Jake Gyllenhaal's The Covenant climbs Netflix charts
Jake Gyllenhaal's Guy Ritchie war thriller Guy Ritchie's The Covenant is climbing Netflix charts in Canada after earlier Hulu success in the United States, buoyed by an 82% Rotten Tomatoes critics score and a 98% audience score that keep the Afghanistan rescue drama surging whenever it hits streamers.
Key Takeaways
- Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Sergeant John Kinley in Guy Ritchie's The Covenant, now climbing Netflix ranks in Canada.
- The film previously found streaming success on Hulu in the United States.
- Critics give it a Certified Fresh 82% on Rotten Tomatoes; audiences rate it a Verified Hot 98%.
- The story follows a U.S. soldier who returns to Afghanistan to repay a life-saving debt to his interpreter.
- Gyllenhaal and Ritchie later reunited on the heist thriller In the Grey, which also found streaming traction.
According to MovieWeb, the April 2023 MGM release is shooting up Netflix's Canadian charts alongside newer titles such as the sci-fi thriller The Last House and Kevin Hart's comedy 72 Hours. For more viral picks beyond the streamer charts, browse our Fintech & Crypto Alerts hub.
What is Guy Ritchie's The Covenant about?
Co-written, co-produced, and directed by Guy Ritchie, the film is inspired by several true stories. Gyllenhaal plays Sergeant John Kinley on his last tour in Afghanistan, teamed with local interpreter Ahmed, portrayed by Dar Salim.
After Kinley is injured, Ahmed risks his life to carry him across miles of terrain to safety. Sent home to recover, Kinley learns Ahmed and his family are in danger and returns to the war zone to retrieve them before the Taliban can hunt them down.
The ensemble also includes Alexander Ludwig, Antony Starr, Jason Wong, Bobby Schofield, Sean Sagar, Sina Parvaneh, and Emily Beecham. The R-rated thriller runs 123 minutes.
Why is Jake Gyllenhaal's thriller scoring so well with viewers?
MovieWeb notes the film flew somewhat under the radar compared with better-known Ritchie and Gyllenhaal projects, yet it ranks among their strongest collaborations. Rotten Tomatoes lists an 82% Certified Fresh critics score and a 98% Verified Hot audience score.
Critics called it a satisfying, well-acted war thriller with surprising dramatic depths. Audience reactions urge viewers to come for the action and stay for the performances and a story that honors wartime sacrifices—fuel that helps it climb whenever it lands on major platforms.
Where else can you stream Jake Gyllenhaal and Guy Ritchie right now?
Beyond The Covenant's Netflix surge in Canada and prior Hulu run in the U.S., Gyllenhaal and Ritchie reunited on In the Grey, a heist action thriller that also found streaming success thanks to star power shared with Henry Cavill, even without matching The Covenant's critical acclaim.
Gyllenhaal will soon return to action in Road House 2 after Ritchie walked away from directing that sequel. Ritchie's upcoming slate includes the Benedict Cumberbatch thriller Wife & Dog and a reunion with Jason Statham on Layer Cake follow-up Viva La Madness.