A loud, overstuffed sequel that doubles down on the franchise’s cartoonish violence, glossy gadgetry, and shamelessly silly tone. It has enough set pieces, star turns, and outrageous swing to entertain if you’re on its wavelength, but the story is messier and the emotional beats land less cleanly than the first film.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Where to watch: Buy
Movie · Action · Adventure
Wed · 2h 21m
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Starring: Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, Julianne Moore
Overview
When an attack on the Kingsman headquarters takes place and a new villain rises, Eggsy and Merlin are forced to work together with the American agency known as the Statesman to save the world.
Director
Matthew Vaughn
Cast
Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, Julianne Moore
Curator Review
Verdict
A loud, overstuffed sequel that doubles down on the franchise’s cartoonish violence, glossy gadgetry, and shamelessly silly tone. It has enough set pieces, star turns, and outrageous swing to entertain if you’re on its wavelength, but the story is messier and the emotional beats land less cleanly than the first film.
Best for
Viewers who want maximalist action-comedy excess
Fans of self-aware spy spoofing
People who enjoy big, absurd set pieces and celebrity cameos
Audiences comfortable with crude, hyper-stylized humor
Skip if
You want a tighter, more coherent sequel
You dislike juvenile shock comedy
You prefer grounded spy thrillers
You were already frustrated by the first film’s tonal whiplash
Overview
Kingsman: The Golden Circle is the rare sequel that seems determined to turn every dial past eleven, whether the movie benefits from it or not. The action is still slick and inventive, and Matthew Vaughn remains committed to a candy-colored, comic-book version of espionage that treats violence like choreography and bad taste like a selling point.
Worth noting
What makes it divisive is also what makes it memorable: the movie is shamelessly stupid in a way that can feel either exhilarating or exhausting. The Statesman material adds a fresh texture, and the supporting cast gets plenty of room to chew scenery, but the plot is overstuffed and the emotional stakes are often buried under punchlines, cameos, and escalation.
Bottom line
If you’re in the mood for a sequel that behaves like a live-action Saturday-morning cartoon for adults, it can be a blast. If you want discipline, restraint, or a meaningful expansion of the first film’s ideas, this one is more likely to feel like a noisy detour than a necessary chapter.
Top Letterboxd reviews
davidehrlich (3★) · 4617 likes
my wife cried 3 times. 1 involved a landmine. 1 involved channing tatum just showing up on screen. 1 involved a puppy.
bel (4★) · 4481 likes
Elton John telling everyone to fuck themselves was FUUCKING SPECTACULAR AY
chloe 💓 (4★) · 4072 likes
this movie is so fucking stupid. i want 20 more
bel (4★) · 2400 likes
if you think i paid extra just to see Pedro Pascal crack a whip in IMAX, then you are sciddley doodley darn right!
ciara (3★) · 2257 likes
elton john ur doing amazing sweetie
Themes
spy spoof, action-comedy, stylized violence, secret agencies, absurdist humor, American vs British contrast, villainy, found family