Andrew Garfield's Stealth Robin Hood Movie Flopped In Theaters But Is A Streaming Hit

Andrew Garfield has flown mostly under the radar in 2026. Aside from his upcoming role as OpenAI's arguably untrustworthy CEO, Sam Altman, in his second collaboration with director Luca Guadagnino, the aptly named "Artificial," the "Never Let Me Go" star's work has gone mostly unnoticed in a year dominated by blockbusters like "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," "The Odyssey," and more.

Garfield's other 2026 projects include "The Magic Faraway Tree," an adaptation of Enid Blyton's "The Faraway Tree" books, and the medieval action drama "The Uprising." The latter, a "Robin Hood"-esque historical film set during the rise of the Black Death in the late 14th century, barely put up a fight while other films like "Resident Evil" and "Verity" clashed swords throughout September and October. It grossed a meager $10.4 million worldwide – a figure that would barely rob the rich of their wealth.

It seems "The Uprising's" arrow hit a bullseye the second time around, and is now stealing the hearts and attention of at-home viewers via streaming. The film currently rests at a comfortable sixth place on Peacock's "Top 10 Movies Today" leaderboard, as of this writing. It's also worth noting that it's the highest-ranking R-rated film on the list, sitting behind a slew of Illumination-animated features like "Minions & Monsters," "The Secret Life of Pets" movies, and "Dr. Seuss' The Grinch." So, while the kiddos seem to have dominated the streaming service for now, many parents and kid-free adults seem to flock to Garfield's lesser-known historical flick whenever they have control of the television.

Either at first glance or via inaccurate word of mouth, it may seem to some prospective viewers that the Andrew Garfield vehicle – or perhaps wagon in the 14th century – "The Uprising" presents itself as another Robin Hood adaptation, sans Kevin Costner's poor English accent, Russell Crowe's "Gladiator"-like take on the character, or anthropomorphic Disney animals. Some may even have been deceived by its U.S. marketing campaign, which completely missed the mark when it indicated the film chronicles the legendary bowman's origins. Rather, similar to how Robert Eggers' "'The Northman" adapted the Danish writings which inspired William Shakespeare's "Hamlet," "The Uprising" is actually inspired by England's 1381 Peasants' Revolt. Garfield's character, the nameless Ploughman, could be likened to the green-wearing leader of the Merry Men, albeit loosely.

Regardless of how much (or how little) it's actually tied to the Robin Hood legends, "The Uprising" earned some praise on review aggregators like Rotten Tomatoes for its timely coverage of the political and social unrest sparked by wealth inequality. It also stands out for director Paul Greengrass' use of cinéma vérité, a documentary technique that uses shaky cam and fly-on-the-wall visuals to draw the audience further into the action. Despite its initial theatrical turnout, or lack thereof, some viewers may delight in watching the historical drama while it's available on streaming services, so long as they're willing to forgive its flimsy Robin Hood ties.