Given the historical precedent of the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381 England, it’s extraordinary that The Uprising is the first-ever major Hollywood film to depict the historical events. Paul Greengrass wrote and produced the tense new medieval drama, starring Andrew Garfield as a farmer simply known as Ploughman, who lost his wife and children to the Black Death. When teenage King Richard II’s council raises taxes on the commoners, the people complain they are too high to make a living, leading to a rebellion that the Ploughman inspires. He’s soon joined by historical Peasants’ Revolt leaders, including military veteran Wat Tyler (Cosmo Jarvis) and the radical priest John Ball (Jamie Bell) as they march with thousands to London to petition the King, who they believe is held hostage by his conniving council, led by Tom Hollander’s slimy Lord Chancellor and Jonny Lee Miller’s ruthless Mayor of London.
All the male leads provide decent performances, convincingly portraying their characters’ fury and self-preservation, as do Katherine Waterston’s Queen Mother and Thomasin McKenzie’s peasant woman – although the female performances feel underwritten and almost shoe-horned in for the sake of representation. Much of The Uprising features Greengrass’ signature Jason Bourne “shaky cam,” capturing the rebels marching through muddy fields and chasing them into bloody altercations with knights throughout CGI medieval London. Meanwhile, somewhat historically accurate scenes condensing major talks with the King at Mile End and the storming of the Tower of London soon get thrown out the window for the bizarre, anachronistic path the third act of the film takes, which I won’t spoil here.
Contextually, the Peasants’ Revolt has historically been a symbol of the political left, when traditionally it was focused on class rather than identity politics. Garfield himself has caused controversy, saying that he hopes any billionaires watching The Uprising will be “scared s******”. Although given we live in an age of populist right marches on London featuring radical priests and endorsements from billionaires like Elon Musk, perhaps this movie might end up being lauded by the very opposite audience Garfield and Greengrass intended it for.
The Uprising is released in US theatres on September 10 and UK cinemas on October 9, 2026.
