Guy Ritchie’s 2023 Action War Movie Is Destined To Become A Free Streaming Hit In February

Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant is set to reach a much wider audience next month. Ritchie’s 2023 war action drama​​​​​ stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Dar Salim, following the story of a U.S. Army sergeant and his Afghan interpreter during the Afghanistan War. The film deviates from Ritchie’s usual stylized crime tales and instead delivers a grounded, immersive war narrative built around survival, loyalty, and sacrifice.

Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant will be available to stream for free on Tubi starting February 1. The Covenant received generally positive reviews from critics and audiences upon its theatrical release, standing at an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

However, the film didn’t make a major splash at the box office. With a reported production budget of around $55 million, the film grossed approximately $21.9 million worldwide.

The film centers on U.S. Army Master Sergeant John Kinley (Gyllenhaal) and his bond with Afghan interpreter Ahmed (Salim) after a devastating ambush. After Ahmed carries the wounded Kinley across miles of dangerous terrain to safety, Kinley learns that Ahmed and his family were left without the promised safe passage out of the war zone, prompting him to return and rescue them before Taliban forces catch up.

However, in the years since its debut, The Covenant has found a growing audience on streaming platforms, where many have praised its gritty realism and heartfelt story, giving the film a reputation as something of an underrated war drama.

Part of what makes the film so resonant is its focus on the characters’ relationship amidst war’s brutality. Rather than presenting conflict as simply spectacle, the film puts the bond between Kinley and Ahmed at the forefront, elevating itself above many standard action dramas.

​​​​​​​The film was written by Ritchie, Ivan Atkinson, and Marn Davies. ​​​​​​​The Covenant cast also features Sean Sagar, Jason Wong, Alexander Ludwig, Emily Beecham, and Antony Starr.

Releasing the movie on a free streaming platform also comes at a time when audiences are increasingly eager for content they can watch without adding to subscription fatigue. With most platforms raising their monthly fees and changing subscription plans for viewers, platforms like Tubi provide a welcome alternative, allowing titles like The Covenant to find new life and expand their exposure long after their debuts.

This move also benefits Ritchie and his collaborators. With the film now being accessible to all audiences, The Covenant has a chance to boost its impact, generate word-of-mouth, and potentially create a larger fanbase.

This also rings true for other films that might have been overlooked on big screens. If Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant performs well when it lands on Tubi in February, it could serve as an example of how mid-tier theatrical films, especially war dramas with strong emotional cores, can thrive in the streaming era without costing viewers a dime.

Release Date

April 21, 2023

Runtime

123 Minutes