Henry Cavill’s New Spy Thriller Is Guy Ritchie’s Biggest Box Office Misfire Since 2008

Henry Cavill and Guy Ritchie—two big names who already collaborated on The Man from U.N.C.L.E.—were back together for what should have been an easy win at the box office. An action thriller, a stacked cast, a director with a solid track record… but things just didn’t click this time around. Let’s dig into what happened with In the Grey, why the new spy flick flopped, and how it stacks up against Ritchie’s recent run.

Not So Hot Out of the Gate

In the Grey hit theaters on May 15, 2026, opening wide in over 2,000 theaters. You’d think that would generate a little heat, especially with Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Eiza González leading the cast. Instead, the film's opening weekend landed with a definite thud—only $3.005 million domestically, per Box Office Mojo.

Just for context, Friday brought in a mere $1.14 million, so any dreams of a turnaround faded fast. It placed sixth for the weekend, barely making a splash. And yes, it’s R-rated, so you’re already narrowing the potential audience, but still—ouch.

What’s the Movie Actually About?

The plot is text-book Guy Ritchie: a covert crew of operatives racing against time to seize a massive fortune from, you guessed it, a sadistic villain. If you’re getting déjà vu, you’re not alone—it definitely feels like something that should’ve worked on paper.

In case you’re into technical details, the movie runs a breezy 98 minutes. Black Bear handled distribution, so it’s not a traditional studio release—but Ritchie’s last few projects haven’t always fit the usual Hollywood box.

The Reviews… Well, They Exist

On Rotten Tomatoes, In the Grey currently sits at a 46% critics score. Basically, this isn’t one of those misunderstood gems. Early reactions ranged from ‘forgettable’ to ‘fine, I guess,’ with few critics strongly recommending it.

'Ritchie’s first theatrical movie in years after a streaming detour, but with a debut this low, maybe he’s wishing he stayed on your TV,' one reviewer wrote.

To be fair, there are some fans, but most people seem to agree this isn’t the director’s strongest effort.

How In the Grey Stacks Up to Ritchie’s Other Openings

Here’s where it gets a little uncomfortable. Even some of Ritchie’s least-loved releases pulled in more at the box office. For example:

• Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre — Opened above $3.1 million, topped out at $6.5 million domestically.
• The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare — Reached $20 million domestic, though that’s still far off from the reported $60 million budget.
• The Covenant — Hit $17 million in North America, but cost an estimated $50 million.
• Wrath of Man — His last real hit: crossed $100 million globally against about $40 million spent.

Long story short, In the Grey is Ritchie’s weakest domestic debut in nearly two decades. This one stings.

So What’s Next?

Ritchie hasn’t disappeared from the big leagues just yet. After a pricey Apple TV outing (Fountain of Youth reportedly cost a whopping $180 million), he’s already lining up his next movie (Wife & Dog). Maybe the next one will stick the landing.

As for In the Grey, don’t be shocked if you’re the only one in the theater—assuming you even bother to go. Sometimes even the right ingredients just won’t bake a decent cake.