Meghan and Harry's 'Cookie Queens' Doc Gets Mixed Reviews

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry continue building out their content slate at Netflix, and their latest project — Cookie Queens — has just landed on screens. The documentary, which follows young Girl Scouts as they transform cookie sales into full-blown business ventures, has drawn a notably lukewarm reception from critics who find its ambitions sweeter than its results.

What 'Cookie Queens' Is All About

At its heart, Cookie Queens is a celebration of girlhood entrepreneurship — four young scouts are spotlighted as they hustle, strategize, and compete to become top cookie sellers. It's a genuinely feel-good premise, and there's no shortage of wholesome energy on screen. The girls are driven, endearing, and easy to root for. Director Alysa Nahmias clearly has affection for her subjects, and that warmth does come through in the finished film.

Where Critics Say It Falls Short

According to Variety, however, the documentary leans so heavily into a reality-show format that it never really escapes those limitations. Nahmias frames the film as a competition piece, positioning each girl as an eager overachiever and inviting the audience to admire them from a comfortable distance. The problem, critics note, is that the film plays one note — and plays it on repeat. There's little depth beneath the surface-level hustle narrative, and the documentary stops well short of exploring the broader cultural or business landscape surrounding the iconic Girl Scout cookie industry. It's inspiring in flashes, but ultimately feels like a missed opportunity to say something more meaningful.

Harry and Meghan's Expanding Creative Vision

For Prince Harry and Meghan, Cookie Queens represents another step in their ongoing effort to build a production portfolio rooted in uplifting, values-driven storytelling. The couple has been busy on multiple creative fronts — they've previously explored adapting romance novels for the screen, signaling a broad appetite for diverse content. Harry himself has spoken openly about balancing these professional pursuits with family life, having publicly described himself as a full-time dad alongside his other ventures.

The Bigger Picture for the Sussexes

The mixed reception for Cookie Queens doesn't necessarily signal trouble for the couple's Netflix partnership — documentaries about niche subjects are always a tricky sell, and a project aimed squarely at younger audiences and families operates in a different lane than prestige criticism typically rewards. Still, it does raise questions about whether their production company, Archewell Productions, is finding the right shape for stories that could resonate more widely.

With speculation continuing to swirl around whether Harry and Meghan might eventually eye a return to the UK, the couple's stateside creative output feels all the more important as a way of establishing their independent identity beyond royal headlines.

What's Next to Watch

If you're a fan of girl-power storytelling and don't mind a format that skews closer to competitive reality TV than a traditional documentary, Cookie Queens still offers a genuinely fun watch — especially with younger viewers in tow. The girls at its center are undeniably compelling, and their entrepreneurial spirit is infectious enough to carry you through.

For Harry and Meghan, though, the real challenge going forward will be finding projects that match the warmth of their intentions with storytelling that truly goes the extra mile.