Matthew Vaughn gives his honest reaction toArgylle’sabysmal reviews. Starring a leading cast including Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Sam Rockwell, Vaughn’s spy film broke the director’s positive streak from recent projects like theKingsmanfranchise.Argyllereceived terrible reviews, and is now considered one of 2024’s first major theatrical flops.
Speaking withEmpire, Vaughn addressesArgylle’s less-than-lackluster reception. According to the director,it was crushing to see the “vitriolic” responseto the action film, adding that “it did rattle[him].” He explains that the response to thetest screenings was highly disparate from how theatrical audiences perceived the film. Scrolling through reviews, he thought “what have I done to offend these people?” Ultimately taking a positive outlook, Cavill said that one “learn[s] from these things.” Check out the full quote from Vaughn below:
Fck yeah. My guard came down onArgylle. We had done test screenings that had gone fantastically well. The premiere was a really fun night, and it was like going back to theSnatchdays where there was such excitement. And I started drinking the Kool-Aid. It’s a fun, feel-good movie, or I thought it was a fun, feel-good movie. We didn’t makeCitizen Kane, but fcking hell, then the reviews came out and I’m like, ‘Wait, what have I done to offend these people?’ They were vitriolic. I’m not saying the movie’s perfect by any means, but I didn’t think it was offensive. That took me by surprise.
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 may’t ignore it. It wasn’t like [just] a few bad reviews.
How Can Matthew Vaughn Bounce Back After Argylle?
The Director Has A Strong Track Record
Part of why Vaughn likely experiences such utter shock over theArgylleresponsecame as a result of the difference betweenArgylle’s response and that of the films in the remainder of his directorial career. Though his last couple of films have seen mixed critical reviews,Argylleis his lowest-rated movie. In addition, the vast majority of Vaughn-directed projects have received Tomatometers that are in the positive. Used to the comfort of this decent reception, Vaughn was likely left unprepared for the response toArgylle.
81%
84%
77%
86%
87%
75%
51%
64%
40%
80%
33%
72%
Making matters worse was the fact thatArgylle’s negative reviews were coupled with underperforming at the box. Throughout its run,the film made just $96.1 million worldwide. Made on an estimated budget of $200 million, the film did not even come close to making back its budget. Despite these poor reviews and performance, theprospect ofArgylle 2has still been floated. Perhaps Vaughn sees a sequel as a chance to right the wrongs of his frenetic first attempt.
Argylle 2is not the only way for Vaughn to find creative redemption in the coming years. Though he is not directing it, Vaughn is attached as a producer to the projectThe Stuntman, which is directed by Damien Walters. The full plot of the film has yet to be revealed, but it does tell the story of two brothers who became stuntmen, and is helmed by one of the former stunt team members from Vaughn’s projects. This film shows promise and could set Vaughn up on a more positive creative path afterArgylle.
Argylle
Cast
Argylle is an action thriller by director Matthew Vaughn. The movie centers on an introverted novelist who is thrown into the real world of espionage after the plot of her most recent spy thriller parrels the crimes of an underground syndicate. Argylle has a star-studded cast, including Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Dua Lipa, and Samuel L. Jackson, among others.
