Though he is neither the best nor the most popular director to make a comic book movie, no director better captures the comic book ethos than Matthew Vaughn. Vaughn’s films tend to have large casts, stylized violence, tonal whiplash, and twists that kill beloved characters — pulpy comics come to life. The proudly English-born filmmaker was among a wave of post-Tarantino filmmakers from the British Isles to breakthrough with wordy crime films, along with Danny Boyle and Guy Ritchie. But Vaughn quickly carved his own path as a major Hollywood figure (at least in terms of budgets and box office). He broke ground with superhero films and launched his own franchise, the increasingly inane Kingsman series and spinoffs. He’s never been a critic’s favorite (nor my own), but Vaughn’s stalwart dedication to big, slick fun with ambitious stories remains admirable.
Rankings
Chronological
- Layer Cake (2004) (Nearly Good)
- Stardust (2007) (Good)
- Kick-Ass (2010) (Nearly Good)
- X-Men: First Class (2011) (Very Good)
- Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) (Good)
- Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) (Not Very Good)
- The King’s Man (2021) (Not Good)
- Argylle (2024) (Nearly Good)
By Rating
Very Good (6/8)
Good (5/8)
Nearly Good (4/8)
Not Very Good (3/8)
Not Good (2/8)
Last Updated
- 9/29/2024
Review Index
| Title | Date | Film Year | Director | Is It Good | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argylle (2024) | 03/03/2024 | 2024 | Vaughn, Matthew | 4 | 2024, Matthew Vaughn, New Release |
| The King’s Man (2021) | 03/02/2024 | 2021 | Vaughn, Matthew | 2 | Matthew Vaughn |
| X-Men: First Class (2011) | 02/25/2024 | 2011 | Vaughn, Matthew | 6 | Matthew Vaughn |
| Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) | 02/23/2024 | 2017 | Vaughn, Matthew | 3 | Matthew Vaughn |
| Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) | 02/18/2024 | 2014 | Vaughn, Matthew | 5 | Matthew Vaughn |
| Kick-Ass (2010) | 02/10/2024 | 2010 | Vaughn, Matthew | 4 | Matthew Vaughn |
| Stardust (2007) | 02/08/2024 | 2007 | Vaughn, Matthew | 5 | Matthew Vaughn |
| Layer Cake (2004) | 02/05/2024 | 2004 | Vaughn, Matthew | 4 | Matthew Vaughn |
- Review Series: Matthew Vaughn
Dan is the founder and head critic of The Goods. Follow Dan on Letterboxd. Join the Discord for updates and discussion.