While Guy Ritchie‘s war drama, The Covenant, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, flew under the radar when it debuted back in 2023, the movie has now witnessed a resurgence in popularity following its premiere on Netflix. As of writing, the movie has breached the top 10 list, and currently holds the third rank when it comes to the most trending movies on Netflix in the US (via FlixPatrol).
Considering war movies have always amassed strong viewership, it’s not surprising to see why Ritchie’s war drama, which opened to glowing critical reviews upon its release, has garnered strong traction on the streamer. And what makes this movie stand out among Ritchie’s decades-long celebrated filmography is how distinct it feels compared to the director’s signature style.
The Covenant Was a Departure From Guy Ritchie’s Usual Flair
For a director renowned for crafting chaotic yet enthralling scenes, accompanied by bombastic action, Ritchie refrains from incorporating his signature brand of direction in favor of a more tense and grounded story in The Covenant.
The movie sees Gyllenhaal’s John Kinley, an American soldier, befriending a local Afghan translator, Ahmed, after the latter saves him from death. After discovering that Ahmed, played by Dar Salim, wasn’t given the safe passage to the US, Kinley returns the favor by putting himself in harm’s way to ensure Ahmed’s family’s safety.
The story is moving and a lot more profound than one would expect from Ritchie’s works, often notable for more bombastic action outings, starring Jason Statham. It’s arguably one of the director’s most mature works, which taps into the human psyche that fans don’t often associate with the Sherlock Holmes director. It’s a shame the movie didn’t receive its flowers at the box office.
Why did Jake Gyllenhaal’s The Covenant Bomb at the Box Office?
For a movie that was relevant to the socio-political climate, as it was released not long after the US withdrew its troops from Afghanistan, in theory, the movie should have resonated more strongly with audiences. But as the story goes, despite high critical acclaim, it only made $21.9 million against a budget of $55 million.
A still from The Covenant | Credit: STXfilms
The factors behind its low box office returns can be attributed to a lack of a proper marketing push. It also had the misfortune of going up against some major IP-driven heavyweights like Evil Dead Rise and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which proved to be one of the biggest movies of that year.
In hindsight, being a non-IP-driven movie was always going to fall short when put against industry behemoths. On the bright side, it’s good to see the movie has finally garnered recognition among viewers, which has been long overdue for one of the best Guy Ritchie movies in recent memory.
Share your thoughts on the war drama below!
The Covenant is currently streaming on Netflix (USA).
