‘The Uprising’ Receives B- CinemaScore as Andrew Garfield’s Historical Drama Divides Critics

Andrew Garfield has been establishing himself as one of Hollywood’s most intense dramatic actors, taking on roles that require significant physical and emotional investment. His collaboration with Paul Greengrass, a director celebrated for his visceral, documentary-style approach to historical narratives, seemed promising as they entered this fall’s film lineup.

Their partnership has culminated in ‘The Uprising,’ a gritty historical drama that depicts England’s 1381 Peasants’ Revolt, an event that has inspired the legendary tale of Robin Hood. Blumhouse and Focus Features have positioned the film as a contender for awards season, relying on Garfield’s star power and Greengrass’s distinctive style to navigate a competitive fall movie landscape.

As audiences have experienced the film over its opening weekend, the verdict is in. ‘The Uprising’ garnered a B- grade from CinemaScore, indicating that its serious and unyielding tone may not have fully resonated with mainstream viewers.

This CinemaScore aligns with a similarly mixed critical reception. Currently, the film holds a 56 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, just above Greengrass’s 2016 film ‘Jason Bourne,’ which has a 55 percent score and is often viewed as one of the director’s less successful works compared to acclaimed films like ‘Captain Phillips’ and ‘The Bourne Ultimatum.’

In ‘The Uprising,’ Garfield portrays Ploughman, a grieving farmer who, having lost his family to the plague, becomes an unwilling leader of a peasant uprising against oppressive taxation imposed by King Richard II. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Jamie Bell, Stephen Dillane, Tom Hollander, Cosmo Jarvis, Thomasin McKenzie, Jonny Lee Miller, and Katherine Waterston, offering a sweeping perspective on medieval class struggles.

Greengrass, who both wrote and directed the film, has expressed a desire for the story’s themes of economic disparity to resonate with modern audiences. During the film’s promotional tour, Garfield emphasized this connection, hoping that billionaires watching the film would leave feeling genuinely unsettled, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

This intentional modern parallel has sparked division among critics. Some praised the film’s handheld, verité-style battle scenes for effectively capturing the chaos and brutality of medieval warfare, while others felt that the film’s attempts to link fourteenth-century peasants with contemporary economic issues came off as heavy-handed rather than organic.

Several reviews highlighted Greengrass’s signature shaky-cam technique as a mixed blessing, enhancing tension during large battle scenes but becoming distracting during quieter, character-driven moments, occasionally pulling viewers out of the immersive medieval atmosphere.

Garfield’s performance has faced less criticism than the film’s overall structure and pacing. Many reviewers noted that Ploughman fits well within the lineage of soulful, introspective characters Garfield has portrayed throughout his career. However, the film’s harsh tone and extended runtime seem to have tested some viewers’ patience, a trend reflected in the average CinemaScore grade.

With a 56 percent critical score and a B- audience grade, ‘The Uprising’ occupies a precarious position, neither a critical success nor a complete audience failure. The film’s ambitious mix of historical drama and modern political commentary will likely determine its theatrical performance in the weeks to come, depending on how well its themes resonate with viewers beyond the opening weekend.

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