5 Movies You Totally Forgot That Guy Ritchie Directed

by

Guy Ritchie is a very successful director, and here are a few of his films you might not have seen. His earlier movies, like Snatch, were known for their stylish visuals, many characters, and plenty of funny moments.

I’ve been following Guy Ritchie’s work for a while now, and it’s been fascinating to see his evolution. While he’s always been a dynamic director, I’ve really noticed him taking on bigger, more ambitious projects lately, like Wrath of Man, and I’m eagerly anticipating In the Grey. Honestly, he’s one of the most consistently working directors out there – it feels like there’s always something new from him coming out, almost annually! He’s not slowing down either, with Wife & Dog and Viva La Madness already in the pipeline. It’s great to see him so creatively active.

Guy Ritchie has made so many films that some have been forgotten. This happens for a few reasons – sometimes they were released at a bad moment, sometimes they were outshone by bigger movies, and occasionally, they just weren’t his best work.

5. Swept Away (2002)

Following the success of films like Snatch, Guy Ritchie was often compared to directors such as Quentin Tarantino. Around the same time, he started dating – and later married – a relatively unknown singer named Madonna. The tabloids loved the pairing, and the excitement increased when they decided to collaborate on a movie together.

The film Swept Away is a remake of a beloved Italian love story. It features Madonna as a pampered rich woman who finds herself shipwrecked with a sailor from her yacht. Though they start out disliking each other, they gradually fall in love while stranded. However, despite having a promising premise, Swept Away unfortunately doesn’t live up to expectations.

The main character, played by Madonna, is unlikeable and the romantic connection with her co-star feels forced. The film was a major failure when it came out, earning harsh criticism and performing so badly in the US that it was released directly to video in the UK.

Most people have forgotten about the movie Swept Away since it came out over 20 years ago. While it wasn’t as bad as some critics claimed, Guy Ritchie’s third film doesn’t have much heart or appeal.

4. Revolver (2005)

The early 2000s weren’t kind to director Guy Ritchie, following the negative reception of Swept Away with another film, Revolver. This crime thriller, with an existential bent, reunited Ritchie with Jason Statham, who played Jake Green, a gambler seeking revenge on a mobster played by Ray Liotta after being wrongly imprisoned.

Jake quickly discovers his greatest challenge might be his own inner demons. Director Guy Ritchie is known for his gangster films, and on the surface, Revolver seemed like a sure bet – it had a strong cast, stylish visuals, and plenty of money behind it. However, the movie ends up feeling strangely awkward and overly ambitious.

The movie Revolver features awkward conversations and is filled with heavy philosophical ideas and moralizing. It wasn’t well-received by critics and didn’t succeed at the box office. Similar to Swept Away, it’s largely been forgotten, though it might still be worth a watch.

Despite being chaotic, the film is surprisingly engaging. It boasts standout moments – like a cleverly shot gunfight with Mark Strong – and Guy Ritchie’s signature visual style keeps it lively. Jason Statham also delivers a particularly strong, yet often overlooked, performance.

3. King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)

After the Marvel Cinematic Universe became incredibly popular, many studios tried to create their own interconnected film series. Some, like Warner Bros.’ Monsterverse, did well, but others failed quickly. Universal’s Dark Universe, for example, started with a lot of hype, but was cancelled after its first film, 2017’s The Mummy, didn’t perform well with audiences.

The same applies to Guy Ritchie’s idea for a series of King Arthur movies. The 2017 film, Legend of the Sword, introduced Charlie Hunnam as Arthur, and the studio initially planned five more films. However, this was overly ambitious, as Legend of the Sword wasn’t well-received and is considered one of Ritchie’s weaker films.

Jude Law delivers a great performance as the villain, and the movie features imaginative visuals and action sequences. However, the story feels disjointed and lacks focus. The pacing is inconsistent – it’s either too slow and boring, or so rushed that important plot points get lost. By the time the final battle with a computer-generated monster arrives, most viewers have likely lost interest.

It seems Legend of the Sword suffered from a script that was pieced together from earlier, unsuccessful King Arthur projects. Actor Charlie Hunnam also believes that some incorrect casting choices negatively impacted the film. Director Guy Ritchie quickly moved past the movie’s disappointing performance at the box office, and it’s now largely been forgotten in his filmography.

2. Aladdin (2019)

After Guy Ritchie successfully directed the live-action King Arthur film, he followed it up with Aladdin, which was expected to be a huge hit. That prediction turned out to be correct – Aladdin is now Ritchie’s most financially successful movie by a significant amount.

Although the film was a hit and helped revitalize Ritchie’s career, it’s often overlooked that he directed it. It’s quite different from the action and crime movies he’s known for, and that’s actually a positive thing – it demonstrates his versatility as a director and ability to work in different genres.

The live-action Aladdin is a delightful, though lighthearted, musical. Director Guy Ritchie adds a bit of his own style, but mostly sticks to the story we all know from the animated film. It’s an enjoyable movie, especially for kids who will be captivated by the bright colors and characters, but it doesn’t feel particularly like a Guy Ritchie film.

1. Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (2023)

After not working together for about 15 years following the film Revolver, Jason Statham and Guy Ritchie teamed up again for the 2021 action movie Wrath of Man. They quickly followed that up with Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, a fun and fast-paced spy adventure where Statham’s character has to get a dangerous weapon back from Hugh Grant’s arms dealer.

The movie Operation Fortune had a strange journey from filming to release, and was made during the COVID-19 pandemic. The filmmakers hoped it would launch a fun, action-packed series similar to Mission: Impossible, but disappointing ticket sales and reviews mean a follow-up is unlikely.

Despite its flaws, Ruse de Guerre was praised for its actors, including Audrey Plaza, a wonderfully over-the-top Josh Hartnett, and Cary Elwes. Director Ritchie clearly allowed a lot of improvisation, particularly from Plaza, and although the movie feels a bit long at two hours, it’s still enjoyable to watch.

There’s a bit of an Ocean’s movie vibe to this film – part of the fun is seeing a charming cast enjoy themselves while pulling off a heist. Operation Fortune might not be one of Guy Ritchie’s best, but it has a certain appeal that’s slowly winning people over.

Read More

2026-02-16 01:42