The National Times - 'Argylle' sees big drop but still tops N.America box office

'Argylle' sees big drop but still tops N.America box office


'Argylle' sees big drop but still tops N.America box office
'Argylle' sees big drop but still tops N.America box office / Photo: © AFP/File

Universal's wacky spy thriller "Argylle" held on to the top spot in North American theaters on a molasses-slow movie weekend overshadowed by pro football's Super Bowl championship game.

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"Argylle" took in just an estimated $6.5 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported -- and that despite a cast including Dua Lipa, Henry Cavill, John Cena and Ariana DeBose, with Bryce Dallas Howard as a spy novelist who gets in over her head.

Given the Apple co-production's budget of $200 million -- and its sharp drop from an $18 million opening weekend -- Variety has declared it "the year's first big bomb."

"Lisa Frankenstein," a new release from Focus Features, earned $3.8 million to claim the second spot. Analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research called that a "weak opening."

Despite its elements of romance and horror -- and humor in a script from "Juno" screenwriter Diablo Cody -- "it's not connecting," Gross added. Still, with a budget of just $13 million, "Lisa" should turn a profit, he said.

MGM action flick "The Beekeeper," starring Jason Statham, stayed steady in third place, taking in $3.5 million.

In fourth spot was Fathom Events' "The Chosen: S4 EP 1-3," about the life of Jesus Christ. It earned $3.2 million.

And in fifth, Warner Bros.' fantasy musical "Wonka" kept up its long top-five streak, making $3.1 million in its ninth week of release. Timothee Chalamet stars as the eccentric chocolate maker.

Analytics company Comscore said total ticket sales for the weekend were at a near all-time low for a Super Bowl weekend, at roughly just $42 million.

Rounding out the weekend's top 10 were:

"Migration" ($3 million)

"Anyone But You" ($2.7 million)

"Mean Girls" ($1.9 million)

"Dune: Part One" (a re-issue) ($1.8 million)

"American Fiction" ($1.3 million)

F.Hammond--TNT