Apple’s highly anticipated film, “Argylle,” has failed to make a strong impression at the box office, earning only $1.7 million in previews. This falls short of the $2.4 million earned by Amazon MGM’s “The Beekeeper” a few weeks ago, which went on to have a successful $16.5 million opening. With a budget of $200 million, it seems unlikely that “Argylle” will reach the $20 million mark that some exhibitors had hoped for.
Despite being shown in 3,100 theaters and offering premium experiences such as PLF and Imax, “Argylle” has received negative reviews from critics, with a 34% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This early backlash has led to warnings from reviewers, advising audiences not to watch the film. It is surprising considering the star-studded cast, which includes Henry Cavill, John Cena, Ariana DeBose, Dua Lipa, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, Sofia Boutella, and Samuel L. Jackson.
In contrast to “Argylle,” Fathom Events’ Season 4 of “The Chosen” has performed well, earning an estimated $1.4 million across 2,236 theaters for its first three episodes. The remaining episodes are set to be released on February 15 and February 29.
While “The Beekeeper” was surpassed by Paramount’s “Mean Girls” in their third weekends, earning $6.9 million compared to $6.6 million, it managed to outperform the popular film in their second weeks. Jason Statham’s action-packed movie brought in $9.2 million across 3,337 theaters, while “Mean Girls” earned $8.9 million across 3,544 theaters. “The Beekeeper” has now accumulated a domestic total of $44.1 million, while “Mean Girls” sits at $62.3 million.
Warner Bros’ “Wonka” secured the third spot for the week, earning $7.1 million across 3,014 theaters. With a running total of $196.3 million, it is expected to cross the $200 million mark this weekend.
Sony’s “Anyone But You,” shown in 2,885 theaters, earned $6.4 million in its sixth week, bringing its total to $72.7 million.
Finally, Illumination/Universal’s “Migration” concluded its sixth week with $6 million across 2,970 theaters, accumulating a total of $102 million domestically.
Despite the disappointment surrounding “Argylle,” there are still several films making waves at the box office. From the continued success of “The Beekeeper” and “Mean Girls” to the anticipation surrounding “Wonka,” audiences have plenty of options to choose from. As the weeks go by, it will be interesting to see how these films fare and if any new contenders emerge in the ever-competitive world of cinema.