Argylle is currently experiencing a lackluster performance at the box office, despite high expectations and an impressive cast. However, the setback has not deterred its star Henry Cavill, who remains enthusiastic about his upcoming projects, particularly the Amazon Warhammer 40,000 series and the Highlander reboot.
Argylle‘s underwhelming debut can be attributed to a combination of factors, including its substantial budget, unconventional premise, and unfavorable early reviews. The film, directed by the celebrated Matthew Vaughn, failed to resonate with audiences, with its unusual marketing campaign possibly contributed to its struggles.
The movie’s trailer, featuring Henry Cavill and Dua Lipa as spies, took an unexpected turn, revealing a narrative centered around Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard). While this approach aimed to differentiate Argylle from other spy films with a twist like Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Nobody, or The Beekeeper, it may have left potential viewers confused and disinterested.
The challenge of introducing a completely new property to audiences further hindered Argylle‘s chances of success, as unfamiliar stories often face resistance or disinterest from moviegoers. Even established-but-less-mainstream properties like The King’s Man (2021) and Spy Kids: Armageddon (2023) received lukewarm reception from both critics and the audience.
On that note, critical reception also played a significant role in the film’s downfall, with reviews highlighting its overextended plot, predictability, and criticisms of CGI and action scenes. Argylle garnered a disappointing 35% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, and its 71% audience score is unlikely to salvage its prospects.
The film’s financial woes are apparent, with a global weekend gross of $35.5 million against a staggering $200 million budget. Despite Apple being behind the production muscle of the film, the high cost proved insurmountable, especially for an entirely original storyline without the promise of future franchise potential.
Moreover, it is now the third big Apple production that has underperformed at the box office, following Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon and Ridley Scott’s Napoleon. Could this be an emerging pattern?
Adding insult to injury, the UK and Ireland box office numbers barely added to Argylle‘s mediocre performance, as it failed to outperform the animated film Migration, losing with £2 million ($2.5 million) against £3.5 million ($4.4 million). The disappointing performance on Cavill’s home turf, particularly for a production with a predominantly British team, underscores the film’s struggles.
Of course Henry Cavill named his dog after a LORD OF THE RINGS character.
Our full chat: https://t.co/B8moNrpRTV pic.twitter.com/u6jXQB2fas
— Josh Horowitz (@joshuahorowitz) February 7, 2024
However, amidst Argylle‘s challenges, Henry Cavill remains focused on his passion projects. In a recent interview with Josh Horowitz, Cavill expressed his excitement for the Warhammer 40,000 series, calling it the “greatest privilege” of his professional career.
The actor, a devoted Warhammer 40K collector and player, emphasized his commitment to staying faithful to the source material, underscoring the personal significance as his dream project to him since childhood.
Amazon Studios secured the TV and movie rights to Games Workshop’s Warhammer 40,000 in late 2022, with Cavill set to executive produce and likely star in an ambitious attempt to create a cinematic universe. While specific details about the project remain under wraps, Cavill’s dedication and anticipation suggest a promising endeavor for fans of the iconic tabletop wargame.
Aside from the Warhammer 40K project, Cavill has already started preparing for another major role in the Highlander reboot under Lionsgate, slated for release in 2026. While there is no clear word yet on what the plot will be, Chad Stahelski (John Wick) is looking up to the challenge of re-imagining the cult classic gathering of immortals.
In addition to his upcoming projects, Cavill shared his perspective during the Josh Horowitz interview on sex scenes in movies, expressing discomfort with their frequent use. Cavill questioned the necessity of such scenes, emphasizing the power of the human imagination and suggesting that they are often overused in contemporary cinema.
Although Argylle is still number one at its second week at the box office, it is expected to have a steep drop in what is currently the lowest grossing weekend of 2024.
