Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) | Release Date: April 21, 2023 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
63
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 28 Critic Reviews
Positive:
16
Mixed:
11
Negative:
1
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
90
VarietyOwen GleibermanApr 18, 2023
In “The Covenant,” Guy Ritchie tells a story of two men, but he’s really giving this war that never succeeded a kind of closure. He uses the power of movies to coax out the heart that fueled our actions, and that made our loss so hard to bear. Read full review
88
Chicago Sun-TimesRichard RoeperApr 18, 2023
It’s almost as if Ritchie wants to make sure we know he directed this, because it doesn’t seem like “a Guy Ritchie film.” Duly noted, and kudos to the veteran filmmaker for delivering a skillfully made and gripping tale about the hell of modern war and the universal nature of sacrifice, commitment and heroism. Read full review
83
The PlaylistRodrigo PerezApr 20, 2023
The Covenant is so self-assured in its noble filmmaking values and beliefs. It makes a knowing nod between two men— and the heroically punishing sacrifices they risked for one another— one of the most moving moments on screen this year. Read full review
80
EmpireCatherine BrayJun 7, 2023
They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but maybe they’re wrong: on this evidence, Guy Ritchie can absolutely learn how to make a Paul Greengrass film, delivering a handsome slice of serious war drama. Read full review
80
The Daily BeastNick SchagerApr 21, 2023
A sober military thriller that excoriates Joe Biden’s decision to pull out of Afghanistan in 2021 and, in the process, to strand the thousands of local interpreters who had risked their lives to aid the American cause. Read full review
75
ReelViewsJames BerardinelliApr 25, 2023
Guy Ritchie’s name not withstanding, there’s little here with strong mass appeal – not enough mind-numbing action; too much dwelling on a recent, tragic, failed war; and a muted catharsis. It’s also one of the best things Ritchie has done since his early years (only Lock, Stock is unequivocally better) and deserves a viewing when MGM brings it to streaming. Read full review
75
Chicago TribuneKatie WalshApr 21, 2023
It’s the best film he’s made in years. Read full review
75
Washington PostMichael O'SullivanApr 19, 2023
Hey, I never said The Covenant wasn’t manipulative. It is — skillfully, entertainingly and at times almost overbearingly so. But oh, boy, does it work. Read full review
75
The Film StageDan MeccaApr 18, 2023
For the most part, The Covenant is about the bond between brothers and sisters in arms, and the need to rely on each other when systems fail their pledges. Third-act qualms aside, Gyllenhaal and Ritchie emerge as a well-meshed Hollywood duo here. One hopes this is the first of a few collaborations. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalleApr 18, 2023
What Ritchie is able to convey is the terrifying nature of this kind of small-scale combat, with the enemy coming out from nowhere and from every direction. Even if you’ve never experienced anything like this, there’s something about what Ritchie does here that feels authentic. Read full review
75
IndieWireSiddhant AdlakhaApr 18, 2023
Where The Covenant most shines is in the riveting intensity of both its performances and its action. Read full review
70
Screen RantPatrice WitherspoonApr 20, 2023
Full of action sequences and an incredibly moving score to pair, this could be the kind of war drama that audiences have been missing. It’s heavy on the violence and anti-war messaging, and contains a beautiful story about survival, humanity, and doing the right thing even when there are countless obstacles in the way. Read full review
70
The New York TimesAmy NicholsonApr 20, 2023
For all its clichés, this furious and discomfiting film tugs on your conscience for days, making a powerful case to turn the American public’s attention back to a conflict it would rather forget. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterDavid RooneyApr 18, 2023
This is a serious-minded, well-acted drama that shows just as keen an interest in character, specifically the integrity of two men from vastly different cultures who provide the story of brotherhood and survival with its racing pulse. Read full review
63
New York PostJohnny OleksinskiApr 20, 2023
The duo’s journey is gripping, but long stretches elsewhere in the film drag and it feels much longer than two hours. Read full review
63
Movie NationRoger MooreApr 18, 2023
The movie’s messaging has a righteous and educational undertone that makes this a worthy addition to the genre. Read full review
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