‘Argylle’ Underperforms But Still Takes Home The Gold With $16.5 Million Domestically

While Mean Girls has been ruling the school the last few weeks, there’s a new cat in town. Argylle, coming from Apple and Universal, opens on the big screen this weekend, but to a disappointing gross. 

From a rumored budget of $200 million,  Argylle comes from Matthew Vaughn, known for his successful Kingsman series. Bryce Dallas Howard plays an introverted author responsible for a string of super-successful spy novels. But once events like in her works begin to play out in real life, she gets wrapped up in the spy world, with everyone wanting to pick her brain for what comes next.

Despite the large budget, the film only took in $5.6 million on Friday, setting it up for an estimated opening of $16.5 million. Hollywood Reporter observes that Apple’s cinematic endeavors are held in a different regard than others due to their prioritizing of streaming rather than theatrical success. 

While Argylle is off to a disappointing start in its box office run, it still managed to steal the top spot this weekend. Coming up in second place is The Beekeeper, with roughly $5 million being added to its bottom line. Wonka holds third place, still not beaten out of the top 3, even in its 8th consecutive week. 

After it ruled the holiday season, Wonka took in $4.7 million over the weekend, pushing its domestic total past $200 million. 

Rounding out the top five is Migration in fourth, taking in $4.2 million, and in fifth is Mean Girls, dropping down from the top spot. Despite its success over the past few weekends, it’s looking to take home just under $4 million by the weekend’s close. 

The top ten of the weekend, courtesy of Deadline: 

1. Argylle (App/Uni) 3-Day $16.5M/ Wk 1
2. The Beekeeper (AMZ MGM) 3-Day $5.1M/ Total $49.3M/ Wk 4
3. Wonka (WB) 3-Day $4.7M/ Total $201M/ Wk 8
4. Migration (Ill/Uni) 3-Day $4.2M/ Total $106.2M/ Wk 7 
5. Mean Girls (Paramount) 3-Day $3.85M/ Total $66.2M/ Wk 4
6. Anyone But You (Sony) 3-Day $3.27M/ Total $76M/ Wk 7
7. The Chosen (Fathom) 3-Day $3.25M/ Wk 1 
8. American Fiction (AMZ MGM) 3-Day $2.189M/ Total $14.9M/ Wk 8 
9. Poor Things (Sea) 3-Day $2.1M/ Total $28.1M/ Wk 9
10. Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom (WB) 3-Day $1.8M/ Total $120.6M/ Wk 7