Guy Ritchie & Jake Gyllenhaal’s War Movie Finds Success on Netflix, 2 Years After Bombing at the Box Office

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As a lifelong movie fan, I’ve definitely noticed how much things have changed at the box office. It feels like films that would have been huge successes in the past now really struggle to get people into theaters. Unless a movie is based on something everyone already knows and loves – a popular book or comic, for example – or creates a real ‘fear of missing out,’ it’s tough to get general audiences interested, even if it’s a really well-made film. But honestly, I think that’s okay, because streaming has given so many overlooked movies a chance to find their audience. That’s exactly what happened with Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant – it didn’t make a splash in theaters, but it’s found a real following at home.

Netflix recently added The Covenant, and it’s quickly become popular with viewers. During the week of December 8th-14th, it was the fourth most-watched movie in the U.S., behind Jay Kelly, My Secret Santa, and Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery – which is currently the top film on the platform. The Covenant ranked higher than Kpop Demon Hunters to achieve its fourth-place position.

The Covenant Is Finally Finding the Audience It Deserves

Despite a strong track record for director Guy Ritchie – including the popular Sherlock Holmes movies – and the star power of Jake Gyllenhaal, their 2023 film The Covenant didn’t do well in theaters. It only earned $21.9 million worldwide on a $55 million budget, which was disappointing, especially considering it was released in the spring when fewer big movies usually come out. It’s a shame the film didn’t find a larger audience, as many consider it to be one of the best war movies of recent years.

The film The Covenant is a moving and intense story about the strong connection between a U.S. Master Sergeant, John Kinley (Jake Gyllenhaal), and Ahmed Abdullah (Dar Salim), his Afghan interpreter. After Abdullah bravely rescues Kinley during an attack, Kinley risks everything to repay the debt by undertaking a perilous journey to protect Abdullah and his family, who are hiding from the Taliban. Critics have praised The Covenant for its realistic and gripping portrayal of war, as well as its spotlight on the often-overlooked sacrifices of military interpreters. The film concludes with impactful statistics that leave a lasting impression on the audience.

It’s really remarkable how well The Covenant is doing on Netflix. You don’t usually expect a serious war movie to be popular during the holidays, when most people are looking for cheerful, festive entertainment. What makes this even more interesting is that The Covenant isn’t a recent release competing for awards – it originally came out two years ago and is only now gaining traction. The fact that people are choosing to watch it even while busy with holiday preparations is a real testament to how good the movie is.

It’s ideal when films like The Covenant do well in theaters, but the movie industry is different now. With movies becoming available for streaming so quickly, many people choose to wait and watch at home. Luckily, streaming services offer a way for these films to still find an audience and avoid being forgotten. While box office success and high streaming numbers are the best outcome, doing well on platforms like Netflix is a good result.

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2025-12-20 21:10