Reviews are in for The Uprising, and critics aren’t rallying behind Paul Greengrass‘ historical epic about England’s 1381 Peasants’ Revolt. The film, which stars Andrew Garfield as a farmer who becomes the rebellion’s reluctant leader, landed a rotten 50% on Rotten Tomatoes ahead of its Sept. 11 theatrical release.
Greengrass, the filmmaker behind the Bourne franchise, Captain Phillips, and News of the World, wrote and directed the project for Focus Features. He arrives with an awards pedigree that could still work in the film’s favor — as does Garfield, a two-time Best Actor nominee.
Read on for everything to know about The Uprising.
The Trailer
The Plot
Set during the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381, The Uprising follows a common farmer in plague-ravaged 14th-century England who rises to lead a rebellion against the Crown forces of a then-14-year-old King Richard II. As war spreads across the country, he assembles an army of commoners to confront the monarchy in a fight for justice and survival.
The Cast
Garfield stars alongside Jamie Bell, Stephen Dillane, Tom Hollander, Cosmo Jarvis, Thomasin McKenzie, Jonny Lee Miller, Woody Norman, Katherine Waterston, and Sky Yang.
Behind the Camera
Greengrass wrote, directed, and produced the film alongside Gregory Goodman and Joanna Kaye. Jason Blum, James Wan, Lars Sylvest, and Joe Neurauter round out the producing team. Pål Ulvik Rokseth served as cinematographer, William Goldenberg edited the film, and Oscar winner Volker Bertelmann (All Quiet on the Western Front) composed the score.
Road to the Screen
The project has gone through several transformations since Deadline first reported it in 2022 as The Hood, with Benedict Cumberbatch attached to star. By 2025, the film had been retitled The Rage, with Matthew McConaughey set to take over the lead and Jason Blum joining as a producer. McConaughey later departed, and Garfield entered negotiations for the role in mid-2025 as Focus Features closed a deal for the film. The project took its current title, The Uprising, in October 2025, around the same time most of its supporting cast came aboard. Principal photography took place in Bavaria’s Franconia region and at Penzing Studios near Munich in fall 2025.
Reviews
Reviews for The Uprising dropped on Sept. 9, and they weren’t kind. The film landed a rotten 50% on Rotten Tomatoes and didn’t fare much better on Metacritic, with a score of 54.
Michael Phillips of Variety took aim at the film’s digital effects, writing that “they make The Uprising look like no one in particular made it.” Owen Myers of The Guardian gave it 2 out of 5, knocking it as a slog with “the emotional depth of a History Channel rerun,” while TheWrap’s William Bibbiani argued that the ending undoes everything before it, calling the film “such a tragic rug pull, sullying its hard-earned good will.” Not everyone was sour on it: Deadline’s Pete Hammond praised Greengrass’ command of pace and action, which he said “makes this film a blast to watch.”
Awards Chances
The reviews aren’t promising, but The Uprising arrives with an awards pedigree behind and in front of the camera. Maybe there will be some good will?
Greengrass is a previous Oscar nominee for Best Director for United 93. Garfield has two prior Best Actor nominations, for Hacksaw Ridge and Tick, Tick… Boom! Jamie Bell is a BAFTA winner for his breakout role in Billy Elliot. Composer Volker Bertelmann is a three-time Oscar nominee and winner, having taken home Best Original Score for All Quiet on the Western Front between nods for Lion and Conclave. Editor William Goldenberg is a five-time Oscar nominee who won Best Film Editing for Argo.
According to Gold Derby’s current Oscar odds, The Uprising is an underdog in all categories, but much can change in the coming months.
Poster
