The Sussexes couldn’t sell out Sundance.
Although Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended the Park City, Utah, bow of the new documentary they produced, “Cookie Queens,” Sunday morning, there were plenty of open seats at the Eccles Theatre.
As the film began, roughly 150 unoccupied spots remained in the balcony, plus some scattered chairs on the ground.
That number ultimately tightened to about 60, as lucky wait-listers slowly filled empty places reserved for high-paying pass-holders (the coveted express badge costs $6,900), who mostly passed on the visiting royals.
Derek Shook / BACKGRID
“Cookie Queens,” which was enthusiastically received by the Park City crowd, is an adorable heartwarmer that follows several precocious Girl Scouts from all over the US on their quest to sell as many cookie boxes as possible.
A ticket to a starry and exclusive Sundance screening is typically a hot commodity. They are extremely difficult to get into.
In the same theater the night before, at the mobbed premiere of Olivia Wilde’s “The Invite,” starring Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton, staff had to turn away about 100 actual ticket holders — as seats there are not assigned.
Even a much less glamorous horror movie called “Buddy,” with Cristin Milioti and Topher Grace, left 40 out in the cold at the Library Center at midnight on a Thursday.
Other hot titles featuring Olivia Colman, Charli xcx and Natalie Portman were packed to the gills last week — with testy ushers snapping at moviegoers for saving seats for late friends.
“Cookie Queens” even got some bonus PR Saturday, when Harry and Markle made a surprise entrance at its other Sundance premiere nearby in Salt Lake City.
Sunday’s Park City screening began about 10 minutes late, which was unusual for the tightly scheduled festival.
And, in an uncommon move at Sundance for an executive producer, Markle, 44, spoke onstage before the film. She suggested the mountain town might be hungover from boozy Saturday parties.
“Thank you so much for being here bright and early,” she said. “I know some of you probably had late nights last night, so extra thanks for the effort.”
