Apple Studios experienced its inaugural box office disappointment with “Argylle,” a high-budget spy thriller costing $200 million. Despite debuting as the weekend’s top performer with $18 million in ticket sales, the film, helmed by director Matthew Vaughn, failed to captivate audiences.
While Apple has been venturing into original filmmaking since 2019, earning acclaim with the Oscar-winning “CODA” in 2021, its foray into big-budget productions is relatively new. The initial endeavors, including Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” and Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon,” could be deemed successful.
“Killers of the Flower Moon,” despite not achieving profitability with $156 million in global sales, garnered widespread acclaim in 2023 and earned 10 Academy Award nominations. Similarly, “Napoleon,” released in November, accrued $219 million worldwide, though falling short of profitability.
Nevertheless, both films bolstered Apple’s standing as a destination for esteemed directors and prestigious filmmaking.
Argylle, featuring Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, and Henry Cavill, diverged from Apple’s previous successes. Critics panned the twisty thriller, bestowing it with a meager 35% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Additionally, audience reception was lackluster, reflected in its C CinemaScore.
For each of its major releases, Apple Studios collaborated with traditional studios. “Argylle” was distributed by Universal Pictures, premiering in 3,605 North American locations and generating an extra $17.3 million across 78 international markets. Meanwhile, “Killers of the Flower Moon” was managed by Paramount, and “Napoleon” was overseen by Sony.
“Argylle,” led by director Vaughn of Kingsman fame, aimed to kickstart a new franchise. Pre-release buzz surrounded speculation about Taylor Swift’s potential involvement, fueled by prominent argyle patterns and a cat in promotional materials. However, despite widespread online chatter, Swift had no association with the film.
“The Chosen,” a Christian drama series depicting the life of Jesus, clinched second place over the weekend. Playing in 2,263 theaters, the first three episodes of its fourth season amassed $6 million in box office revenue from Friday through Sunday. Distributed by Angel Studios, the series continues to resonate with audiences.
During another subdued weekend at the box office, remaining ticket sales primarily supported ongoing releases and awards contenders. Warner Bros.’ “Wonka” surpassed $200 million domestically in its eighth week, while Paramount’s “Mean Girls” crossed the $100 million mark after four weeks. Additionally, “The Beekeeper” from Amazon MGM approached $50 million in its fourth week.
Despite numerous Oscar contenders debuting months prior, top choices among current theatrical releases include Cord Jefferson’s “American Fiction,” earning $15 million thus far for MGM and starring Jeffrey Wright, and Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things,” accumulating $28.2 million domestically alongside $40.1 million overseas, featuring Emma Stone.
- Argylle- $18 million.
- The Chosen- $6 million.
- The Beekeeper- $5.3 million.
- Wonka- $4.8 million.
- Migration- $4.1 million.
- Mean Girls- $4 million.
- Anyone But You- $3.5 million.
- American Fiction- $2.3 million.
- Poor Things- $2.1 million.
- Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom- $2 million.
