”
How Anyone But You Became a Sleeper Box-Office Hit
Anyone But You brought major stardom to Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney, sparking a rom-com resurgence at the box office.
Anyone but Youmade $219.2 million worldwide at the box against only a $25 million budget. For those who haven’t had the opportunity to watch the film yet, be sure to check outMovieWeb’s review ofAnyone but You,which declares the Powell/Sweeney rom-com a tale “mostly much ado about nothing.”
Anyone but Youis now streaming onNetflix.
