Americana Sets Release, Debuts Trailer at Cannes

Americana, a modern-day Western thriller directed by Tony Tost, is set for theatrical release on August 22, 2025, after premiering at SXSW in 2023 and being acquired by Lionsgate for distribution. The film features Sydney Sweeney as Penny Jo, a waitress and aspiring singer who partners with a military veteran (Paul Walter Hauser) to retrieve and sell a rare Lakota Ghost Shirt that has surfaced on the black market. Their quest entangles them with various other characters played by Halsey, Eric Dane, Simon Rex, Zahn McClarnon, and more, each driven by motives ranging from profit to cultural reclamation. Americana explores themes such as greed, cultural heritage, exploitation, and colonial legacy, blending Western tropes with contemporary sociopolitical issues. The movie’s ensemble cast and Tarantino-esque tone are noted for challenging traditional genre boundaries. The trailer’s debut at the Cannes Film Festival has generated significant buzz and positioned Americana as a prominent entry in the evolving Western genre.