Thescreescore – Andrew Garfield, a name synonymous with both critical acclaim and blockbuster success, is once again navigating turbulent waters at the box office. His latest historical action drama, The Uprising, has experienced a precipitous decline in its second weekend, marking the fourth instance in five years that a Garfield-led film has suffered a significant sophomore slump. This concerning trend raises questions about the star’s recent cinematic trajectory, particularly as The Uprising follows another underperforming 2026 release.
Directed by the acclaimed Paul Greengrass, known for his gritty realism in films like The Bourne Supremacy and Captain Phillips, The Uprising casts Garfield as an unnamed ploughman who rises to prominence during England’s 1381 Peasants’ Revolt. While drawing inspiration from historical events, the narrative reportedly weaves in elements reminiscent of Robin Hood lore. Despite its pedigree, the film debuted in North America on September 10 with a modest $3.3 million, positioning it as Garfield’s second-lowest wide release domestic opening, only marginally outperforming The Magic Faraway Tree from earlier this year. The ensemble cast also features notable talents such as Cosmo Jarvis, Jamie Bell, Tom Hollander, Katherine Waterston, Thomasin McKenzie, and Jonny Lee Miller.
According to Box Office Mojo, The Uprising‘s second weekend proved even more challenging, grossing a mere $1.2 million over three days domestically. This sharp downturn represents a 63.8% drop from its opening figures and saw the film tumble from the eighth to the thirteenth spot on the domestic charts. For Garfield, this performance now registers as his fourth-worst sophomore weekend decline ever.
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Historically, Garfield’s films have often demonstrated remarkable staying power at the box office. His career is notable for features that exhibit minimal drops, with some even seeing an increase in revenue during their second weekend, often attributed to strategic limited-to-wide release patterns. Indeed, five of his eighteen films that played for two or more weekends domestically actually surpassed their debut earnings in their sophomore frame. Furthermore, a significant portion of his filmography boasts drops under 50%, with three titles experiencing declines between 0% and 29%, and another four falling within the 30% to 49% range.
However, the landscape appears to be shifting. The five most substantial sophomore drops in Garfield’s career—all exceeding 60%—have predominantly occurred within the last five years, between 2021 and 2026. The most severe of these was the Gia Coppola dramedy Mainstream (2021), which plummeted 83.1% after its debut, co-starring Maya Hawke and Nat Wolff, and earning a lukewarm 42% on Rotten Tomatoes.
A closer look at Garfield’s films with the steepest second-weekend declines reveals a telling pattern:
| Title | Domestic Debut | Week 2 Drop | Worldwide Box Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mainstream (2021) | $19,745 | -83.1% | $49,638 |
| The Magic Faraway Tree (2026) | $1.3 million | -78.5% | $34.9 million |
| Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) | $260.1 million | -67.5% | $1.911 billion |
| The Uprising (2026) | $3.3 million | -63.8% | $6.5 million (& counting) |
| The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) | $91.6 million | -61.2% | $709 million |
While a significant sophomore drop doesn’t automatically spell disaster – as evidenced by Spider-Man: No Way Home, which despite a 67.5% fall became a monumental success and one of the highest-grossing films of all time – the context for The Uprising is starkly different. No Way Home commanded an astronomical opening, allowing it to absorb a large percentage drop. The Uprising, with its considerably lower debut, finds its 63.8% decline far more detrimental.
Financially, The Uprising was produced on a reported budget of $20 million, suggesting an estimated break-even point potentially around $50 million. With a current worldwide gross of just $6.5 million and its box office momentum rapidly dissipating, the film appears highly unlikely to recoup its costs, continuing a worrying trend for Garfield’s 2020s output.
However, the year is not over for the acclaimed actor. Andrew Garfield has an opportunity to reverse this negative trajectory with his upcoming collaboration with director Luca Guadagnino, Artificial, slated for a Christmas Day release. The holiday season is historically fertile ground for sleeper hits and films with strong legs, offering a potential lifeline for Garfield to break free from this recent pattern of record-setting sophomore drops and reassert his formidable presence in the cinematic landscape. Film enthusiasts and industry watchers will be keenly observing whether Artificial can reignite the star’s box office fortunes.
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