A $60 Million Action Movie That Flopped In Theaters Is Suddenly Netflix’s No. 1 Movie In America — And Its 91% Audience Score Makes The Comeback Even Wilder.

Henry Cavill and Alan Ritchson’s Guy Ritchie Action Movie Takes Over Netflix

A Guy Ritchie action movie that struggled at the box office in 2024 has found a very different audience on Netflix. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, starring Henry Cavill and Alan Ritchson, has surged to the top of Netflix’s U.S. movie chart, giving the World War II adventure a major second life more than two years after its theatrical release.

The turnaround is particularly notable given the film’s original box-office performance. Directed by Ritchie and featuring an ensemble cast that includes Cavill, Ritchson, Henry Golding, Eiza González, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, and Alex Pettyfer, the movie earned roughly $30 million worldwide against a reported $60 million budget.

Now, streaming audiences are showing considerably more enthusiasm for it.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare Finds a New Audience

According to Netflix’s latest weekly viewership figures, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare recorded 3.4 million views during its first few days on the service. It has since climbed to No. 1 among Netflix’s movies in the United States.

That performance puts the film ahead of several recognizable titles on the Netflix rankings, including A Minecraft Movie and Shrek.

The streaming success also highlights the difference between the film’s theatrical reception and its audience response. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare currently has a 68% critics’ score and a 91% verified audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The gap between those figures is significant. While critics were somewhat divided, audiences have responded much more positively to the movie’s combination of action, comedy, and its larger-than-life ensemble.

The film follows a covert British unit during World War II, drawing inspiration from recently declassified British War Department files and true events. The story centers on a group of unconventional operatives who undertake a dangerous mission against the Nazis using tactics that deliberately ignore traditional military rules.

Another Guy Ritchie Movie Gets a Second Life

The Netflix success is part of a particularly busy period for Guy Ritchie.

The filmmaker has remained highly active across both theatrical releases and streaming projects, with several of his earlier works also attracting renewed attention. Yet his recent theatrical films have struggled to match the commercial performance of some of his earlier successes.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare was released in theaters on April 19, 2024, after premiering in New York on April 13. It ultimately earned approximately $29.8 million worldwide.

Its theatrical performance stands in contrast with Ritchie’s other recent action films. In the Grey reportedly made $23 million globally on a reported $70 million budget, while The Covenant earned around $22 million against a reported $55 million budget.

Despite its modest theatrical return, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare has gradually developed a stronger life outside cinemas. Its current Netflix performance is the latest example.

Henry Cavill Leads an All-Star Ensemble

Cavill stars as Gus March-Phillips, leading a cast that includes Ritchson as Anders Lassen, González as Marjorie Stewart, Golding as Freddy Alvarez, Pettyfer as Geoffrey Appleyard, and Fiennes Tiffin as Henry Hayes. Cary Elwes, Babs Olusanmokun, Henrique Zaga, Til Schweiger, Rory Kinnear, and Freddie Fox are also part of the ensemble.

Ritchie directed the film and also shared screenwriting duties with Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson, and Arash Amel.

The movie’s approach to its World War II setting is deliberately heightened. Rather than presenting a strictly grounded war drama, Ritchie turns the historical premise into a fast-moving action-comedy built around a team of unconventional soldiers and operatives.

The result was a film that divided critics but connected more strongly with many viewers. Rotten Tomatoes’ current figures reflect that difference, with the critics’ score sitting at 68% compared with a 91% verified audience score.

The Film’s Streaming Success Continues Guy Ritchie’s Run

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is not the only Ritchie project performing well with streaming audiences.

While the movie has taken the top spot on Netflix’s U.S. movie chart, In the Grey has been performing strongly on Starz. Meanwhile, The Gentlemen and MobLand have also been drawing attention on their respective platforms.

That makes the Netflix resurgence of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare another chapter in a broader streaming revival for Ritchie’s work.

For a film that earned only about $30 million worldwide during its original theatrical run, reaching the top of Netflix more than two years later represents a striking change in its commercial trajectory. The movie’s strong audience score suggests that its blend of Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchson, large-scale action, and Guy Ritchie’s distinctive style may have found a more receptive home with streaming viewers than it did in theaters.

Watch the Official Trailer

The official trailer, released by Lionsgate, features Henry Cavill, Eiza González, Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Henry Golding, and Cary Elwes.