Bryce Dallas Howard knows what it’s like to star in a movie that bombs at the box office, and she said it is often easy to see it coming. This includes a 2024 film that she made with Henry Cavill that cost $200 million but made nothing close to that when released in theaters. Argylle was a disappointing box office failure.

Directed by Matthew Vaughn (Kick-ᴀss, The Kingsman), Argylle tells the story of a reclusive spy novelist named Elly (Howard) who has writer’s block. While on a train journey to visit her parents, an organization known as the Division sends someone to kill her, and a real-life spy (played by Sam Rockwell) saves her. This organization believes her books predict the future, and they want to eliminate her to succeed in their plans.

The movie cost $200 and reports indicated it would need to make $500 million worldwide to break even (via Variety). Instead, the movie only made $96.2 million, finishing its theatrical run as a box-office flop. Howard has been part of a few box-office failures, and her father, Ron Howard, has directed a few. According to the actor, she can usually see it coming (via The Independent):

“You can always see it coming while you’re making it. I’ve never been shocked when something doesn’t work. But I’m just an actor – you’re there to serve a director’s vision. If a movie doesn’t turn out the way that you envisioned, you can barely feel disappointed because it’s not yours. You’re not the person who’s building the thing.”

Howard said that, as an actor, it is different from when you are a director. She mentioned her father took “on the emotional burden when one of his films doesn’t do well.” However, this is not how she lives her life as an actor, which surprises her father. “It blows him away that I don’t do that.”

What This Means For Argylle

Argylle Was Ultimately Made For Apple TV+

Bryce Dallas Howard was talking about movies like Argylle and The Lady in the Water when discussing the box office failures she was a part of. In the case of The Lady in the Water, that movie made $72.8 million on a $70 million budget, and it helped stall out M. Night Shyamalan’s career. However, it was different for Argylle. That movie was made in a different era, and for a different purpose. Apple Original Films co-produced Argylle with Universal Pictures. The movie was always meant to go to Apple TV after its theatrical run.

Argylle flopped at the box office thanks to poor reviews and even worse marketing. The trailers made it seem like a spy comedy, but there was another aspect that the film kept a secret. This was a spinoff movie from the Kingman franchise. That might not have helped as much since 2021’s The King’s Man was also a disappointment, only making $126 million on a $100 million budget.

However, when Apple TV+ bought the rights to the movie, the company always meant for it to be something they could use to get more subscribers for its streaming service. Argylle for Apple TV+ was like Netflix spending $200 million to make Red Notice and only releasing it for a limited time in theaters before adding it to the service.

Our Take On Argylle’s Box Office Failure

Argylle Was Still A Disappointment For Apple TV

Argylle was still a disappointment for Matthew Vaughn and Apple TV. It made little money in its theatrical run and its legacy will never allow Apple to recoup the money it paid based on streaming. It seems Bryce Dallas Howard knew it would struggle in its release, but she doesn’t seem interested in burying it. She simply did her job and moved on to her next project, which is likely best for her mental well-being in the long run.

Sources: Variety, The Independent