Ralph Fiennes and Gerard Butler Starred in a Criminally Underrated War Movie

Ralph Fiennes has spent the last couple of years in the middle of one of the zombie genre’s biggest revivals, having turned up as the bone-painted Dr. Ian Kelson in 2025’s 28 Years Later, then anchored Nia DaCosta’s follow-up, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which built its story around him. Still, Fiennes is best known for films like The Grand Budapest Hotel and Schindler’s List, but he has also dipped his toes into directing. His debut behind the camera drew on his long love of Shakespeare, a love he was still indulging on stage as recently as a 2024 production of Macbeth. That film was Coriolanus, the first major film adaptation of the play, and it put him opposite Gerard Butler.

Unfortunately, Fiennes’ directorial debut received a mixed reception, with a divide between critics and fans, and struggled to recoup its costs at the box office. Yet now that Coriolanus is available to stream, it’s worth looking back to see whether the underrated adaptation is worth your time and to examine why it failed to capture audiences’ attention in the first place.

Plot and Cast of the Underrated ‘Coriolanus’

Based on the Shakespeare play of the same name that explored the power and political struggles of Rome, Ralph Fiennes’ Coriolanus offered a modernized take on the classic play. Set in a place calling itself Rome, though closer in vision to the war-torn Balkans, the city faces civil unrest and food shortages, leading the general Caius Martius to war against the neighboring Volscians. He returns a hero of the people and earns the name Coriolanus, but when his bid for the consulship collapses in riot and exile, he turns to the very enemy he spent his career fighting. Much like any Shakespeare adaptation, many themes are explored through dialogue-heavy interactions. Yet Fiennes presented a more condensed, action-forward adaptation while keeping the same themes.

Director Ralph Fiennes would also play Caius Martius Coriolanus in the production. In one of his best roles to date, Gerard Butler played Tullus Aufidius, the Volscian commander and Coriolanus’ sworn rival, with Vanessa Redgrave, Brian Cox, and Jessica Chastain filling out a formidable supporting cast. John Logan adapted the play for the screen, with a proven track record of superbly scripted cinema, having worked on Gladiator, The Aviator, and The Last Samurai. Coriolanus remains one of Shakespeare’s lesser-adapted works, with the 2011 film being the only major film adaptation; the play has been adapted for TV previously.

The Mixed Reception of ‘Coriolanus’

Coriolanus was a box office flop, bringing in just under $2.5 million worldwide on an estimated budget of $10 million. Adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays have generally been hit or miss at the box office. While a movie like 1996’s Romeo + Juliet with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes was a massive success, Polanski’s Macbeth (1971) almost ended Shakespeare adaptations for the screen despite being one of the best. More recently, Joel Coen’s 2021 film, The Tragedy of Macbeth, was a box office failure, even considering its limited release and acting as Oscar bait for Apple TV.

Critics, however, were firmly on board. The contrast between fans and critics is evident on Rotten Tomatoes, with the movie scoring 92% Fresh versus 58% Popcornmeter. Monika Bartyzel from The Atlantic was one of many to heap praise on Fiennes’ directorial debut, arguing that Shakespeare speaks to the present day as readily as to timeless human nature when the connection is made properly, and calling the result “genre writing that entertains while tapping into enduring truths.”

With critical praise, it is hard to say why Coriolanus flopped so hard with audiences. Arguably, its obscurity among Shakespeare adaptations made it unappealing to the casual audience despite the star power involved. Shaky cam, fake TV broadcasts, rock music, and a disconnect from the war-torn action to the Shakespearean dialogue may have soured the casual moviegoer. One Rotten Tomatoes user summed up the complaint bluntly in a one-star review, dismissing the film’s admirers as showing off their grasp of Elizabethan English while “most of us Plebians just spend the entire film trying to translate.”

‘Coriolanus’ Is Worth a Second Look

Lionsgate

Shakespeare adaptations that use the original dialogue aren’t for everyone,​​​​​​​ but those looking for a modern interpretation of the playwright’s work won’t find many better than Ralph Fiennes’ Coriolanus. The performances are solid across the board, and the visuals are inventive, carrying an extraordinary flair that brings Shakespeare into the 21st century with style. Moreover, the movie is one of the easier ones to follow for those unfamiliar with the style of speech, making it a great introduction to Shakespeare’s adapted works. You can stream Coriolanus for free on Tubi.

Release Date

January 20, 2012

• 

• 

• 

  Lubna Azabal

  First Citizen (Tamora)

• 

  Ashraf Barhom

  Second Citizen (Cassius)