Apple Original Films’ highly anticipated action movie, Argylle, directed by Matthew Vaughn, faced a disappointing start at the box office. Despite high hopes from exhibitors, the film’s previews on Thursday night only managed to generate $1.7 million. This falls short of the $2.4 million earned by Amazon MGM’s The Beekeeper a few weeks prior. With a budget of $200 million, Argylle was expected to achieve an opening weekend of $20 million or more, but these expectations now seem unlikely to be met. Even though the film was shown in 3,100 theaters and had all the advantages of premium pricing options such as PLF and Imax, early reviews on Rotten Tomatoes sitting at a mere 34% are advising potential moviegoers to steer clear of the film.
One would think that a movie boasting an all-star cast, including Henry Cavill, John Cena, Oscar winner Ariana DeBose, Grammy-winning pop superstar Dua Lipa, Emmy winner and Oscar nominee Bryan Cranston, Emmy winner Catherine O’Hara, Sofia Boutella, and Marvel’s Samuel L. Jackson, would be a recipe for success. However, the star power of these actors and musicians has proven ineffective in drawing in audiences. Despite their individual talents and popularity, their collective presence does not seem to resonate with moviegoers.
In contrast to Argylle’s struggle, Fathom Events’ Season 4 of The Chosen has enjoyed some moderate success. Episodes 1-3 of the show grossed an estimated $1.4 million across 2,236 theaters. The upcoming release of episodes 4-6 on February 15 and episodes 7-8 on February 29 is expected to generate further interest and boost box office numbers. Despite not reaching the same level of success as The Beekeeper, the steady performance of The Chosen demonstrates that there is still an audience for alternative content.
Paramount’s Mean Girls may have gained popularity upon release, but it was ultimately overshadowed by The Beekeeper in their respective third weekends. The Jason Statham-led action film managed to earn $6.9 million, surpassing Mean Girls’ $6.6 million. This trend continued into their second weeks, with The Beekeeper generating $9.2 million compared to Mean Girls’ $8.9 million. The domestic running total for The Beekeeper currently stands at $44.1 million, while Mean Girls has accumulated $62.3 million.
Warner Bros’ Wonka secured third place for the week with a respectable $7.1 million across 3,014 theaters. With a running total of $196.3 million, the film is poised to cross the coveted $200 million mark by the end of the weekend. Perhaps the enduring appeal of the Wonka brand and the anticipation surrounding this new adaptation have contributed to its success thus far.
Sony’s Anyone But You, shown in 2,885 theaters, concluded its sixth week with earnings of $6.4 million, bringing its running total to $72.7 million. While these figures are not particularly impressive, the film has managed to maintain a consistent presence at the box office.
The disappointing performance of Argylle despite its impressive cast reminds us that star power alone does not guarantee box office success. Audiences are becoming increasingly discerning and rely on reviews and word-of-mouth before deciding which films to see. With alternative content like The Chosen finding moderate success and The Beekeeper’s continued dominance, the industry is evolving, and filmmakers must adapt to changing audience preferences to thrive.