The Uprising (2026)
Film · History, Drama, Action
See itif you appreciate visceral, handheld cinematography and a gritty, unvarnished portrayal of historical class conflict.
A gritty, large-scale historical drama that combines the bleakness of the plague years with the adrenaline of a peasant rebellion. Directed by Paul Greengrass, expect a visceral, handheld intensity that makes the medieval struggle for survival feel immediate and raw.
What it is about
As war and plague devastate 14th-century England, a humble peasant ignites a rebellion, uniting an army of commoners to defy the King’s might in a desperate fight for justice and survival.
Trailer
What The Uprising is like, and who it is for
What it is like to watch
Watching this is a breathless and physically demanding experience. The signature Greengrass style translates the chaos of the 14th century into a series of jagged, immersive sequences where the stench of the plague and the mud of the English countryside feel tactile. The pace rarely slackens, moving with urgency from the quiet desperation of feudal life into the deafening, frantic violence of a disorganised uprising. It is a film of mud, blood, and constant movement.
Who it is for, and who should skip it
This is for those who prefer their history without the gloss of traditional epics, favouring raw intensity over romanticised heroics. Andrew Garfield brings a weary conviction to the lead, making the high stakes feel personal rather than purely political. However, those who find shaky-cam cinematography nauseating or prefer the clean, tactical wide shots of Ridley Scott should beware; the visual style is deliberately disorienting and relentlessly grim.
The right evening for it
It suits a night when you have the energy for a high-intensity drama that demands your full attention. It is a sobering, atmospheric choice for a large screen and a loud sound system.
Written by our AI from the facts on this page. It has opinions; it has not watched it.
Another trailer
Trailer · Official Trailer
How The Uprising leaves you
One line on the mood it ends on, with no plot. Some people count that as a spoiler, so it stays hidden until you ask.
Expect to come away feeling wrung out and contemplative, moved by the sheer weight of historical struggle and the timeless, messy nature of demanding systemic change.
How The Uprising ends
Spoilers. The whole ending, in a few lines. Nothing shows until you ask and then confirm.
The film ends with the rebels meeting the king at the Priory of St John, where the king secretly has Wat Tyler killed. Richard II lures the peasants into a trap, resulting in the slaughter of John Ball and most of the rebels. The Ploughman escapes with a few survivors and forms an outlaw group. A year later, the Ploughman ambushes the king in a forest but chooses to spare him, declaring that his band lives beyond royal rule and that their defiance will haunt the monarch forever. In the final scene, the king is heard screaming wildly inside his palace under a thundering sky.
The conclusion settles the fate of the initial uprising through the king's treachery and the death of the rebel leaders. However, it leaves open the ongoing defiance of the Ploughman's survivors, suggesting that the king's nightmares have manifested as a lasting, psychological torment.
Summarised by our AI from the plot section of the Wikipedia article, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. This summary is shared under the same licence.
Stills
Images from TMDB.
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A visually staggering and relentless journey through a gritty, dystopian future that feels uncomfortably plausible. Its long-take action sequences provide an intense adrenaline rush, making it an essential pick for fans of high-stakes, immersive cinema.
the same claustrophobic, handheld intensity during a desperate civilian struggle
Outlaw King (2018)
a similarly grounded and gritty look at medieval rebellion and survival
Bloody Sunday (2002)
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More clips
Teaser · Watch At Home Now
Teaser · In UK Cinemas Everywhere October 9
Teaser · In UK Cinemas Everywhere October 9
The Uprising soundtrack
Music by Volker Bertelmann
Questions people ask
- Is The Uprising in cinemas?
- Yes. It opened on 9 October 2026 in the UK and Ireland, and opens on 3 December 2026 in Australia.
- Is The Uprising an epic film?
- Yes. On Watchlist Boosted it is tagged Epic. A gritty, large-scale historical drama that combines the bleakness of the plague years with the adrenaline of a peasant rebellion. Directed by Paul Greengrass, expect a visceral, handheld intensity that makes the medieval struggle for survival feel immediate and raw.
- How long is The Uprising?
- The Uprising runs 128 min and was released in 2026.
- Who composed the music for The Uprising?
- The music for The Uprising is by Volker Bertelmann.
- Is The Uprising worth watching?
- See it: if you appreciate visceral, handheld cinematography and a gritty, unvarnished portrayal of historical class conflict. Rotten Tomatoes gives it 55%, Metacritic 53 and TMDB users 8.0.
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