“Argylle” is a forgettable bomb in Henry Cavill’s career. The spy role was criticized for being stiff, dry, and even unrelated to the main plot.

After two weeks of release, Argylle (Vietnamese title: Argylle super spy ) only earned 77.5 million USD worldwide, of which 37.4 million USD came from the North American market. This is a disappointing number for an action movie with an investment budget of 200 million USD , according to IMDb.

Not only was it considered a box office disaster, director Matthew Vaughn’s work was also a forgettable bomb in terms of both content and script in the eyes of experts. The film also witnessed Henry Cavill’s downfall on the path of career development.

Stiff role

According to writer Louis Chilton, The Independent ‘s three-star review is still “gentle” compared to many of the criticisms from critics in general. Insider , for example, even called Argylle “unbearably self-indulgent”, commenting that the 139-minute film is “extremely hollow”.

Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, Empire and Vanity Fair all agreed that the talent of the cast was wasted, especially Henry Cavill. “With his gravity-defying Action Man haircut and ugly trench coat, Henry’s secret agent Argylle is just a loose embodiment of the idea of ​​a super spy like James Bond,” commented The Independent .

Over the past two years, Cavill has been considered a potential candidate to succeed Daniel Craig as 007. Without having to wait long, the 41-year-old actor has quickly transformed into a spy, but in the disastrous version of Argylle – a rigid, dry spy who is not even related to the main plot.

Cavill’s fictional portrayal of the super spy has also been criticized for lacking depth, coming across more as a caricature than a fully developed character. Despite his prominent promotional appearances, he has little screen time.

A scene of Henry Cavill and Dua Lipa in Argylle. They have little screen time and are only used by the producers for promotional purposes. Photo: THP.

A scene of Henry Cavill and Dua Lipa in Argylle . They have little screen time and are only used by the producers for promotional purposes. Photo: THP.

Argylle hits theaters at a time when Cavill is struggling to find his niche after a string of hit roles. Already famous before the 2010s thanks to The Tudors and making his mark as Superman in Man of Steel , or starring in the hit fantasy series The Witcher, Cavill now needs a role that is impressive enough to get his career back on track.

Fans speculated that Cavill would give up his role as the white-haired Geralt in The Witcher to wait and devote his energy to the new Superman installment. However, in late 2022, the actor surprisingly revealed that he was being removed from the iconic role following a strategic reshuffle at DC.

“Henry is at a stage where he needs to really prove his acting ability if he wants to survive as a Hollywood A-lister. Unfortunately, Argylle doesn’t help him achieve that,” commented writer Louis Chilton.

The Independent argues that it would be unfair to hold Cavill responsible for Argylle’s failure, but there’s no denying that the film has helped to falter his career.

New movies promise to shine

Henry Cavill’s case is reminiscent of Chris Evans. Both struggled to reinvent themselves after leaving their superhero roles. But if “Captain America” ​​fails again with a series of controversial films, according to Screenrant , Henry Cavill has the ability to turn things around.

In April, the war film The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare will be released. Based on the true story of the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) established during World War II, the film stars Cavill as Gus March-Phillips, an officer who helped establish the legendary SAS regiment.

Directed by Guy Ritchie – the director who achieved commercial success with blockbusters Sherlock Holmes, UNCLE, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword and Aladdin – The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare promises thrilling content , truly a work worth looking forward to.

And while Argylle gave Cavill a forgettable start to 2024, his next films will shine , observers insist.

Audiences hope Henry Cavill and Chris Evans’ careers will flourish after their failed roles. Photo: Pinterest.

Audiences hope Henry Cavill and Chris Evans’ careers will flourish after their failed roles. Photo: Pinterest.

Cavill’s other new projects are in the works. He’s set to star in a reboot of the Highlander series and Warhammer 40,000 , an Amazon Studios video game adaptation. These are far removed from the spy genre that has soured Cavill.

Highlander is a long-time favorite franchise that is considered suitable for the actor’s ability, while Warhammer 40,000 is a project filled with Cavill’s personal passion.

Screenrant predicts: “The actor has had great success with fantasy-inspired films like the DCEU or The Witcher . Now Warhammer and Highlander can both help him overcome the disappointment caused by Argylle .”