Anglophiles and history lovers will be thrilled by a new movie coming to theaters September 11, 2026: The Uprising, starring Andrew Garfield.

The movie portrays the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 in England. The story of Robin Hood has its roots in the revolt, and in America, a marketing controversy has erupted over adding Robin Hood to the film’s subtitle. As I watched the beginning of the movie, I was privately embarrassed for myself because I didn’t know much about the Peasants’ Revolt. I wondered whether I hadn’t been taught it in school or had forgotten this event in history. A few days later, I texted a learned doctor friend from England, who told me she didn’t learn about the Peasants’ Revolt in her education either.

I wasn’t sure whether I should like the movie. There were some things I liked. Other things I didn’t like. I also found myself thinking deeply about other subjects. Here’s what I, as a Catholic priest, thought about The Uprising.

Things I Liked About The Uprising

1. I learned about history…

As I already shared, I learned about the Peasants’ Revolt. While watching the movie, I wondered: Is this a real event, or is this a made-up historical event for the movie? Further reading afterward confirmed this was a historical event. I liked that I learned something about history from the movie.

2. People visited graves

If people follow me on Facebook or Instagram (@FrEdwardLooney), they will see and know that I am a fan of cemeteries. For the past year, I have been documenting the graves of deceased priests. 600+ thus far! The movie takes place in the aftermath of a plague that swept through England, and many of the peasants experienced the loss of family. Even royalty experienced loss. Andrew Garfield’s character, named Ploughman, visits a few crosses in a field several times where he remembers and asks for strength. The Queen, Joan of Kent, visits a tomb in Canterbury Cathedral a few times as well, and on one occasion prays for her son, the King, that he would effectively govern and lead.

3. The Integration of the Feast of Corpus Christi into the Story

Corpus Christi is a part of the storyline. Essentially, the peasants are marching to the revolt, which they hope to enact on Corpus Christi, which they call the day of miracles. The Feast of Corpus Christi was instituted in 1264, so rightly there would be the celebration of the feast in 1381. The movie even depicted processions in the street.

4. The Witness of Women Religious

The movie portrayed religious sisters and nuns who cared for the sick and wounded. Who doesn’t love seeing women religious who exude faith, prayer, and dedication to others?

5. The Impact of a Heretic

The Peasants’ Revolt was being spurred on by a priest named John Ball, dubbed a heretic by the ecclesiastical hierarchy for his teachings. In an age without social media, one man was able to raise up thousands of people to rebel. People were swayed by his words. He incited riots. It was a stark reminder for us today to see the impact of present-day heretics on the lives of believers today.

6. A Quote I’ll Keep Thinking About

There was a quote that I thought was especially powerful: “There will be no peace until we are healed.” The quote made sense in the demands of the revolt, but it also made sense outside of the movie too. I will not know interior peace until I am healed. And whatever is not healed, I need to bring to Jesus. If there is one good thing I take away from this movie, it is meditating on that quote.

7. The King’s Mother

Biblical theology teaches us about the role of the Queen Mother. Joan of Kent was the mother of King Richard II. She prayed and stood by her son, trying to influence him for good. She was a mother who was dismayed and pleaded for her son.

Things I Didn’t Like About The Uprising

1. The movie was violent…

This movie contains lots of violence. People get stabbed. Others are beheaded. At one point, someone’s head is carried around on a pole. These are historical realities that are tough to watch. There were times I closed my eyes because of the violence. This movie is not suitable for children.

2. Political agenda?

In the final minutes of the movie, a statement said, “No Kings.” Americans are aware of the recent “No Kings” protests. When I heard those words, I wondered whether there was political motivation behind including that phrase or if it was just an accident. After all, the movie is about a king.

3. Churches were desecrated

The peasants pillaged some of the beautiful churches they encountered because of opulence. I understand that these are historical events, but it brought sorrow to my heart to see some of the Church’s sacred treasures burned and destroyed. People tend to be critical of the Church because of the treasures and wealth it has received. Many of these things were gifted to the Church for the glory of God. The treasures of the Church connect us to our history, fostering a greater appreciation for our traditions.

A Few Things the Movie Made Me Think Of

1. The Church of 1381

I thought about what the Church was like in 1381. Think about it: 1381 is before the Protestant Reformation. That means Catholicism was the religion of the land. I wondered who the saints were at the time. I did find out that the revelations of Julian of Norwich took place a few years before the revolt. I wondered how the different monasteries or parish priests reacted to the revolt. The movie made me think about Church history in that era and want to learn more.

2. A lot of people died

I also realized that a lot of people died during the revolt. It made me realize that they needed prayers. Surely, over the centuries, people have remembered these beloved dead, but it doesn’t hurt for us to pray for them today.

3. Reconciling the King’s Actions

The movie made me face the actions of a king who, at times, turned to God in prayer and could still perpetuate evil afterward. It called me to consider how I reconcile being a person of prayer with the way I live my faith and spirituality.

Should a Catholic See The Uprising?

I’ll leave that up to your conscience. The movie is a thought-provoking historical film that also includes religious imagery. The movie is rated R for violence and bloody images. I don’t recall much profanity in the movie, and the rating wasn’t for profanity. Even though it’s a little over two hours, the story captivated my attention throughout.