Image Source: The Guardian
The Uprising has arrived with ambitious credentials but a deeply unfavorable early verdict. The historical epic, directed by Paul Greengrass and led by Andrew Garfield, revisits England’s 1381 Peasants’ Revolt, a period of social unrest, crippling taxation and open resistance to royal authority.
In a review published by The Guardian, critic Owen Myers describes the film as a “disjointed slog through the mud,” arguing that Garfield’s charisma cannot rescue a story that often feels emotionally distant and dramatically generic. The film is scheduled to open in the United States on September 11, followed by a United Kingdom release on October 9 and an Australian release on October 22.
The Uprising struggles to turn history into gripping drama
On paper, the project appears to have all the ingredients of a major historical spectacle. Greengrass is known for kinetic action filmmaking, Garfield brings an introspective quality to his leading roles, and the Peasants’ Revolt offers a naturally powerful story about inequality and political rebellion.
However, the review suggests that the finished film fails to transform those strengths into a compelling emotional journey. The setting is presented as a bleak, plague-ravaged England filled with muddy roads, drab clothing and a population pushed toward desperation. King Richard II’s government imposes heavy taxes while ordinary people struggle to survive, creating the conditions for a nationwide uprising.
Garfield plays a character known only as Ploughman, an unnamed laborer who has lost his wife and two children to the plague. His grief gradually turns into anger when a tax collector demands further proof of his family’s deaths. After Ploughman clears the official’s table and declares that the people have given enough, a local protest begins to expand into organized rebellion.
A promising rebel story loses its momentum
The central character is intended to represent the common people, but Myers argues that Ploughman lacks the distinctive personality needed to carry such a large-scale narrative. Rather than emerging as a magnetic revolutionary, he is portrayed as a grim and relatively anonymous figure.
The story becomes more historically grounded when Ploughman encounters real figures from the revolt. Jamie Bell plays the priest John Ball, while Cosmo Jarvis portrays rebel leader Wat Tyler. Thomasin McKenzie appears as Alyce, a tomboy who joins the group as it moves toward London.
The rebels gather in Maidstone, storm Canterbury Cathedral and eventually advance toward Blackheath, where they hope to confront the king. Their goal is linked to a vision of greater equality and a return to principles associated with the Domesday Book. Yet the journey between these major events is described as hectic, repetitive and lacking a strong sense of progression.
Paul Greengrass delivers striking visuals but shaky action
The review gives Greengrass credit for occasionally impressive imagery. Aerial views of boats moving along the Thames provide some of the film’s most memorable moments, offering a sense of scale that the ground-level scenes often lack.
At the same time, the director’s trademark handheld camera style is criticized as overused. The fast, unstable battle sequences reportedly make the action difficult to follow and may leave viewers feeling more unsettled than exhilarated. The result is a film that looks expensive and physically demanding but does not always feel entertaining.
Several supporting performances offer welcome relief. Katherine Waterston is praised for her icy performance as the king’s mother, while Tom Hollander and Stephen Dillane bring menace and political slipperiness to the royal council. The film also includes a gruesome third-act moment that reportedly pushes beyond the boundaries of conventional historical adventure.
Political parallels remain underdeveloped
The Peasants’ Revolt has obvious connections to current debates about economic pressure, public anger and authoritarian politics. The film presents a population that feels ignored by those in power, making its story potentially relevant to modern audiences.
According to the review, however, The Uprising does not give viewers enough space to consider those parallels. Its rapid movement from one conflict to another leaves little room for reflection, and the political themes are said to remain broad rather than deeply explored.
There was also confusion surrounding the film’s marketing. Focus Features briefly changed the title to The Uprising: The Rise of Robin Hood, suggesting that the events helped inspire the famous outlaw legend. The revolt depicted in the film took place nearly two centuries after the traditional period associated with Robin Hood, and the movie itself reportedly makes no meaningful reference to him.
Release dates and final verdict
Despite the criticism, Garfield’s performance and the film’s supporting cast may attract viewers interested in medieval history, rebellion stories and large-scale period dramas. The production also offers impressive costumes, bleak landscapes and moments of visual ambition.
Still, the early assessment is clear: The Uprising appears to be a serious, grim historical epic that struggles to deliver emotional depth, accessible action or a memorable central hero. Audiences can judge the film for themselves when it reaches US cinemas on September 11.
Frequently asked questions
What is The Uprising about?
The film dramatizes England’s 1381 Peasants’ Revolt, following a grieving laborer who joins a rebellion against taxation and royal oppression.
Who stars in The Uprising?
Andrew Garfield leads the cast as Ploughman. Jamie Bell, Cosmo Jarvis, Thomasin McKenzie, Katherine Waterston, Tom Hollander and Stephen Dillane also appear.
Who directed The Uprising?
Paul Greengrass directed the historical epic. He is known for action-driven films including the Bourne trilogy.
When is The Uprising released?
The film opens in the United States on September 11, 2026, in the United Kingdom on October 9 and in Australia on October 22.
