Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Documentary: Cookie Queens

The documentary Cookie Queens featuring Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will debut in theaters on Friday after premiering at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. Directed by Alysa Nahmias, the film chronicles a group of Girl Scouts as they navigate the cookie-selling season, gaining insights into entrepreneurship, leadership, and resilience.

The project holds personal significance for Meghan, a former Girl Scout and mother of Princess Lilibet. Her involvement alongside Harry as executive producers highlights their contribution to the film’s production. In conversation with Newsweek, Afua Hagan, a U.K.-based royal commentator, described the film’s release as a major event, noting the importance of its reception and ratings.

“It’s a huge moment for them. It’s such a cute film. Lots of people will be looking to see how well it does, or does not, do. The ratings will be all important. It’s an incredible moment,”

The Significance of Cookie Queens

Cookie Queens is the first theatrical release from Meghan and Harry’s Archewell Productions, coinciding with the negative trend of their Netflix TV projects failing to match the viewer numbers of their debut docuseries, Harry & Meghan. The film’s success could exhibit their capability to attract audiences beyond the Netflix platform. Its failure might add to criticism concerning the struggles of Sussex-backed media projects.

Royal commentator Hagan states, Anyone who’s got a problem with girl scouts selling cookies really has a problem. I think it could do well. It’s a feel-good film. The film focuses on four Girl Scouts from various regions across America, competing in the cookie-selling season, which stands as one of the biggest youth fundraising efforts nationally.

Through the lens of Alysa Nahmias, the film explores modern childhood, family dynamics, and the challenges young girls face. Participants include Olive from North Carolina who has sold more than 8,000 boxes in a season, Nikki aspiring to be her area’s top cookie seller, Shannon from Texas aiming for cookie camp, and Ara from California stepping into her first competition.

The documentary follows them as they set goals, engage neighborhoods, pitch potential customers, and handle the highs and lows of their campaign. It portrays how children acquire business skills, financial literacy, and confidence at an early age.

Meghan shared an anecdote with People magazine about her nostalgic connection to a fellow mom from her scouting days at Lili’s pre-K drop-off.

She also hinted at an emotional scene in the documentary where one girl’s achievement brings tears to her eyes: I get misty-eyed every time I watch that scene. She did it. I feel so proud of her.

The Documentary Sector’s Challenges

Currently, the documentary industry faces significant challenges. Filmmakers encounter a tough commercial climate as broadcasters and streaming services exhibit caution in both commissioning and acquiring documentaries. Cookie Queens receiving a theatrical release represents a noteworthy accomplishment amid this environment. The competition within the market emphasizes the need for audience engagement, especially for projects not tied to major franchises.

The International Documentary Association highlighted the difficulties faced by filmmakers at Sundance. Cookie Queens had not secured a distributor by February. Alysa Nahmias expressed the difficult market conditions in an interview with IDA.

Roadside Attractions acquired the distribution rights a month later. This release offers Meghan a chance to showcase Archewell’s capability to produce and market projects that attract paying theater audiences. A robust box office performance could bolster Archewell’s position in future documentary acquisitions and collaborations.

Meghan has actively promoted the film, emphasizing the importance of young female entrepreneurs and the lessons Cookie Queens imparts. Whether the documentary emerges as a standout or a moderate success, this release serves as a pivotal test for the Sussexes’ aspirations in film production.