If you’re looking for the classic Guy Ritchie experience—fast-talking cockneys, split-screen montages, and witty banter about a diamond heist—you are going to be very surprised. Or maybe confused. Most people think of Ritchie as the "Lock, Stock" guy. He does crime. He does "The Gentlemen." But when you sit down to watch Guy Ritchie's The Covenant, you’re getting something else entirely. It’s a lean, mean, and surprisingly emotional war thriller that feels more like a modern Western than a typical military blockbuster.
Honestly, it’s arguably the best thing the director has done in a decade. No, seriously.
Set in 2018 during the final years of the War in Afghanistan, the film tells a two-part story. First, it’s about the survival of U.S. Army Sergeant John Kinley (Jake Gyllenhaal) and his Afghan interpreter, Ahmed (Dar Salim). Then, it flips the script. It becomes a story about a man who can’t live with himself knowing he owes his life to someone left behind in a war zone.
Where Can You Watch Guy Ritchie's The Covenant Right Now?
Finding where to stream movies in 2026 is a headache because the licensing rights shift like sand. You've probably noticed that a movie is on Netflix one week and gone the next. Currently, for viewers in the United States, the easiest way to catch this one is through Netflix, where it recently landed and climbed the charts.
If you don't have Netflix, it’s also widely available for digital rental or purchase on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play. Interestingly, Prime Video holds the international distribution rights in many territories outside the U.S., so if you're reading this from Canada or Europe, check your Amazon app first.
- Netflix: Included with subscription (US).
- MGM+: Often carries it as part of their rotating library.
- Rental/Purchase: Vudu (Fandango at Home), Apple, and Google.
What Makes This Movie Different?
Most war movies fall into one of two buckets. They are either "rah-rah" recruitment videos or soul-crushing critiques of the military-industrial complex. Ritchie manages to avoid both.
He focuses on the bond. That’s the "Covenant" of the title. It’s a debt.
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When Kinley’s unit is ambushed, he is left badly wounded and miles from safety. Ahmed doesn't just help him; he drags him across some of the most punishing terrain on Earth. We’re talking about a man pulling a dead-weight American soldier through mountains while the Taliban hunts them like animals. It is visceral. You can almost feel the exhaustion in Dar Salim's performance.
The Cast Is Doing Heavy Lifting
Jake Gyllenhaal is usually great, but he’s particularly good here because he’s playing a man who is falling apart. Not because of PTSD in the way we usually see it, but because of a crushing sense of guilt. He’s back home in a nice house with a beautiful family, but he can’t sleep because he knows Ahmed is hiding in a hole in the ground while the Taliban hunts his family.
But the real discovery? Dar Salim.
Salim plays Ahmed with such a quiet, simmering intelligence. He isn't just a "helper" character. He’s smarter than the soldiers he’s working with. He knows the local power dynamics. He knows when a source is lying. He is the anchor of the film, and without his performance, the stakes wouldn't feel nearly as high.
Is It a True Story?
This is where things get a bit complicated. If you go to watch Guy Ritchie's The Covenant expecting a biopic, you’ll be disappointed. John Kinley and Ahmed Abdullah are fictional characters. However, the film is "inspired by" the collective experiences of thousands of Afghan interpreters.
It’s a "generally true" narrative.
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During the real-world U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, there was a massive crisis involving Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs). Thousands of local interpreters who risked their lives for the coalition were promised safe passage to America. Many were left behind. Many were targeted and killed by the Taliban for their "betrayal."
The film uses the fictionalized story of Kinley and Ahmed to put a face on this very real political and humanitarian failure. It’s a movie that asks: What is a promise worth if you don't keep it?
Why Most People Overlooked It
The movie didn't set the box office on fire when it was released in 2023. There are a few reasons for that:
- The Title: It’s officially titled Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant. Why? Probably because there’s another movie called The Covenant (the 2006 supernatural one with the warlocks). Adding the director's name makes it sound like a brand, which can sometimes turn people off if they aren't fans of his usual style.
- Marketing Confusion: People expected a "Guy Ritchie Movie." This isn't that. There are no "Pikey" accents or heist plans written on napkins. It’s a serious, gritty, and often silent film.
- War Movie Fatigue: After twenty years of conflict in the Middle East, audiences were somewhat tired of desert-based combat films.
But now that it's on streaming, it’s finding a massive second life. People are realizing that it’s a masterclass in tension. The third act, where Kinley returns to Afghanistan as a private citizen to find Ahmed, is some of the most heart-pounding cinema Ritchie has ever directed.
Action vs. Realism: A Balancing Act
While the movie is much more grounded than Sherlock Holmes or King Arthur, it’s still a movie. The ending, in particular, leans into "Hollywood" territory. There is a climactic shootout on a bridge that feels a bit more like a traditional action flick than the gritty survival drama of the first hour.
Some critics argued this undercut the realism. Maybe. But honestly? By that point in the film, you’re so invested in these two men surviving that you just want to see them win. The emotional payoff is so strong that you’re willing to forgive a few extra explosions.
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Technical Precision
The cinematography by Ed Wild is spectacular. He captures the scale of the Afghan landscape (mostly filmed in Alicante, Spain, though you'd never know it) in a way that makes it feel like its own character. The mountains are beautiful, but they look like they want to kill you.
The score by Christopher Benstead is also worth mentioning. It’s a pulsing, dread-filled soundtrack that never lets you relax. It doesn't use the typical heroic horns you find in war movies. It’s more industrial and anxious.
The Actionable Takeaway: How to Get the Most Out of Your Viewing
If you're planning to watch Guy Ritchie's The Covenant this weekend, here is how to actually enjoy it:
- Turn off your phone. This isn't a "background" movie. The tension relies on the silence and the unspoken communication between the two leads.
- Check your sound system. The sound design in the ambush sequence is incredible. If you have a decent pair of headphones or a soundbar, use them.
- Context matters. Take five minutes to read a quick update on the current status of Afghan SIV applicants. It makes the ending hit about ten times harder when you realize that for many real people, there was no John Kinley coming to save them.
The film is a rare beast: a high-budget action movie that actually has something to say about honor and the personal cost of war. It’s not just a "guy movie." It’s a story about the weight of a debt and the lengths one man will go to for a friend who saved him.
Your Next Step: If you haven't seen it, head over to Netflix or your preferred rental platform and add it to your queue. Once you've watched it, look into organizations like No One Left Behind, which works to help real-life interpreters who are still stuck in the systems the movie depicts.