Director Guy Ritchie's Top Ten Career Highlights

The film that started it all, 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' was like a fever dream of British crime and comedy. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a bunch of hapless blokes try to rob a gang and end up involved in a convoluted plot involving antique guns, this is your film. Ritchie’s directorial debut introduced us to his trademark style: fast cuts, rapid dialogue, and more twists than a soap opera. Bonus points if you can follow the plot without needing a flowchart.

Ritchie’s second film, 'Snatch,' took the world by storm with its frenetic energy and a cast of characters so eccentric they could have their own reality show. Featuring Brad Pitt as a bare-knuckle boxer with an accent so thick you need subtitles to understand him, this film proved that you could cram more chaos into one movie than a circus on roller skates.

In 'Revolver,' Ritchie decided to up the ante by adding a philosophical twist to his crime capers. Think of it as 'Inception' meets 'The Godfather,' but with more confusion and less plot clarity. Starring Jason Statham as a chess-playing gangster, it was the cinematic equivalent of a Rubik's Cube — intriguing yet impossible to solve on your own.

In 'RocknRolla,' Ritchie brought his signature style back with a vengeance. The film is a chaotic ballet of gangsters, rock stars, and a stolen painting. If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if a Tarantino film and a rock concert had a love child, this is it. And just when you think you've figured out the plot, Ritchie throws in a plot twist that leaves you wondering if you’re still in the same movie.

When Ritchie decided to take on 'Sherlock Holmes', the iconic detective got a makeover that would make even the most ardent purists raise an eyebrow. Robert Downey Jr.’s "Holmes" was like a cross between a Victorian action hero and a Bond villain, while Jude Law’s Watson was the perfect foil — a straight man to Holmes’ delightful madness. It’s a film that proved Sherlock Holmes could punch as well as he could deduce.

In the sequel, Ritchie doubled down on the action, turning "Holmes" and "Watson" into a dynamic duo of crime-fighting shenanigans. The film’s centerpiece, a chase through a forest, is like a fancy game of hide-and-seek with explosions. If you thought the first film was a blast, this one’s a full-blown fireworks display.

Guy Ritchie’s take on the 1960s TV series 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' was like someone mixed 'Mission: Impossible' with 'The Avengers' and added a dash of 'Austin Powers.' With Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer as the spy duo, the film was a stylish throwback to a time when espionage was all about the gadgets, the glam, and the glamorously absurd.

In 'King Arthur,' Ritchie took the Arthurian legend and gave it a thoroughly modern twist. Picture Arthur as a street-smart rebel with a sword, and you’ve got this film. It’s like if 'The Sword in the Stone' and 'Lock, Stock' had a baby and decided to rule the world. Cue the epic battles and a lot of medieval bling.

When Ritchie took on 'Aladdin,' he had the audacity to transform a beloved Disney classic into a fast-paced extravaganza. Will Smith’s take on the "Genie" was like adding a splash of modern flair to a timeless story. If you ever wondered what 'Aladdin' would look like if it were directed by a man known for gritty crime thrillers, wonder no more.

Then came 'Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre.' In this film, Ritchie combined his love for heist capers with international espionage. Jason Statham leads a cast on a globe-trotting adventure to stop a dangerous weapon from falling into the wrong hands. It’s like if James Bond and 'Ocean’s Eleven' had a secret mission together — and somehow managed to make espionage fun again.