I was introduced to Guy Ritchie‘s work in the early 2000s thanks to IFC, the Independent Film Channel. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels was an acclaimed gangster movie I had heard about for years, and IFC gave me the perfect chance to see what the fuss was all about. The gritty gangster film had my full attention and felt different from the genre entries I kept rewatching, like Goodfellas. This small moment has kept me eager to see every movie Ritchie has made over the last two decades.
I made a point to see In the Grey in theaters earlier this year. The Henry Cavill and Jake Gyllenhaal spy thriller is bound to be another of the director’s films that becomes a forgotten gem, since it wasn’t a box office smash. With In the Grey‘s possible fate on my mind, I wanted to look at some of Ritchie’s past films that are great in their own right but have fallen into obscurity for one reason or another.
Why You Should Trust Me: I’ve written dozens of articles covering Ritchie’s work, with expertise in unique thrillers, spy movies, crime capers, and his most underrated films.
‘The Man from U.N.C.L.E.’ (2015)
The TV Adaptation Should Have Launched a Henry Cavill Spy Franchise
Watch This If: You enjoy the 1960s spy style and Cavill’s charisma. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. adapts the 1964 TV series, with Ritchie’s film featuring rival spies who set aside their differences to investigate something bigger than themselves. The chemistry between Cavill and Armie Hammer is fantastic. Plus, it’s the closest we may get to Cavill playing a James Bond-like character. Ritchie captures the era’s aesthetics beautifully, and the film feels like a throwback to classic genre entries. It was a modest box office success, making $110 million worldwide on a $75 million budget. Despite positive reviews, with a 68% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, it didn’t launch a franchise as intended.
Skip This If: You prefer faster pacing or aren’t interested in a film starring Hammer after his divisive past. Like many spy thrillers, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. moves at a deliberate pace to build tension. Plenty of action sequences keep audiences engaged, but noticeable VFX moments can pull you out of scenes. Hammer faced abuse allegations after the film’s release, and has since attempted a comeback with an even more divisive Uwe Boll movie. As the co-lead, Hammer has a large presence in the film.
‘King Arthur: Legend of the Sword’ (2017)
Charlie Hunnam’s Arthurian Legend Is Worthy of Its Ambitious Franchise Plans
Watch This If: You find Ritchie’s fast-paced style and witty dialogue translated into an epic about King Arthur appealing. Hunnam gives a solid lead performance, and his street-smart brawler portrayal is worthy of the six-movie franchise it was meant to start. The ensemble cast is great, including Aiden Gillen, Djimon Hounsou, Annabelle Wallis, and Jude Law, who delivers a chilling villain performance. Daniel Pemberton’s hard-hitting score also stands out.
Skip This If: You prefer a more traditional King Arthur story. Ritchie’s flashy style drew criticism because many saw the film as style over substance, reflected in its 31% Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score. However, the 69% audience score shows it could have been a hit. Franchise plans were canceled when the $175 million production finished its theatrical run with $149 million worldwide. Critics note that the flashy video game feel and lack of character development detract, as it was made for modern audience sensibilities but failed to connect.
‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’ (1998)
Ritchie’s Impressive Resume Often Overshadows His Breakout Film
Watch This If: You like an intricate crime thriller with dark humor and memorable dialogue. Everything about Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels showcases Ritchie’s talent, offering a blueprint for how his style developed over the years. The editing, bold angles, and high-energy style became directorial hallmarks that shine in his 1998 breakout. The underworld feels grimy, and the characters are as twisted as the plot, making for a distinct movie that locks audiences in. The movie holds a 75% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, with an even higher audience score of 93%.
Skip This If: You don’t enjoy British gangster movies or want a less ambiguous ending. British crime films are a unique genre, with classics like Get Carter. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels feels like an update on old tropes infused with flashy new filmmaking techniques and heavy doses of dark comedy. The final moments offer a satisfying ending, but some feel the movie’s final freeze-frame shot is more ambiguous than it needs to be. Despite being a crime classic, the film has often been overshadowed by Ritchie’s impressive career.
‘Revolver’ (2007)
Jason Statham and Guy Ritchie’s Most Underrated Collaboration
Watch This If: You’ve never been disappointed when Statham and Ritchie team up. The duo has collaborated on acclaimed films like Snatch and Wrath of Man, but Revolver is often overlooked because it’s a vastly different kind of crime thriller. Instead of delivering another standard revenge plot, Revolver offers an existential look at defeating one’s ego. The complex plot follows a disjointed narrative based on Chess strategies and psychological warfare rather than intense violence. It often lacks the dark humor of Ritchie’s past work.
Skip This If: You prefer a straightforward gangster film, as Revolver is a character study immersed in genre elements. Critics were not kind to the film, which has 13% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences liked it more, giving it 56%, but it notably strays from what viewers expected from Ritchie. Some have said it is overly pretentious, with Roger Ebert’s review calling it “a meaningless jumble of flashbacks and flash-forwards and subtitles and mottos and messages and scenes that are deconstructed, reconstructed and self-destructed.”
‘Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant’ (2023)
Jake Gyllenhaal’s Harrowing War Movie Came and Went Without Much Fanfare
Watch This If: You’re looking for an emotional, intense war film. The Covenant didn’t make a big box-office impact, with a $55 million budget and a worldwide total of $21.9 million. Reviews were positive across the board, receiving 82% from critics and 98% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised Gyllenhaal and Dar Salim, whose chemistry and emotional bond carry the film. Despite Ritchie’s name and the strong cast, The Covenant failed to connect. Thankfully, streaming audiences have kept discovering the movie since it debuted.
Skip This If: You thought it was a true story or want something less formulaic. While The Covenant delivers intense military action and stellar character work, it shifts tone distinctly in the finale. What starts in grounded realism rises to a predictable, action-style ending. Many viewers also thought it was based on a true story, but it is not. Instead, The Covenant draws on real stories from soldiers and interpreters during the war in Afghanistan, blending them into an amalgam.
‘RocknRolla’ (2008)
Gerard Butler’s Gangster Film Was Meant To Start a Trilogy
Watch This If: You’re in the mood for fast-talking gangsters and a stellar ensemble cast. Butler leads an impressive cast, many of whom were still up-and-coming, including Idris Elba and Tom Hardy. Critics praised the performances, with Tom Wilkinson’s mob boss leaving a lasting impression. The movie holds a 60% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences gave it a slightly higher 71%. The film’s snappy dialogue and dark humor felt like Ritchie was back to basics after his divisive turn with Revolver. RocknRolla had an $18 million budget and ended its box office run with $25.7 million worldwide.
Skip This If: Ritchie’s gangster films were never your cup of tea. Some critics call RocknRolla derivative of the director’s past work, but that is also why it has found a devoted following. The intricate web of duplicitous characters can feel overly complex at times, but it is what Ritchie excels at. The movie was meant to start a trilogy, even teasing the return of several characters at the end. However, the cast grew in fame, and Ritchie moved on to other projects, so a sequel never materialized.
‘Aladdin’ (2019)
Disney’s Live-Action ‘Aladdin’ Is Worthy of a Sequel
Watch This If: You enjoy Disney’s live-action remakes. Aladdin has some of Ritchie’s stylistic flair but is drastically different from his earlier work. Remaking any animated classic is precarious, but Ritchie assembled an impressive cast, with Naomi Scott giving a standout performance as Jasmine. Even Will Smith’s Genie brought an enjoyable and different energy than Robin Williams’ performance. The musical numbers are fun to watch, packed with eye-popping visuals and well-choreographed elements that make it a worthy adaptation.
Skip This If: Disney’s live-action slate isn’t for you or the thought of someone else playing Genie feels like sacrilege. Williams’ performance as Genie is one of Disney’s most iconic, with his frantic energy and hilarious antics perfectly translating the eccentric character. While Smith is great, he’s not Williams. Critics were divided, giving Aladdin 57% on Rotten Tomatoes, but audiences loved it, giving it 94%. Many forget that Ritchie directed this big production, which became a massive $1 billion hit for Disney. Although some feel Ritchie’s camera work distracted from the final product, a sequel has been teased for years but still hasn’t materialized.
