In a business where box-office receipts often determine the success or failure of a film, Matthew Vaughn’s Argylle is facing an uphill battle.

This is entirely true. The film’s ability to do well at the box office can often be a make-or-break moment. Take the most recent film, Argylle, from Universal Pictures & Apple Original Films, which starred Henry Cavill in the title role.

The highly anticipated spy action comedy flick (released on February 2) made headlines not just due to its star-studded cast and high-octane action sequences but also for its staggering budget of $200 million. However, regardless of the hype surrounding its release, the global box office opening was not up to par, raising questions about the film’s performance and the factors that contributed to its reception.

Henry Cavill in Argylle

With its stylish trailers and Cavill’s impressive track record in blockbuster films, the film was expected to be a surefire hit. Surprisingly, the reality has been quite different, as Matthew Vaughn’s movie is having difficulty bringing in audiences, earning $41.7 million at the domestic box office.

Henry Cavill’s Argylle: Global Box Office Earning Hardly Makes A Dent In Its Enormous Budget

Fans of Henry Cavill and fans of spy films were counting down the seconds to see Argylle, a high-end action movie with a charismatic star playing a dapper secret agent. Despite high expectations and a star-studded cast, the film’s global box-office debut fell short of expectations, leaving many wondering whether it will be able to recoup its staggering $200 million budget.

The $200 million budget for the spy movie, which is the work of director Matthew Vaughn and Apple Original Films, is estimated. The movie stars Bryce Dallas Howard as Conway, who becomes entangled in a quest when she unintentionally discovers insightful information about actual espionage operations from her spy novel about Agent Argylle (Henry Cavill).

Henry Cavill in Argylle (2024)

The Numbers show that the 139-minute flick took in $41.7 million domestically and $44 million internationally. Deadline reports that the Argylle box office was predicted to conclude its opening weekend with a $35 million global total over three days. This barely scratches the surface of the film’s enormous budget; thus, is it enough to make it the top film at the box office?

Argylle: Can The Spy Thriller Starring Henry Cavill Recoup Its Costs?

The financial outlook for the Argylle release is seriously bleak after this weekend’s global premiere. For the movie to break even, it will still need to make at least $300 million in box office revenue, despite some more cautious sources estimating the budget to be near $150 million (per Screen Rant).

Despite selling $156 million worldwide, Killers of the Flower Moon was not profitable, but it was one of the most well-received movies of 2023 and has ten Academy Award nominations. The November release of Napoleon has brought in $227 million worldwide, but this is still insufficient to make a profit. However, both movies enhanced Apple’s standing as a haven for prestigious and accomplished filmmakers.

John Cena and Dua Lipa in Matthew Vaughn’s Argylle

However, the same cannot be said of the gripping thriller Argylle, which also stars Sam Rockwell and Bryce Dallas Howard. Reviewers gave the film a 33% fresh Rotten Tomatoes score, which is a pretty low rating. It received a C+ rating on CinemaScore from ticket buyers who also thought it was a dud.

Here are two other things that could eventually help Argylle gain more momentum: the first is that it might be available for streaming on Apple TV+, which could make up for some of the theater’s shortcomings if it draws in a new audience. Secondly, until Dune: Part Two opens in early March, there are not many big releases. This implies that if the spy film manages to draw viewers over the next few relatively slow weekends, it may have a slow-burning success.

The future of Argylle is still up in the air, but with a little bit of luck, the movie could still be able to break even or even make a profit. But we can’t deny that Cavill’s spy thriller is in dire need of a miracle to overcome its box office woes and emerge as a success in a fiercely competitive industry.

Watch Argylle in theaters now!