Apple's Argylle records lowest US box office opening with $18 million

Apple Studios experienced its inaugural box office setback with the release of Argylle, a $200-million espionage thriller directed by Matthew Vaughn. Despite leading the weekend box office, the film garnered limited interest from audiences, grossing a mere $18 million in ticket sales, as per studio estimates.

While Apple has ventured into original filmmaking since 2019, achieving acclaim with 2021's CODA, it's only recently delved into producing high-budget releases. Previous endeavors, such as Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon and Ridley Scott's Napoleon, though not financially lucrative, bolstered Apple's standing as a hub for top-tier directors and prestigious cinema.

However, Argylle, featuring an ensemble cast including Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, and Henry Cavill, failed to impress both critics and moviegoers. With a dismal Rotten Tomatoes score of 35% and a lukewarm C CinemaScore, the film missed the mark.


Despite aspirations of launching a new franchise, Argylle's buzz was centered more on speculation surrounding Taylor Swift's involvement due to thematic elements like argyle patterns and a cat in promotional materials. However, Swift's association with the project remained purely speculative.

In contrast, The Chosen, a Christian drama series depicting the life of Jesus, secured the second spot at the box office, grossing $6 million over the weekend. Meanwhile, established releases like Warner Bros.' Wonka and Paramount's Mean Girls continued to perform well, crossing significant milestones domestically.

While the cinema landscape remains relatively subdued, Oscar contenders such as Cord Jefferson's American Fiction and Yorgos Lanthimos' Poor Things continue to draw audiences, further diversifying the box office offerings.