The True Story Behind Guy Ritchie’s ‘The Covenant,’ Explained

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Guy Ritchie’s film, The Covenant, which came out to great reviews on April 21, 2023, is inspired by the true stories of interpreters who worked with U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Instead of focusing on one individual, the movie highlights the dangers and hardships faced by many unnamed interpreters who put their lives on the line hoping for a better life.

I just finished watching Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant, and it’s a powerful film that really stuck with me. It centers around John Kinley (Jake Gyllenhaal), a soldier in Afghanistan in 2018, and the incredible bravery of Ahmed (Dar Salim), his Afghan interpreter. When Kinley gets injured, Ahmed risks everything to save him, expecting help for his family in return. But the film shines a light on a frustratingly real issue: the broken promises made to those who aided the U.S. military. While it’s not a direct retelling of one specific story, The Covenant uses this very real situation to deliver a moving message about the power of human kindness and the debts we owe to those who help us, even when our own government fails them.

What Is Guy Ritchie’s ‘The Covenant’?


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Guy Ritchie’s film, The Covenant, features an entirely original story. The screenplay was written by Ritchie alongside Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies, frequent collaborators who also helped write his films The Gentlemen, Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, and Wrath of Man. Unlike those previous movies, which were fictional, The Covenant draws inspiration from real issues happening in Afghanistan and the wider Middle East.

The film The Covenant by Guy Ritchie is inspired by the real experiences of Afghan interpreters who assisted U.S. soldiers. These interpreters faced significant danger by working with the American military, and were promised safe relocation to the United States as a result. However, the U.S. government has often failed to keep this promise, leaving many interpreters vulnerable and at risk. The film, focusing on the story of Ahmed, represents the struggles faced by these courageous individuals.

The film centers on John Kinley, a U.S. Army Master Sergeant, and his team who are hit by a Taliban car bomb, tragically killing their interpreter. A local Afghan man named Ahmed agrees to take the interpreter’s place, claiming he’s only motivated by payment. Kinley discovers Ahmed used to fight with the Taliban but switched sides after they killed his son. As Kinley and Ahmed begin to trust each other, a new Taliban attack leaves Kinley severely wounded, dramatically changing their situation.

After recovering from his injuries, Kinley finds himself back in the United States and cut off from Ahmed. Determined to help the man who saved his life and got him to safety, Kinley tries to get Ahmed and his family visas to come to the U.S. However, the government delays the process for a month, forcing Ahmed’s family to go into hiding. Kinley, now using the name Ron Kay, returns to Afghanistan to find Ahmed. Before leaving, he asks his superior, Colonel Vokes, to approve the visas for Ahmed’s family.

After locating Ahmed in Afghanistan, Kinley persuades him and his family to escape with him to the United States. Vokes confirms their visas are approved and organizes an airstrike to prevent a Taliban attack. Following a dangerous confrontation where they protect each other, Kinley, Ahmed, his wife, and child are airlifted from Afghanistan and brought back to the U.S. While Ahmed and his family ultimately find safety, the film concludes with a thought-provoking text epilogue.

The Taliban has killed over 300 interpreters and their families because they worked with the U.S. military. Thousands more are currently hiding, fearing for their lives.

Though it looks like a typical action movie, Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant is based on a true story about a serious problem still happening in the Middle East. The film follows Ahmed and his family, and while they survive, many interpreters who helped during the war in Afghanistan weren’t so lucky. The movie hopes to highlight the sacrifices of these interpreters and bring attention to their often-overlooked contributions.

Historical Precedent Inspired Guy Ritchie’s ‘The Covenant’


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While Guy Ritchie’s film, The Covenant, isn’t based on one specific person’s life, it draws inspiration from real events. In 2016, Smithsonian Magazine published a powerful article detailing the difficult situation faced by Afghan interpreters who helped the U.S. government. These individuals, like Ahmed Abdullah, risked their lives and faced danger by working with American forces, expecting assistance with visas in return. Sadly, many were ultimately abandoned and denied the visas they were promised, despite their bravery and service.

As a lifelong moviegoer, I’m always struck by stories of resilience and the search for a better life, and this article really hit home. It follows the incredibly difficult journeys of Afghan interpreters who risked everything to come to America, hoping for safety and a fresh start. It’s heartbreaking to learn that many were denied visas, and tragically, some even lost their lives. While the individual stories are almost too painful to fully share, the article points to one particularly chilling number that really stayed with me…

In 2014, the New York-based nonprofit International Refugee Assistance Project reported that, on average, an Afghan interpreter was being killed every 36 hours.

While the real situation is more complicated than shown in the film The Covenant, the movie does a good job of highlighting the bravery of Afghan interpreters who were largely overlooked, and it aims to inspire empathy and support for them.

Guy Ritchie’s Take on ‘The Covenant’


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Though inspired by the true stories of countless Afghan interpreters, director Guy Ritchie emphasizes that his film, The Covenant, is fundamentally about the powerful connection between two very different men, John Kinley and Ahmed Abdullah. Ritchie explained to The Associated Press:

I was deeply affected by the complex relationships that formed between interpreters and the people they worked with – those on opposing sides – especially considering how quickly those connections could disappear under pressure. War, strangely, allows people to express a full range of human emotions that are rarely seen in everyday life. It’s difficult to fully explain how meaningful those bonds were, but my goal with the film was to capture that feeling through a straightforward story.

Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant presents a straightforward story based on a real event: the ongoing struggles of interpreters who worked with the U.S. military in Afghanistan. This often-overlooked war film focuses on the relationship between John and Ahmed to highlight the continued mistreatment and lack of support these individuals face in the Middle East.

The Critical and Commercial Performance of ‘The Covenant’


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Released in theaters on April 21, 2023, The Covenant was a hit with both viewers and critics. People particularly loved its moving story, emotional impact, and the outstanding performance by Jake Gyllenhaal. Director Guy Ritchie was praised for realistically portraying the strong connection between soldiers and their interpreters, and the close friendship they develop. The action-packed drama earned an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a 98% audience score on Popcornmeter, and an “A” grade from CinemaScore audiences.

Guy Ritchie’s latest film opened in theaters with Evil Dead Rise, Chevalier, and Beau is Afraid, and was expected to make around $6 million during its first weekend. However, it ended up in third place, behind The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Evil Dead Rise, earning $6.3 million. Ultimately, The Covenant only brought in $21.9 million worldwide during its entire run in theaters. Despite positive reviews, this was considered a box-office failure considering its $55 million production cost. Ritchie’s films often either perform very well or poorly financially, as the information below demonstrates.

Year Movie Budget Box Office
1998 Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels $1.40M $28.1M
2000 Snatch $10M $83.6M
2002 Swept Away $10M $1M
2005 Revolver $27M $6.7M
2008 RocknRolla $18M $25M
2009 Sherlock Holmes $90M $524M
2011 Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows $125M $543.8M
2015 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. $75M $110M
2017 King Arthur: Legend of the Sword $175M $148.7M
2019 Aladdin $183M $1.054B
2020 The Gentlemen $22M $115.2M
2021 Wrath of Man $40M $104M
2023 Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre $50M $49M
2023 Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant $55M $21.9M
2024 The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare $60M $29.8M
2025 Fountain of Youth $180M N/A

Despite not being a box office success, Guy Ritchie’s war film, The Covenant, received overwhelmingly positive reviews, becoming his highest-rated movie on Rotten Tomatoes with an 82% approval rating. The film resonated strongly with viewers, and the San Diego Reader particularly praised Ritchie’s direction and storytelling in a glowing review.

Guy Ritchie directs the action in this film with a surprising amount of control. He often chooses to show events from a distance, letting the situation itself create the excitement, and it consistently works incredibly well.

Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant is available to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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2025-11-04 05:53