There were high hopes for Henry Cavill’s latest spy thriller The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare which had its premier in New York on April 13th, and released across the country on April 19th. After the failure of the actor’s previous film Argylle, fans have been eager to see the actor strike gold in his second collaboration with Guy Ritchie.
While the film started positively by earning great reviews and ratings from critics and preview audiences, it looks like luck has run out for Cavill and Ritchie at the box office following its public release across the USA. The movie has achieved a dubious record held by Argylle as far as domestic box office collection is concerned.
Henry Cavill’s Spy Thriller Has Opened Worse Than Argylle At The Box Office
A lot was expected from The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare which released in the USA over the weekend. The narrative based on the historical book by Damien Lewis, presents a fictionalized version of Operation Postmaster, a British special operation conducted on the Spanish island of Fernando Po during the 2nd World War.
With Ritchie’s stylized approach to action and Henry Cavill’s charismatic presence on screen, the film was one of the most anticipated releases that fans were eagerly looking forward to seeing. After the Superman actor’s exit from two big franchises namely DC and The Witcher series, audiences were also keen to see what he would attempt next.
As it turned out, the Man of Steel star’s spy thriller Argylle sank without a trace, with audiences and critics panning it across the board. As far as the domestic box office was concerned, the film made a pretty slow start by earning $18 million over its opening weekend in the USA, according to IGN.
But it looks like The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare has a worse fate than Cavill’s previous film judging by its domestic weekend earnings. The Hollywood Handle has reported that the film, which was made on a $60 million budget, managed to collect a dismal $9 million in its opening weekend, which is half of what Argylle made.
Despite this disappointing start to its journey, the Guy Ritchie film is earning a few glowing critical reviews, with Cavill’s unabashed and enjoyable performance also being lauded.
Henry Cavill’s 2024 Is Looking Up With This Entertainer
Despite The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare not setting the weekend box office on fire, the film looks to be resurrecting Henry Cavill’s career after the actor’s exit from DC and The Witcher. While the initial collections are not looking all that favorable, the Superman actor and the film are both getting praise from critics.
While the New York Post felt that the movie was an extremely entertaining take on a significant event in history, The Wrap called it a ‘larger than life World War II thriller in the Guy Ritchie house style’. The Hollywood Handle praised many aspects of the film including the British filmmaker’s flair for stylized action along with his penchant for comedy.
“An adrenaline rollercoaster that plunges viewers into a whirlwind of action. Meticulously choreographed combat scenes and a formidable cast, the film exudes an atmosphere of bravery. Ridiculously and aggressively funny, one of Guy Ritchies best movies yet.”
Cavill could take heart from the fact that many films have pushed forward strongly in their second week at the box office to make up the numbers. More significantly, the fans’ reactions to the actor’s performance and role will ultimately decide if the film ends up as a hit or a miss.
Argylle is available for purchase on Apple TV.
