With a track record of turning stories into sensational films, Matthew Vaughn has already astonished us with his directorial finesse. Unfortunately, in addition to creating critically acclaimed flicks like Layer Cake, Stardust, X-Men: First Class, and Kingsman: The Secret Service, he has also directed films that fell flat with critics. That being said, his recent release—Argylle—starring Bryce Dallas Howard, Bryan Cranston, and Henry Cavill—has failed to capture the hearts of theatergoers.
Despite not breaking even at the box office, the film performed well on streaming platforms. While the box office numbers are still rolling in, with Vaughn at the helm and the film gaining traction, Argylle appears to be ripe for expansion.
Yes, despite losing over $100 million on the action-packed spectacle, which also featured the charm of John Cena and Samuel L. Jackson, Vaughn remains undeterred, discussing the potential for Argylle 2 with infectious optimism.
Matthew Vaughn’s Response to The Criticism of Henry Cavill’s Argylle
In addition to boasting a plot that was unlike anything else in the spy action genre, Argylle featured one of the most impressive casts, with major stars such as Henry Cavill and Bryce Dallas Howard starring alongside Dua Lipa and John Cena.
In a recent interview with Empire, Matthew Vaughn expressed his disappointment over Argylle’s “vitriolic” reviews rather than the ticket sales. The director, 53, claimed to have been taken aback by the spy-adventure comedy’s extreme failure on a critical level. To quote him:
It’s a fun, feel-good movie, or I thought it was a fun, feel-good movie. We didn’t make ‘Citizen Kane,’ but f**king hell, then the reviews came out, and I’m like, ‘Wait, what have I done to offend these people?’ They were vitriolic.
While Vaughn is by no means “saying the movie’s perfect”, he did not find the film to be “offensive”. He added:
That took me by surprise.
The director recalled “fantastic” audience test screenings prior to the film’s January 2024 release. Howard plays a novelist in the movie who becomes involved in a true story that looks too good to be true. Vaughn stated:
My guard came down on ‘Argylle.’ We had done test screenings that had gone fantastically well. The premiere was a really fun night, and it was like going back to the ‘Snatch’ days where there was such excitement. And I started drinking the Kool-Aid.
Moreover, Vaughn went back to the theaters after the reviews were released to see firsthand how the audience was responding:
I even went round to cinemas because I thought, ‘Maybe I’ve lost the plot now’. It did rattle me. I’m genuinely scratching my head about that, because you can’t ignore it. It wasn’t like [just] a few bad reviews
Since the film went on to air on Apple TV+, Vaughn is more than pleased with the film’s reception on the streaming platform and is revitalized to helm a sequel.
Argylle Director Revealed Exciting Sequel Plans Post-Streaming Success
While it may seem like a risky move to forge ahead with a sequel to a movie that lost over $100 million (Box Office Mojo), Matthew Vaughn is not one to back down from a challenge. Despite the lukewarm reception and poor box-office performance of Argylle, Vaughn remains optimistic about the possibility of a sequel.
In the same Empire interview, Vaughn acknowledged the harsh reviews but highlighted the positive response the film has received on streaming platforms. He emphasized the importance of getting more people to watch Argylle in order to increase the chances of a sequel:
We’re doing very well on streaming. People are liking it. Nothing would make me happier than making another one. I’m getting texts saying, ‘Wow, those reviews were f—ing harsh!’ The more we can get people to watch Argylle, the more chance we make another one. I’d love to make another one, we’ve got it planned. It’ll make a good little movie. We’ll see.
2024 has not been kind to action moviegoers; even highly anticipated flicks such as The Fall Guy and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga have underperformed. Argylle, which follows a shy writer (Bryce Dallas Howard) as she enters the world of spies and espionage, is one of the most heinous examples of a 2024 box office disaster.
Regardless, despite the obstacles in the way, Vaughn remains determined to make another installment in the Argylle series. Only time will tell if the director’s optimism pays off, but there is still hope for the sequel to find success.
Stream Argylle on Apple TV+.
