‘Argylle’ Battles ‘Anyone but You’ on the VOD Charts, While Millie Bobby Brown’s ‘Damsel’ Is #1 at Netflix

After a weekend with the Oscars sharing the spotlight with the best one-two punch at the box office since July, the VOD and Netflix current home viewing charts lag in importance. “Argylle” (Universal) had a good launch on PVOD and “Damsel,” the kind of far-removed from awards thoughts Netflix original film, clicked with users immediately. Both bits of news are so below the radar that they have little relevance to how things stand in the industry.

“Argylle” — which Apple reportedly acquired for $200 million from “Kingsman” creator Matthew Vaughn and then released theatrically through Universal (with a gross of under $45 million) — came out on PVOD (for $19.99 rental) two weeks earlier than Apple’s earlier “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Napoleon.” And significantly, in doing so, delayed when their streaming subscribers gain access to it.

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With a studio’s share of around $15 out of every rental, even though revenue figures aren’t revealed, its early success (#1 at Vudu for the week, #2 at iTunes after initially placing first for three days; the slower-responding Google Play has it at #8) reinforces the sense that this stage of release is critical even for streamers.

“Damsel,” a fantasy/adventure tale with Millie Bobby Brown and Angela Bassett, directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (“28 Weeks Later”) was the latest Netflix original to immediately hit #1 on the streamer’s daily Top 10 movie chart. Though budgets for its original films are rarely revealed, presumably, “Damsel” would fall somewhere into the range that “American Fiction” Adapted Screenplay Oscar winner Cord Jefferson suggested would be preferable to the higher levels of Apple and other streamer productions. In any event, it again suggests that Netflix subscribers respond to these films rather than the titles that led to 19 Oscar nominations this year (one win, but for Live Action Short, and none of their feature-length films).

“Damsel” replaced Adam Sandler’s “Spaceman,” which in its second week fell to #9. Sandler’s original films usually sustain longer interest, but this drama might not have satisfied his fans at the level of earlier ones like “Murder Mystery.”

Best overall on the VOD charts is “Anyone but You” (Sony). In its third week of release, the romantic comedy remains #1 at iTunes and Google Play, bolstered by a surprisingly early rental price cut to $5.99 (it’s #4 at Vudu, which ranks by revenue, not transactions).

Six of the 10 Best Picture nominees also placed. “The Zone of Interest” (A24) is on iTunes, “Poor Things” (Searchlight) on Google Play, both still at $19.99, while “American Fiction” (MGM Amazon), “Oppenheimer” (Universal), and “Anatomy of a Fall” (Neon) placed on both iTunes and Google Play, and “The Holdovers” placed on iTunes, all with reduced rental costs. With the first five winning major Oscars, expect further boosts ahead, even as they transition to streaming.

“The Beekeepers” (Lionsgate) joined “Anyone but You” and “Argylle” on all three charts. Wim Wenders’ International Feature Oscar nominee “Perfect Days” (Neon) also debuted this week while still early in its expansion in theaters, and skipped PVOD entirely to rent initially for $5.99. It is currently #20 at iTunes.

iTunes and Google Play rank films daily by number of transactions. These are the listings for Monday, March 11. Distributors listed are current rights owners. Prices for all titles are for lowest for either rental or download.

iTunes

1. Anyone but You (Sony) – $5.99

2. Argylle (Universal) – $19.99

3. American Fiction (MGM Amazon) – $5.99

4. Oppenheimer (Universal) – $5.99

5. Anatomy of a Fall (Neon) – $6.99

6. The Zone of Interest (A24) – $19.99

7. Dune (WB) – $3.99

8. The Holdovers (Focus) – $5.99

9. The Beekeeper (Lionsgate) – $19.99

10. Migration (Universal) – $19.99

Google Play

1. Anyone but You (Sony) – $5.99

2. Dune (WB) – $3.99

3. The Beekeeper (Amazon MGM) – $19.99

4. Oppenheimer (Universal) – $5.99

5. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (Lionsgate) – $5.99

6. Wonka (WB) – $19.99

7. American Fiction (MGM Amazon) – $5.99

8. Argylle (Universal) – $19.99

9. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (WB) – $12.99

10. Anatomy of a Fall (Neon) – $5.99

Vudu

Vudu ranks by revenue, not transactions, elevating premium VOD titles. This list covers March 4-10.

1. Argylle (Universal) – $19.99

2. The Beekeeper (Amazon MGM) – $19.99

3. Wonka (WB) – $19.99

4. Anyone but You (Sony) – $5.99

5. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (WB) – $12.99

6. Migration (Universal) – $19.99

7. Poor Things (Searchlight) – $19.99

8. The Iron Claw (A24) – $19.99

9. Napoleon (Sony) – $19.99

10. Trolls Band Together (Universal) – $5.99

Netflix Movies

Most viewed, current ranking on Netflix’s domestic daily chart on Monday, March 11. Originals include both Netflix-produced and acquired titles it initially presents in the U.S. Netflix publishes its own worldwide weekly top 10 on Tuesdays based on time viewed.

1. Damsel (Netflix original film)

2. Noah (2014 theatrical release)

3. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023 theatrical release)

4. Turbo (2013 theatrical release)

5. Unthinkable (2010 theatrical release)

6. Fear (1997 theatrical release)

7. Alone (2020 theatrical release)

8. Fun with Dick and Jane (2005 theatrical release)

9. Spaceman (Netflix original film)

10. Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (2023 theatrical release)

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