At first glance, ‘Argylle‘ seemed like a promising, quirky spy thriller with a star-studded cast including Henry Cavill, Dua Lipa, Bryce Dallas Howard and John Cena. But as the numbers roll in, it’s clear that the film failed to hit the mark. Despite a heavy budget and Matthew Vaughn’s direction, the movie faced a plethora of challenges that led to its commercial flop.
The movie was expected to get received well as its filmmaker Vaughn is well known for his successful work with ‘Kick-Ass’ and ‘The Kingsmen’ franchises. But the extent of its failure has come off as a huge shock for many. Besides, Henry Cavill’s role as a spy in the film has laid a wobbly foundation for similar future projects he has taken up. Here’s a breakdown of the reasons why ‘Argylle‘ might have failed and what it would mean for Henry Cavill.
Why ‘Argylle’ Flopped Despite Its Allure?
While there are several possible reasons for ‘Argylle‘ getting bombed so badly, one of the most glaring issues with the film was its hefty budget rumored to be around $200 million. This made its meager earnings of $18 million at the box office and $35.5 million worldwide seem bleak.
Another issue with the film was the initial criticism that it faced after its release on February 2, which further paved the way for other critics to follow. The early reviews cited its over-long plot and predictability as major turn-offs. Besides, the movie brought an entirely new plot and narrative for the audiences who seemed hesitant to engage with an unfamiliar storyline.
Matthew Vaughn’s popularity, while a boon in many cases, might also have played a role against ‘Argylle’. The great reception of his last film ‘The King’s Man’ could have heightened the audience’s expectations from ‘Argylle‘. But it clearly failed to reach that level, which made it seem worse than it would have if Vaughn’s previous movie had not set the bar so high.
The film’s marketing campaign also may have backfired by being too quirky. Though it was an attempt to create intrigue among the audiences, the trailer starting with Henry Cavill and Dua Lipa as spies was kind of a misguided narrative. It was later revealed that the actual narrative centered around Elly Conway and not the two faces advertised in the trailer. This may have left the viewers confused and with expectations that did not get fulfilled.
The release window of the movie also worked against it. ‘Argylle‘ hit the theaters around the time when moviegoers traditionally don’t opt for a theatre watch. A February 2 release may not have been the best time.
However, the biggest blow came from the film’s runtime and its peculiar world. At around 2 hours and 20 minutes, ‘Argylle‘ may have felt too long for a light-hearted spy thriller for audiences expecting a concise experience. The runtime could have made sense if it was a part of a franchise or a series. But for a standalone movie, it was an elaborate one that came off as a stretch to the viewers.
In case you missed it: How Did Taylor Swift Serve As An Inspiration For ‘Argylle’?
‘Argylle’ Failure Casts A Shadow On Henry Cavill’s Next Spy Flick
Though it stumbled at the box office, the narrative of ‘Argylle‘ has set the stage for a sequel. Whether ‘Argylle 2‘ materializes after the initial setback remains uncertain. But the film’s shortcomings are going to leave some heavy repercussions on Henry Cavill’s career, given some of his prospects set in the near future.
Henry Cavill’s upcoming spy comedy, ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare‘ already carries the weight of high expectations from his fans. With the recent failure of ‘Argylle’, Cavill’s venture into the spy genre would perhaps face more scrutiny than it would have faced otherwise.
The parallels between the two projects — including Cavill’s involvement, Vaughn’s style, and Guy Ritchie’s directorial touch — put the next film under heavy scrutiny. ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare‘ presents a trailer with a seemingly more focused tone compared to the scattered vibe of ‘Argylle’. However, the films still share elements like humor style and the relative unfamiliarity of the story to general audiences.
Adding more to it is Cavill and Ritchie’s collaboration in ‘The Man from U.N.C.L.E.’, which also didn’t initially fare well. Though the movie later gained a cult following, it was heavily criticized for prioritizing style over substance.
In conclusion, while concerns about Henry Cavill’s next film persist, only time will tell if the failure of ‘Argylle’ will affect how the audience receives ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare‘.
You might also like to read:
