Guy Ritchie has spent over 25 years oscillating between gritty British crime capers and big-budget blockbusters, a creative tension that defines his career. This guide maps every feature film he has directed, from his 1998 debut Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels to the 2024 war comedy The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, and highlights what’s coming next.

4 related posts

First feature film: Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) ·
Most recent release: The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024) ·
Top-ranked on Rotten Tomatoes: The Covenant (2023)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact release dates for Fountain of Youth, Wife and Dog, and Young Sherlock are not yet confirmed (Wikipedia filmography)
  • Final cast for upcoming 2026 projects remains unannounced (Wikipedia filmography)
3Timeline signal
  • 1998 debut with Lock, Stock – BAFTA winner (Wikipedia filmography)
  • 2000: Snatch cements his style (Wikipedia filmography)
  • 2019: Aladdin becomes his biggest commercial hit (Wikipedia filmography)
  • 2024: The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare released (Wikipedia filmography)
4What’s next
  • Fountain of Youth (expected 2025) (Wikipedia filmography)
  • Wife & Dog (post-production, 2026) (Wikipedia filmography)
  • Young Sherlock (in development) (Wikipedia filmography)
Key facts about Guy Ritchie’s filmography
Category Details
Awards BAFTA for Best British Film (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) (Wikipedia filmography)
Critical acclaim Snatch and Lock, Stock have maintained cult status (Shortlist critics)
Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh films 3: Snatch, The Gentlemen, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (Rotten Tomatoes editorial list)

The pattern: Ritchie’s critical highs come from his original crime material, while his biggest commercial swings often polarize reviewers.

What is the best Guy Ritchie movie?

Top contenders for best Guy Ritchie movie

  • The Covenant (2023) ranks #1 on Rotten Tomatoes’ official list of Ritchie films (Rotten Tomatoes editorial list).
  • Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels places #3 and Snatch #4 on the same ranking (Rotten Tomatoes editorial list).
  • Shortlist’s critics consider Snatch and The Gentlemen among his essential works (Shortlist critics).

Critical consensus vs. fan favorite

Critics tend to favor Ritchie’s later, more polished thrillers like The Covenant, while fans often champion his early crime capers. MovieWeb’s gangster-film ranking puts Lock, Stock near the top (MovieWeb ranking), showing a persistent nostalgia for his raw debut.

Why Snatch is often considered his masterpiece

Snatch (2000) remains the most widely recommended entry point. Its interwoven plot, fast editing, and Brad Pitt’s unhinged performance have made it a cultural touchstone. The film holds a 74% Tomatometer score and consistently appears on “best of” lists (Rotten Tomatoes editorial list).

Bottom line: If you’re new to Ritchie, start with Snatch. The implication: for fans of modern action, The Covenant may be the more rewarding watch.

What is Guy Ritchie’s most successful film?

Box office champion: Aladdin

Ritchie’s 2019 live-action remake of Disney’s Aladdin became a global phenomenon and stands as his most commercially successful film. It earned over $1 billion worldwide, far exceeding his other releases (Wikipedia filmography).

Critical reception vs. commercial success

Aladdin holds a 57% Tomatometer score, making it one of Ritchie’s lower-rated films critically. Yet its box office dwarfed his other titles, including Sherlock Holmes ($524 million) and The Gentlemen ($115 million). The gap between critical acclaim and audience turnout is striking.

How Aladdin changed Ritchie’s career

Directing a Disney blockbuster opened doors to bigger budgets and wider recognition. It also marked a departure from his signature crime style, proving his versatility.

The trade-off

Ritchie gained mainstream clout with Aladdin, but his most acclaimed films remain his R-rated crime capers. The paradox: his biggest success is also his least typical.

What’s the latest Guy Ritchie movie?

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)

Ritchie’s most recent release is The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, a World War II action comedy based on true events. It was released in 2024 (Wikipedia filmography).

Plot and cast

  • Starring Henry Cavill, Eiza González, and Alan Ritchson (Wikipedia filmography).
  • The film follows a covert British squad tasked with sabotaging Nazi operations.
  • It’s based on the non-fiction book The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare by Damien Lewis.

Reception and box office

The film earned a 73% Tomatometer score, making it “Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes (Rotten Tomatoes editorial list). It grossed about $28 million worldwide — modest by Ritchie’s standards but well-received by critics.

What is Guy Ritchie’s new movie 2026?

Announced projects for 2026

Three Ritchie projects are in various stages of development for 2026: Fountain of Youth, Wife and Dog, and Young Sherlock (Wikipedia filmography).

Fountain of Youth, Wife and Dog, Young Sherlock

  • Fountain of Youth is listed as a 2025 feature and would be Ritchie’s 16th film (Wikipedia filmography).
  • Wife & Dog is in post-production, expected 2026 (Wikipedia filmography).
  • Young Sherlock is a TV series about Sherlock Holmes’s youth, with Ritchie directing.

Expected release and production status

Exact release dates remain unconfirmed (Wikipedia filmography). Casting details for Wife & Dog and Young Sherlock have not been fully announced.

What is the chronological order of Guy Ritchie movies?

List of feature films in release order

Year Film
1998 Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
2000 Snatch
2002 Swept Away
2005 Revolver
2008 RocknRolla
2009 Sherlock Holmes
2011 Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
2015 The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
2017 King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
2019 Aladdin
2019 The Gentlemen
2021 Wrath of Man
2023 Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre
2023 The Covenant
2024 The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

All release dates sourced from Wikipedia filmography.

The catch: this list shows Ritchie’s most prolific period came after 2019, with five films in five years.

Key milestones in Ritchie’s career

  • 1998: Won BAFTA for Best British Film with debut.
  • 2009: First franchise blockbuster (Sherlock Holmes).
  • 2019: Highest-grossing film (Aladdin).
  • 2023: Best-reviewed film (The Covenant).

TV series and short films

Ritchie has also directed the TV series The Gentlemen (2024) for Netflix, expanding his crime universe. He co-directed the short Star (2001) with his then-wife Madonna.

The pattern

Ritchie’s career moves in cycles: a breakthrough crime film, a pivot to big-budget IP, then a return to his roots. The 2020s have seen him alternate between war films and crime comedies.

Timeline signal

1998Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (debut)
2000Snatch
2009Sherlock Holmes (first franchise film)
2019Aladdin (highest-grossing) and The Gentlemen
2024The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (latest)
2026 (expected)Fountain of Youth, Wife & Dog, Young Sherlock

Source: Wikipedia filmography

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Full release order of all 15 feature films through 2024 (Wikipedia filmography).
  • Rotten Tomatoes rankings for all Ritchie films (Rotten Tomatoes editorial list).
  • BAFTA win for Lock, Stock (Wikipedia filmography).
  • Three upcoming projects in development (Wikipedia filmography).

What’s unclear

  • Exact release dates for Fountain of Youth, Wife & Dog, and Young Sherlock.
  • Final cast lists for 2026 projects.
  • Whether Young Sherlock will be a series or film.
Additional sources

metacritic.com, youtube.com, studiobinder.com

For a deeper dive into his filmography, check out the guy ritchie movies complete list ranked and in order of release.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the worst Guy Ritchie movie according to critics?

Swept Away (2002) holds a 5% Tomatometer score, widely considered his weakest film (Rotten Tomatoes editorial list).

Which Guy Ritchie movie should I watch first?

Start with Snatch (2000) — it captures his signature style at its peak and is widely available on streaming.

Does Guy Ritchie have any movies on Netflix?

Yes, The Gentlemen (2019) and Wrath of Man (2021) are currently available on Netflix in many regions.

Why are Guy Ritchie’s early movies so popular?

Their fast pacing, witty dialogue, and ensemble casts created a fresh genre blend that felt new in British cinema (Shortlist critics).

Is Aladdin considered a Guy Ritchie movie?

Yes, it sits in his filmography and earned over $1 billion, making it his most commercially successful film.

How many Guy Ritchie movies are rated R?

Most of his crime films are rated R; eight of his 15 features carry an R rating, including Snatch, Lock, Stock, and The Gentlemen.

What is the common theme in Guy Ritchie films?

Underdogs, heists, and loyal gangs are recurring motifs. His early films celebrate cockney criminal culture, while his later work explores military and espionage themes.

Did Guy Ritchie direct any TV shows?

Yes, he directed the Netflix series The Gentlemen (2024), an expansion of the 2019 film.

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