Apple Studios’ big-budget spy thriller, Matthew Vaughn’s ‘Argylle’ has had a disappointing start at the box office. The film, which boasts an all-star cast including Henry Cavill, John Cena, Ariana DeBose, Dua Lipa, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, Sofia Boutella, and Samuel L. Jackson, debuted with a meager $18 million in the United States.
The film’s global opening was not much better, grossing $35.3 million. This is a far cry from the $200 million production budget, a significant investment for Apple Studios. The movie has been met with mostly negative reviews, and audiences have not found much to like either. Cinema Score issued a “C+” grade after surveying early ticket buyers.
“Argylle” was booked at 3,605 North American venues, but its opening day saw only $6.5 million in ticket sales. The film’s previews made $1.7 million, which is below the $2.4 million previews clocked by Amazon MGM’s “The Beekeeper” a few weeks ago.
The movie’s underwhelming performance comes as Apple Studios expands its presence in the film industry. The tech giant has been investing in prestigious projects, such as “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Napoleon,” attracting storied directorial talent and, hopefully, major awards.
However, Matthew Vaughn’s ‘Argylle’ will likely face an uphill battle to fulfill its promise as a franchise starter. The film’s disappointing box office performance may lead to reevaluations of Apple Studios’ strategy and investment decisions.
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Universal is distributing and helping to market Matthew Vaughn’s ‘Argylle’ on behalf of Apple Original Films in exchange for a distribution fee. Because Apple is first and foremost one of the world’s richest tech companies whose priority on the content side is streaming, its theatrical efforts are judged differently. If legacy Hollywood studios released a $200 million movie with such results, they would be skewered.
Matthew Vaughn’s ‘Argylle’, directed from a script by Wonder Woman‘s Jason Fuchs, tells the tale of a best-selling spy novelist and cat-loving recluse whose tranquil life is upended when the plots of her books begin coming to life.
Vaughn’s reality-bending spy thriller doesn’t lack star power. The cast includes Bryce Dallas Howard, Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, John Cena, Ariana DeBose, Dua Lipa, Catherine O’Hara, Sofia Boutella and Samuel L. Jackson. Alfie the cat is played by Chip, the real-life pet of supermodel Claudia Vaughn (née Schiffer).
Matthew Vaughn’s ‘Argylle’ is Apple’s third traditional theatrical release recently, following Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-nominated Killers of The Flower Moon and Ridley Scott’s Napoleon. Both movies likewise cost $200 million or more to produce. Many in Hollywood believe it’s good to have Apple Original Films throw its hat into the ring since it means more movies on the big screen before they head for streaming on Apple TV+.
While it may be an awards darling, Killers of the Flower Moon — which nabbed 10 Oscar nominations, the third most of any film behind Oppenheimer (13) and Poor Things (11) — Scorsese’s epic has only grossed $157.6 million at the global box office. Napoleon has fared somewhat better with $219.4 million to date (the latter film earned three Oscar nominations).
