Not all Guy Ritchie films are made equal. He has carved out a niche with his signature style of sleek crime thrillers, but his filmography is dotted with films about dude-bros with cool hairstyles and witty oneliners. After (cinematically) meandering for years, he made a somewhat triumphant return to form with The Gentlemen, the 2019 film which now has its own spin-off series on Netflix. His recent hit, The Covenant, also garnered praise, though it isn’t available to stream on Netflix, unlike his latest crime series.
The series, The Gentlemen follows Edward Horniman, portrayed by Theo James, as he unexpectedly inherits an estate and title, only to find himself embroiled in a world of crime and criminals. With a stellar cast including Kaya Scodelario, Daniel Ings, and Vinnie Jones, The Gentlemen has climbed to the top of the Netflix charts globally. But this isn’t the only Ritchie endeavour available to stream on the site.
From cult classics like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch to blockbuster hits like Sherlock Holmes and The Man from U.N.C.L.E., there’s enough Guy Ritchie slickness to go around for everyone to enjoy. And that’s not all. You will also find some of his hilarious and awkward worst in Netflix’s library.
Swept Away, the 2002 film, will remain the biggest blemish on Ritchie’s otherwise impressive career. Starring Madonna and Bruce Greenwood, Swept Away serves as a reminder that even the most promising filmmakers can craft absolute nonsense. Despite the film getting five awards at the 2002 Golden Raspberry Awards, Madonna, who was married to Ritchie at this point, blamed the negative press on extraneous reasons. “The way critics take it out on me now is to have a go at anything me and Guy do together,” Madonna said as per Virgin Radio UK.
She also believed the hatred was coming from those who had not even watched the film, “Everyone in England has slagged it off without having seen it. Isn’t that beautiful? Don’t you think that’s absurd?” The rest of the blame was aimed at people who just like to pull down successful artists, “But I think the knives were going to come out for Guy anyway, even if he hadn’t ended up with me. He had too much success with his first two films. That’s how the media is: eventually, they have to pull you down.”
Ritchie’s career trajectory has been an interesting one, marked by highs and lows. He burst onto the scene with films like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, quickly establishing him as a cool crime chronicle maestro. These films showcased Ritchie’s knack for fast-paced and visually engaging style. While Sherlock Holmes and its sequel starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law received mixed reviews for brawn-ing up the brainy detective and his sidekick, the films earned applause for their style.
You can enjoy the full spectrum of Guy Ritchie’s oeuvre on Netflix if The Gentlemen has you hooked.
11 Guy Ritchie films and series to binge on Netflix:
- Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
- Snatch (2000)
- Sherlock Holmes (2009)
- The Gentlemen (2020)
- The Gentlemen (2024), series
- Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)
- The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
- Wrath of Man (2021)
- Revolver (2005)
- King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)
- Swept Away (2002)
