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‘MobLand’ Goes Medieval in Guy Ritchie’s ‘King Arthur,’ Now on Netflix
Guy Ritchie’s 2017 film *King Arthur: Legend of the Sword* has arrived on Netflix, bringing a much-criticised box-office failure back to streaming attention. The article argues it is still worth watching, particularly for fans of Ritchie’s fast-paced British crime capers, and links it to his more recent return to smaller-scale projects such as *MobLand*.
Warner Bros. reportedly spent $175 million on the film, with additional marketing costs, and lost about $150 million after it underperformed. It was intended to launch a six-film series based on Arthurian characters, but the article says its main weakness is that it assumes viewers will want to follow those characters into future films. The story’s opening has more of Ritchie’s familiar crime-comedy style, before it shifts into supernatural fantasy.
In short
- Guy Ritchie’s *King Arthur* is now streaming on Netflix.
- The film reportedly lost Warner Bros. about $150 million.
- Its crime-caper opening may appeal to fans of Ritchie’s British films.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The film may be worth revisiting because its brisk editing, irreverent humour and crime-caper energy give the Arthurian legend a distinctive, entertaining spin. Its arrival on Netflix also offers viewers a low-cost chance to judge it for themselves, and its failure to launch a franchise need not settle its merits as a standalone film.
The case against
The film’s tonal shift from crime comedy to supernatural fantasy may make it feel less coherent than either approach on its own. Its costly underperformance and the planned six-film series suggest the story may have been built around future instalments before earning audiences’ interest in these characters.
Explained simply
The film is a retelling of the King Arthur legend, the traditional story of a British ruler and the knights associated with him. Director Guy Ritchie is known for brisk crime films such as *Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels* and *The Gentlemen*, which often feature quick dialogue and overlapping plots.
Warner Bros. planned the film as the first of six connected stories, and its large production and marketing costs made its weak box-office performance costly. The film’s mix of crime-style comedy and supernatural fantasy reflects an attempt to give the familiar legend a different tone.