LOS ANGELES, California – “Argylle,” a highly anticipated espionage action-comedy film, is off to a disappointing start at the box office. The movie, with a star-studded cast and a massive $200 million production budget, only managed to bring in $6.5 million in ticket sales from 3,605 venues across North America during its opening day and preview screenings.
The film is a production by Apple Studios, marking the company’s third recent wide release in North America. Partnering with Universal for distribution, “Argylle” represents another significant financial investment for the tech giant, following the high-budget productions of “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Napoleon.” Both of those films did not perform exceptionally well at the box office, but they established Apple as a player in the prestige film industry, attracting top-tier directorial talent and potentially earning accolades from major awards bodies.
Directed by Matthew Vaughn, “Argylle” stars Bryce Dallas Howard as an author whose book series about a fictional spy attracts the attention of global espionage organizations. The film also features a star-studded ensemble, including Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, Dua Lipa, Bryan Cranston, Ariana DeBose, John Cena, Catherine O’Hara, Samuel L. Jackson, Sofia Boutella, and Rob Delaney.
Despite the negative reviews, “Argylle” failed to resonate with audiences, as reflected in the “C+” Cinema Score issued by research firm Cinema Score. The film’s lackluster performance at the box office has raised concerns about its potential to fulfill its ambitions of being a franchise starter.
Looking ahead, theaters are anticipating the release of upcoming films such as Paramount’s “Bob Marley: One Love” and Sony’s “Madame Web” for a potential boost in foot traffic. “Argylle” will also face competition from Fathom Events, which has drawn solid business with the theatrical release of “The Chosen” Season 4, a dramatization of the life of Jesus Christ.
The disappointing box office performance of “Argylle” comes amidst the success of holdover films from the holidays and January, such as “The Beekeeper,” “Wonka,” “Mean Girls,” “Anyone but You,” and “Migration,” which continue to contribute to the box office revenue. Warner Bros.’ “Wonka” is set to reach a $200 million domestic gross, making it the eighth-highest-grossing North American release of 2023, while Amazon MGM’s “Beekeeper” and Sony’s “Anyone but You” are also poised to achieve significant domestic grosses in the coming days.