The most effective and best Guy Ritchie movies showcase the director’s stylish and distinctive approach.
Ritchie gained fame due to his critically praised and cult classic crime movies, which made him a sought-after Hollywood director.
Ritchie discovered a professional niche by alternating between huge studio movies and the smaller crime movies that helped him establish his early fame after a few significant career setbacks.
However, this means that his filmography is a mixed bag, with the least successful works surpassed by the best Guy Ritchie movies.
Over the years, Guy Ritchie has directed several critically acclaimed and commercially successful movies, but his career hasn’t been without setbacks.
This has led to a distinctive string of hits and misses. Even Guy Ritchie movies that didn’t do well at the box office have earned more fans and become underappreciated favorites over time.
Fans may have opinions on the best Guy Ritchie movies, but his rated filmography reveals a clear distinction between those movies and the bottom tier.
1. Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant (2023)
- Director: Guy Ritchie
- Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Dar Salim, Sean Sagar, Jason Wong, Rhys Yates, Christian Ochoa Lavernia, Bobby Schofield, and Emily Beecham
- IMDb rating: 7.6/10
The Gentlemen came the closest, but Ritchie fans continue to anticipate each new release with bated breath.
The Covenant is a 2023 movie that had its world premiere at the time of writing.
It sees the King Arthur director shift his focus to the art of battle and, more specifically, a story of American military personnel.
From a cinematic perspective, it couldn’t be farther from the seedy underbelly of England’s capital city.
In the movie, Jake Gyllenhaal plays U.S. Army Sergeant John Kinley, who enlists the assistance of an Afghani translator called Ahmed (Dar Salim). His desire for revenge drives him after the Taliban killed his son.
After being rescued by his interpreter from a group of terrorists, Kinley wants to repay him for his services. This is undoubtedly one of the best Guy Ritchie movies.
2. Snatch (2000)
- Director: Guy Ritchie
- Cast: Jason Statham, Brad Pitt, Stephen Graham, Vinnie Jones, Ade, William Beck, Andy Beckwith, and Ewen Bremner
- IMDb rating: 8.2/10
The 2000 release of the comedy-crime movie remains Ritchie’s crowning achievement.
Snatch, filmed in London, follows a bunch of low-level criminals who became involved in a high-stakes theft involving a priceless diamond and many double-cross.
The movie stars Benicio del Toro, Dennis Farina, and Brad Pitt and is renowned for its brisk dialogue, dark humor, and stylish visuals.
The development of the movie’s two stories is Ritchie’s greatest accomplishment.
The first features a gang of London crooks attempting to steal a priceless diamond from a jewelry shop.
The second plot revolves around a gang of bare-knuckle fighters participating in an unlicensed boxing competition.
Both plots include people that attempt to outwit and outmaneuver one another to achieve their goals. In the movie’s finale, the two storylines ultimately come together.
Snatch checks all the boxes for a crime comedy with an all-star ensemble and a plot that only gets better with time, and even 20 years later, it is still one of the best Guy Ritchie movies.
3. Aladdin (2019)
- Director: Guy Ritchie
- Cast: Will Smith, Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, Marwan Kenzari, Navid Negahban, Nasim Pedrad, Billy Magnussen, and Jordan A. Nash
- IMDb rating: 6.9/10
The decision of Ritchie to direct Disney’s live-action adaptation of the cherished classic Aladdin seemed intriguing.
His distinctive directorial style often dealt with organized crime and included a lot of profanity.
It was undoubtedly a change of pace for Ritchie to direct a family movie. However, this was a family event with musical numbers, which Ritchie had yet to achieve.
While it would have been funny to hear Vinnie Jones or Jason Statham voice Abu or Iago and toss all kinds of curse words about, this was a family affair loaded with curse words. He found that switching to a different genre was beneficial.
Even if the original cartoon version is still outstanding, Ritchie’s Aladdin was a huge success for Disney.
Surprisingly, the movie grossed over $1 billion, which led Disney to choose Ritchie to direct their live-action Hercules production.
4. The Gentleman (2019)
- Director: Guy Ritchie
- Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Michelle Dockery, Jeremy Strong, Lyne Renée, Colin Farrell, Henry Golding, and Tom Wu
- IMDb rating: 7.8/10
In Ritchie’s crime comedy-drama The Gentlemen, a gang of crooks in London competes to control the marijuana trade.
This is one of the best Guy Ritchie movies. In the movie, wealthy marijuana entrepreneur Mickey Pearson (Matthew McConaughey) is on the market to sell his company to the highest bidder.
However, selling his company piques the interest of several other gangs and criminal enterprises, all of which are anxious to acquire Pearson’s successful firm.
Charlie Hunnam, Henry Golding, Michelle Dockery, Jeremy Strong, Giancarlo Esposito, Colin Farrell, and Hugh Grant are among the star-studded cast members of the movie.
Many reviewers hailed the movie as Ritchie’s return to form after it earned such positive reviews.
It’s hardly surprising that the movie will soon get a spin-off that will launch on Netflix and feature Theo James from The White Lotus due to its chilly, sophisticated perspective on crime.
5. Operation Fortune: Ruse De Guerre (2023)
- Director: Guy Ritchie
- Cast: Jason Statham, Aubrey Plaza, Cary Elwes, Hugh Grant, Josh Hartnett, Bugzy Malone, Eddie Marsan, and Peter Ferdinando
- IMDb rating: 6.3/10
This is one of the best Guy Ritchie movies. Jason Statham reprises his role as the movie’s protagonist, and he does it in typical geezer fashion, complete with rugged facial hair, his signature bald head, and a husky voice.
After a brilliant performance as the backhanded journalist Fletcher in The Gentlemen, Hugh Grant returns as antagonist Greg Simmonds, wearing his best Cockney accent.
There was a lot of mystery around the release of this movie since the villains were Ukrainians, and questions were made about the morality of portraying Ukrainians in a negative light during a period of war.
It’s enjoyable to see Statham’s Orson Fortune entrusted with finding Simmonds, a wealthy computer genius, and stopping the spread of a deadly, possibly disastrous new technology.
6. Wrath of Man (2021)
- Director: Guy Ritchie
- Cast: Jason Statham, Holt McCallany, Josh Hartnett, Rocci Boy Williams, Jeffrey Donovan, Scott Eastwood, Andy Garcia, and Deobia Oparei
- IMDb rating: 7.1/10
For the murder thriller Wrath of Man, Ritchie and Jason Statham reconnected after a 15-year break since their last working together on Revolver.
The gritty nature of Wrath of Man may have surprised fans expecting the type of comedic and entertaining crime stories Ritchie and Statham had produced together.
However, it was a welcome change of pace for Guy Ritchie and still allowed him to display some of his stylish directorial flairs in a slow-burn action movie.
Statham plays the powerful, quiet character for which he is widely known, but Wrath of Guy also provides a lovely peek at what he might seem to be as a devoted family guy.
Additionally, there is a fantastic supporting cast, with Holt McCallany, Josh Arnett, and Jeffrey Donovan standing out.
The audience wishes Ritchie would embrace the more cold-blooded and grounded tone more often in his movies.
7. Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
- Director: Guy Ritchie
- Cast: Jason Flemyng, Dexter Fletcher, Nick Moran, Jason Statham, Steven Mackintosh, Nicholas Rowe, Nick Marcq, and Charles Forbes
- IMDb rating: 8.1/10
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, renowned for its cynical humor, witty dialogue, and characters, is one of the best Guy Ritchie movies.
When it was first released, it had both critical and economic success; since then, it has gained cult classics.
The movie’s story revolves around friends who decide to play a high-stakes game of three-card brag. Eddy (Nick Moran), an amateur card player, leads the gang.
The stakes are raised when Eddy and his friends lose the game and can’t pay the bill, so he borrows a substantial amount of money from a local crime lord named Harry to fund the game.
Jason Statham’s character “Bacon” is involved in a different plot line developing simultaneously.
For those seeking the best Guy Ritchie movies, it is uncomplicated yet the ideal type of comfort movie.
8. RocknRolla (2008)
- Director: Guy Ritchie
- Cast: Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Idris Elba, Thandiwe Newton, Mark Strong, Tom Hardy, Karel Roden, and Toby Kebbell
- IMDb rating: 7.2/10
Like the other best Guy Ritchie movies, RocknRolla is set in the criminal underworld of London.
It follows the intersecting lives of several people as they make their way through various schemes and plots.
The narrative centers on a crew of periodic criminals that One Two (Gerard Butler) and Mumbles (Idris Elba) lead.
They become entangled with Lenny Cole (Tom Wilkinson), a ruthless criminal figure who wants to make money from renovating an undesirable area.
As part of a broader plan to take over the property, Lenny recruits One Two and his crew to steal a painting from Russian gangster Uri Omovich (Karel Roden).
A group of criminals steals the painting, but things rapidly get out of hand when they sell it to rich, eccentric art collector Stella.
Lenny’s estranged son, Johnny Quid, a drug-addicted rock singer, is being kidnapped by Uri’s crew of thugs to exact vengeance on Lenny for stealing the artwork.
By all measures, this is one of the best Guy Ritchie movies in Ritchie’s career that is neither noteworthy nor memorable nor especially difficult to see.
9. King Arthur: The Legend of the Sword (2017)
- Director: Guy Ritchie
- Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Jude Law, Djimon Hounsou, Eric Bana, Aidan Gillen, Freddie Fox, and Craig McGinlay
- IMDb rating: 6.7/10
Upon the release of King Arthur: The Legend of the Sword, they intended a King Arthur cinematic universe in addition to the D.C.E.U. (now DCU), the MonsterVerse, and the D.C. Universe.
The strange concept called for movies about Merlin, other knights of the round table, and Arthurian tales, but the first movie didn’t impress critics or moviegoers.
The movie feels like another one of the Sherlock Holmes movies and more like an addition for future King Arthur movies than an interesting one. This is undoubtedly one of the best Guy Ritchie movies.
10. The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
- Director: Guy Ritchie
- Cast: Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Debicki, Luca Calvani, Sylvester Groth, Hugh Grant, and Jared Harris
- IMDb rating: 7.2/10
When it was released in 2015, Ritchie’s remake of the legendary espionage T.V. series from the 1960s was a huge financial failure.
However, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. had a second chance online because of a committed fan following and the ongoing support of the critics who praised it when it first debuted.
The Man From U.N.C.L.E. is a truly stunning throwback blockbuster that is never less than effortlessly cool in every moment.
It stars Henry Cavill, who has never been more charming, and Armie Hammer as the American and Soviet secret operatives compelled to work together to avert a global disaster.
The movie’s visual is its main focus, from the flawless costume design to the jazz-flute-driven music, but it also has energy and charm at its center.
Everyone working on this movie is having a great time, and the connection between the main characters virtually shines through the screen.
The Man From U.N.C.L.E. is finally receiving the recognition it deserves. However, many who hoped for further collaboration between Guy Ritchie and Henry Cavill are still disappointed by the absence of a sequel.
11. Revolver (2005)
- Director: Guy Ritchie
- Cast: Jason Statham, Ray Liotta, André 3000, Vincent Pastore, Terence Maynard, Andrew Howard, Mark Strong, and Francesca Annis
- IMDb rating: 6.3/10
Jason Statham, Ray Liotta, Vincent Pastore, and Andre Benjamin are among the cast members of the movie Revolver.
Jake Green, played by Statham, is a professional gambler and con artist.
Jake gets freed from jail after completing a seven-year term and returns to the criminal underworld, where he is soon targeted by Dorothy Macha (Liotta), a cruel casino owner and mafia boss.
This is one of the best Guy Ritchie movies, renowned for its intricate, non-linear plotting and examination of subjects like fate, destiny, and the nature of reality. The narrative of the movie is intricate and difficult to follow at times.
On the other hand, the movie also has several action scenes and a varied soundtrack.
Audience and critic responses were split, with some applauding the movie’s visual aesthetic and performances and others criticizing the confusing plot and tone.
The movie had a dismal box office performance and is regarded as one of Ritchie’s less successful productions.
Revolver is one of the best Guy Ritchie movies with all the trademarks, but it lacks anything outstanding to elevate it to the top tier.
12. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)
- Director: Guy Ritchie
- Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Jared Harris, Rachel McAdams, Noomi Rapace, Stephen Fry, Paul Anderson, and Kelly Reilly
- IMDb rating: 7.4/10
The critically acclaimed Sherlock Holmes movie directed by Guy Ritchie in 2009 gave the legendary franchise new vitality.
Audiences were thrilled by the appearance of Professor Moriarty in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, prompting the swift approval of a sequel.
The movie had a significant holiday weekend opening, and although it was successful, it did not do as well as its predecessor.
There are several noteworthy problems with this sequel. This includes the villain Moriarty’s attempt to instigate a World War having the same narrative as The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and the early death of Rachel McAdams’ character.
The movie’s major flaw is that it lacks intrigue and instead plays out like a simple action movie.
Although the 2009 movie had a lot of action, it was still a compelling mystery.
In contrast, this movie makes an awkward attempt to transform Sherlock Holmes into James Bond.
Although Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is a forgettable sequel, it is not a horrible movie.
13. Sherlock Holmes (2009)
- Director: Guy Ritchie
- Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, Eddie Marsan, Robert Maillet, Geraldine James, and Kelly Reilly
- IMDb rating: 7.6/10
Since the character’s creation, Sherlock Homes has been successfully adapted severally, but Guy Ritchie’s version starring Robert Downey Jr. nevertheless managed to please both critics and fans.
A more modern and action-oriented interpretation of Sherlock Holmes was given in the movie, which reimagined the stories from the classic.
Sherlock Holmes and his companion Dr. John Watson worked together to uncover murders linked to a dark occult organization run by the antagonist Lord Henry Blackwood. They also came into a bigger plot involving the British government.
The movie’s distinctive aesthetic and Golden Globe-winning performance by Downey Jr. make it a popular choice deserving of a prominent position on this list of the best Guy Ritchie movies.
