Greengrass successfully transplants his signature shaky-cam style to a medieval setting, delivering a visceral, documentary-like take on the Peasants’ Revolt that highlights contemporary parallels. Strong performances, especially from Andrew Garfield, anchor the messy but thrilling narrative of inevitable revolution.
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The Uprising (2026)
9 reviews from 9 publications. We need six from publications we count before we show a critics’ score; there are 5 so far.
The critic finds Paul Greengrass’s dramatisation of the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt frustratingly listless overall, despite summoning some controlled chaos and widescreen spectacle. Andrew Garfield gives a stirring lead performance as the reluctant rebel Ploughman, but the film lacks dramatic arc and inspired filmmaking.
Read the full review →The critic finds the film a disjointed slog through the mud with the emotional depth of a History Channel rerun and stale handheld camerawork that induces seasickness in fight scenes. Some aerial shots and supporting performances (such as Katherine Waterston’s icy turn) are noted positively, but the overall verdict is that Andrew Garfield’s charisma cannot save the grim and depressingly generic period piece.
Read the full review →The critic finds the film skillfully made and acted but ultimately exhausting due to its relentless intensity and lack of modulation. The cast, including a terrific Andrew Garfield, and the vivid technical recreation of medieval England are singled out for praise.
Read the full review →The critic praises the film as a rough-and-tumble chronicle of the Peasants’ Revolt with bracing moral complexity and energetic action sequences. Greengrass prioritizes visceral battles and historical upheaval over extensive dialogue.
Read the full review →The critic praises the film's rip-roaring action, urgent pacing, and timely political relevance to inequality and corrupt power. They highlight Andrew Garfield's dignified lead performance and the well-chosen ensemble as reasons viewers root for the rebels.
Read the full review →The critic finds it a well-made historical drama with timely themes of revolution and inequality, praising the gritty realism of the setting and the score. However, the marketing push framing it as a Robin Hood origin story hinders it, and Garfield's lead performance gets lost among a crowded supporting cast.
Read the full review →The critic notes the film begins with propulsive, inspiring rebellion and strong performances but ultimately disappoints due to a weak, unconvincing ending that sours the narrative. They single out the loss of conviction in the climax as the key flaw.
Read the full review →The critic finds the film a dull and dreary disappointment that fails as both a Robin Hood origin story and a historical epic. Greengrass's signature shaky-cam style is singled out as a poor fit for the material, resulting in unfocused action and a lack of scale or substance.
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