Guy Ritchie & Jake Gyllenhaal’s New R-Rated Thriller Is Harshly Dividing Audiences & Critics On Rotten Tomatoes

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Critics and audiences don’t see eye-to-eye on Guy Ritchie’s latest.

Guy Ritchie first gained attention with energetic British crime films like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) and Snatch (2000), and has since become a regular director of large-scale Hollywood productions. He continues to focus on action and thriller genres, with recent releases including Fountain of Youth (2025), The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024), and The Covenant (2023).

Ritchie’s newest film, In the Grey (2026), starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Henry Cavill, hasn’t been well-received by critics. As of today, the film has a 47% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 38 reviews. Interestingly, audiences seem to like it much more, giving it an 83% rating on the site’s Popcornmeter. This critic score could change as more reviews come in, but it’s currently significantly lower than the audience score.

Ritchie’s latest film centers on a secret team plotting to steal a billion dollars from a ruthless dictator. The movie stars Eiza González alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Henry Cavill, and also features Rosamund Pike, Carlos Bardem, Michael Vu, Fisher Stevens, and Kojo Attah.

Guy Ritchie’s latest film, In the Grey, delivers what you’d expect from him: a blend of fast-paced action and witty banter. Reviews haven’t been overwhelmingly positive – most ‘fresh’ ratings on Rotten Tomatoes are around 3 or 3.5 out of 5. However, positive reviews highlight the film’s enjoyable thrills, including action-packed shootouts and car chases, alongside charismatic actors and Ritchie’s distinctive style of dialogue.

Several negative reviews mention similar issues, hinting that director Guy Ritchie’s distinctive style might not be resonating with everyone this time. Critics commonly pointed to awkward acting and excessive explanations as problems, ultimately finding the film’s story unoriginal and the action sequences lackluster.

Josh Bate’s review for ScreenRant, titled ‘In the Grey,’ gives the film a 7 out of 10, offering a more positive take. Bate praises the strong performances from Jake Gyllenhaal, Henry Cavill, and Eiza González, and notes that the movie successfully blends action with a compelling storyline, though the dialogue can sometimes feel overdone. Here’s what Bate wrote:

It’s still impressive that Guy Ritchie continues to make films with the quick wit and memorable characters that made his earlier work so popular. Even if the movie doesn’t perfectly blend clever dialogue, a good story, and action, it’s consistently fun to watch.

While critics haven’t loved In the Grey, it’s still better received than Fountain of Youth, which only earned a 35% score from critics. Viewers didn’t seem to enjoy Fountain of Youth much either, giving it a 38% rating on the Popcornmeter.

Critics and audiences agree that The Covenant is one of Guy Ritchie’s most praised films in recent years. The 2023 war drama, featuring Jake Gyllenhaal, currently has an 82% approval rating from critics and a 98% audience score.

Overall, ‘In the Grey’ feels like a fairly typical film from Ritchie. He’s been sticking to a familiar style lately, without taking many risks or trying new things. While some critics are starting to find this predictable, it seems general audiences still enjoy his approach.

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2026-05-18 18:40