Henry Cavill and Guy Ritchie Action Movie Becomes Streaming Hit

Henry Cavill has played many iconic roles in the action genre. He portrayed a grounded and depressed version of Clark Kent in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, played the rogue CIA operative trying to eliminate Ethan Hunt in Mission Impossible — Fallout, and brought Geralt of Rivia to life in the first few seasons of Netflix’s The Witcher. Cavill brings a distinct energy to each character he plays. That ability likely explains why he has inhabited quite a few of Guy Ritchie’s films, adding something fresh to every project they share. Their latest collaboration found success on streaming after a quiet start where many viewers did not realize the movie existed.

The 2026 film In the Grey marked Ritchie’s third collaboration with Cavill and the second time Cavill and co-star Eiza González worked together under Ritchie’s direction. The movie also stars Jake Gyllenhaal, who previously teamed up with Ritchie on the somber modern war odyssey The Covenant. Combining that level of talent for a high-stakes action heist should have guaranteed box office gold. Instead, In the Grey earned a 52% Rotten Tomatoes score and grossed just $23.7 million at the worldwide box office against a $70 million budget. However, the film’s fortunes changed completely when it landed on streaming.

Earlier this summer, In the Grey debuted on Prime Video, quickly climbing the charts to secure a spot in the top 10. Months later, the movie continues to hold strong as number 18 on Prime Video in the U.S. and number 10 worldwide. It also ranks at number 4 on Starz in the U.S. and number 4 on the European streaming platform Rakuten.

Audiences are embracing In the Grey on streaming despite rejecting it in theaters.

In the Grey deserved a second chance

In the Grey follows a simple premise: “A covert team of elite operatives are living in the shadows. When a ruthless despot steals a billion-dollar fortune, they’re sent to take it back-an impossible heist that erupts into a deadly game of strategy, deception and survival.” That formula defines much of Ritchie’s filmography, offering a fun dynamic where viewers know there is a mystery to solve and characters will look effortlessly cool doing it. Ritchie’s other collaborations with Cavill deserve a similar reappraisal.

The first partnership between Ritchie and Cavill arrived with the 2015 film The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Based on the 1964 television show, the film starred Cavill as Napoleon Solo alongside Armie Hammer’s Illya Kuryakin. The movie underperformed at the box office upon release, leaving fans wanting a continuation that never materialized. Subsequent collaborations between Ritchie and Cavill have helped heal those wounds, including the 2024 film The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.

Viewers can contribute to the ongoing streaming success of In the Grey by watching the film on supported platforms.

Source: Polygon