Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare hit theaters on 19 April 2024. It is a spy-action comedy that has made a major impact on its viewers. A dramatized retelling of Operation Postmaster from World War II, the movie boasts a star-studded ensemble including Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, and Henry Golding.
The film is based on Damien Lewis’ novel, titled Churchill's Secret Warriors: The Explosive True Story of the Special Forces Desperadoes of WWII. The official synopsis of the movie presents a bonafide war-based narrative with a lighter tone:
“The British military recruits a small group of highly skilled soldiers to strike against German forces behind enemy lines during World War II.”
Let's take a look at five movie options for the fans of The Ministry Ungentlemanly Warfare.
5 movies to watch for fans of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
1) The Guns of Navarone (1961)
Directed by J. Lee Thompson, 1961’s The Guns of Navarone follows a World War II-influenced story. The movie stars Gregory Peck as one Keith Mallory, an American Captain who joins Allied fighters on a Greek island to fight against various German soldiers.
Mallory’s mission is to help escape the 2000-odd British soldiers trapped on the island. His mission features the same kind of obstacles seen in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. Nominated for several Academy awards, this 1961 thriller is considered one of the best depictions of war in Hollywood. The Guns of Navarone can be watched on Amazon Prime.
2) The King's Man (2021)
Released in 2021, The King’s Man stars Ralph Fiennes as Orlando Oxford. Directed by Matthew Vaughn, the movie serves as a prequel to Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) and Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017), It takes the viewers on a journey that looks into the establishment and the history of the Kingsman agency.
Fiennes’ character is seen training the first round of agents who are supposed to join the agency. Incorporating epic humor elements in the overall franchise, The King’s Man offers a similar kind of hilarious drama which is apparent in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. The movie is available on Amazon Prime.
3) Jojo Rabbit (2019)
Directed by Taika Waititi, 2019’s Jojo Rabbit delves into a never-seen-before perspective with respect to World War II. The movie features a ten-year-old boy named Jojo, played by Roman Griffin Davis. It also attempts to present a hysterical twist to war and is quite similar to The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.
Influenced by Adolf Hitler’s propaganda, the film unfolds the story of Jojo, and his imaginary friend, Hitler himself (Taika Waititi). They decide whether to call Jojo’s mother, who has been hiding a Jewish girl in their attic.
The film features the dangers of war in the background as it explores the kind of propaganda that the youth in Hitler’s Germany were forced to believe in at that time. However, the script tends to keep things humorous. The movie is available to watch on HBO Max.
4) The Italian Job (2003)
The Italian Job (2003) is directed by F. Gary Gray and revolves around a disbanded group of criminals who reunite one last time to get their revenge on a former team member who betrayed them. The movie has a renowned star cast that includes Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton, Jason Statham, and Donald Sutherland.
The Italian Job is a remake of the 1969 movie of the same name, which starred Michael Caine. Available on Paramount+, it is a hilarious heist movie that offers a stellar narrative. Fans of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare might enjoy it, considering the 2003 film presents the same kind of slapstick humor to the viewers.
5) The Hunt for Red October (1990)
Directed by John McTiernan, The Hunt for Red October was released back in 1990. The movie stars former James Bond star, Sean Connery, as a Soviet submarine captain. Connery’s character is seen heading to the United States, as the CIA and the American military struggle to determine whether his actions are an act of war or defection.
The movie touches upon a range of themes, similar to the ones depicted in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. It is an Oscar-winning film that is often considered the best Cold War narrative that Hollywood has ever created. Streaming on Amazon Prime, The Hunt for Red October focuses more on the procedural side of warfare, where small decisions often end up making a huge impact.
This list is meant for cinephiles who enjoy war setup, infused with comedy. These five movies are great options for the viewers who liked The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.