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Welcome to the Punch

Welcome to the Punch

A stunning, intelligent thriller

201399 minRMidcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
Director
Eran Creevy
Starring
James McAvoy, Mark Strong, David Morrissey, Peter Mullan

When notorious criminal Jacob Sternwood is forced to return to London, it gives detective Max Lewinsky one last chance to take down the man he's always been after.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Welcome to the Punch?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Welcome to the Punch streaming on AMC+ and Sundance Now via Prime Video and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Subscription

via Prime Video

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Welcome to the Punch?

Welcome to the Punch earns 3 badges, led by Award Winner and Box Office Flop.

  • Reception
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Welcome to the Punch worth watching?

Welcome to the Punch's Midcredits score is the 39th percentile of all films, from 49K ratings across 6 sources. 40% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

39th percentile

Better received than 39% of films

55th percentile among Action39th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)40th
Approval (how many liked it)38th

59 /100

40th percentile of all films

57th percentile among Action42nd percentile among 2010s

Critics 49 · Audience 59

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.2 — solid but not unanimous.

40% liked it

38th percentile of all films

52nd percentile among Action37th percentile among 2010s
40% rated it 7–1060% rated it 1–6

Critics 49% · Audience 36%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 2 wins / 0 noms overall

94th percentile

49K ratings across platforms

89th percentile among Action94th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 36% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$8.5M
Opening weekend$2.7K
Domestic gross$9.7K
Worldwide gross$3.9M

Returned 0.5× its budget — 48th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A stylish British crime thriller that looks great but has a thin, derivative story.

Fans praised

  • stylish, neon-noir London cinematography
  • strong performances from McAvoy and Strong
  • gripping action set pieces

Detractors panned

  • predictable, clichéd plot
  • shallow character development
  • implausible gunplay and logic

What stands out

Cinematography78

stylish, blue-tinted London visuals

Acting72

strong cast but some miscasting of McAvoy

Atmosphere70

cool, noirish but cold

Effects and spectacleDivisive55

competent but unremarkable action

Pacing52

fast-paced but loses steam

Characters40

underwritten, shallow motivations

Plot and storyDivisive38

convoluted, predictable, logic holes

Originality28

derivative of Heat and Hong Kong action

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 4 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 2 points apart
  • Critics vs users 3 points apart
  • US vs non-US 5 points apart

Watch experience

What is Welcome to the Punch like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Dark and unsettling: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something dark that stays with you.

It is intense and leaves you unsettled.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Dark and unsettling.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TenseCold
Heaviest: late
Register
Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.In medias res · 1% of films: Opens mid-action, then fills in how we got there.
ToneThe film treats its gritty conspiracy story entirely straight, never mocking the genre or its characters, with a serious, brooding atmosphere.
The rideThe film maintains a taut, brooding atmosphere with sporadic violence, culminating in the highest tension during the final shootout and revelations.
StructureOpens with a mid-chase scene, then jumps forward three years; the rest unfolds in conventional order.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Unsettled.

The answer rests on this: UnsettlingBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayThe ambiguous ending and unresolved moral positions leave a lingering sense of discomfort and mixed feelings about justice.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Mystery
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7% (this title): Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% (this title) · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Mystery: A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered. · Investigation: A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).

7% of films fit this archetype

with Overcoming the monster underneath

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe story is driven by uncovering a conspiracy behind a heist, with the detective and criminal reluctantly teaming up. The initial cat-and-mouse dynamic gives way to a larger corruption expose.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfJusticeMorality
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4% (this title)
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16% (this title): Justice 13% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% (this title) · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Morality

Justice · 13% of filmsLoyalty · 4% of filmsBetrayal · 5% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores the pursuit of justice through flawed systems and the moral compromises made when personal loyalties conflict with duty.
StanceThe film questions whether true justice can be achieved through a corrupt political system, without fully celebrating or condemning either protagonist's actions.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernElectronicSupportive music · original score · Harry Escott
SettingLondon's criminal and police underworld, with a trip to Iceland.
MusicA brooding, synth-laced orchestral score that underscores the tense atmosphere.

Content guide

Is Welcome to the Punch okay for kids?

R

Welcome to the Punch is rated R: “Rated R for violence and language” (MPAA). As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (73/100), sexual content at mild (15/100), language at intense (75/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (24/100) and frightening material at intense (62/100). Its drug and alcohol content and frightening material have too few votes to rank. Overall it is heavier than 44% of R-rated films.

Ratings in 9 other countries
  • UK15
  • Germany16
  • France16
  • Ireland15
  • Hungary16E
  • LTN-16
  • Netherlands16
  • PortugalM/12
  • Russia16+
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 66% of all filmsHeavier than 44% of R-rated films
Violence & Gore
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 54%
Sex & Nudity
Mild
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 9%
Profanity
Intense
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 64%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
too few votes to rank (7 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Intense
too few votes to rank (7 votes)

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is language and violence. Everything else sits at or below what R-rated films usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Welcome to the Punch have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Welcome to the Punch?

Cast

1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

James McAvoy
as Max Lewinsky
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Mark Strong
as Jacob Sternwood
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
David Morrissey
as Thomas Geiger
Peter Mullan
as Roy Edwards
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Daniel Mays
as Nathan Bartnick
Andrea Riseborough
as Sarah Hawks
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.
Daniel Kaluuya
as Juka Ogadowa
Ruth Sheen
as Iris Warns
Jason Flemyng
as Harvey Crown
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Elyes Gabel
as Ruan Sternwood
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Welcome to the Punch?

Movies like Welcome to the Punch include Terminal (2018), Lonely Hearts (2006) and Goldstone (2016). Of the 12 closest matches, most are stories about detectives, and most are conspiracy thrillers.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

7 of these 12 share its praise for cinematography. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Welcome to the Punch?

980 other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: conspiracy thriller. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.