In a surprising turn of events, Matthew Vaughn's highly anticipated spy comedy, Argylle, experienced a disappointing performance at the North American box office. With a staggering budget of $200 million to $250 million, the film only managed to open to an estimated $18 million from 3,605 cinemas. Overseas, Argylle fared marginally better, earning approximately $17.3 million from 78 markets. Although it claimed the top spot for the weekend, the movie's lackluster debut is a significant setback for Apple's theatrical endeavors.
As a tech giant primarily focused on streaming services, Apple's foray into traditional theatrical releases has been met with a different set of expectations. While legacy Hollywood studios would face severe criticism for a $200 million film with such underwhelming results, many in the industry view Apple Original Films' entry into the market as a positive development, providing more opportunities for movies to debut on the big screen before transitioning to Apple TV+.
