Director Matthew Vaughn with Chip the cat (playing Alfie) on the set of 'Argylle.'
Director Matthew Vaughn with Chip the cat (playing Alfie) on the set of 'Argylle.'

After spending years as director Guy Ritchie's producer, director Matthew Vaughn has emerged as one of the most exciting and original filmmakers working today.

As a director, Vaughn first burst on to the scene with the brilliant and groundbreaking movie 'Layer Cake,' which introduced audiences to a pre-Bond Daniel Craig.

Since then he has adapted several popular comic books and graphic novels to the big screen including 'Stardust,' 'Kick-Ass,' 'X-Men: First Class,' 'Kingsman: The Secret Service,' its sequel 'Kingsman: The Golden Circle,' and it's prequel 'The King's Man.'

His new movie, the spy comedy 'Argylle,' which stars Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard and Sam Rockwell, opens in theaters on February 2nd.

In honor of the new film, Moviefone is counting down every movie Matthew Vaughn has ever directed, including his latest.

Let's begin!


8. 'The King's Man' (2021)

Harris Dickinson and Ralph Fiennes in 'The King's Man.'
(L to R) Harris Dickinson and Ralph Fiennes in 'The King's Man.' Photo: 20th Century Studios.

As a collection of history's worst tyrants and criminal masterminds gather to plot a war to wipe out millions, one man (Ralph Fiennes) must race against time to stop them.

The King's Man
The King's Man
"Witness the bloody origin."
67
Audience
40
Review
Release Dec 22, 2021Runtime 2h 11mBudget $100M

7. 'Stardust' (2007)

Claire Danes and Charlie Cox in 'Stardust.'
(L to R) Claire Danes and Charlie Cox in 'Stardust.' Photo: Paramount Pictures.

In a countryside town bordering on a magical land, a young man (Charlie Cox) makes a promise to his beloved (Sienna Miller) that he'll retrieve a fallen star by venturing into the magical realm. His journey takes him into a world beyond his wildest dreams and reveals his true identity.

Stardust
Stardust
"This summer a star falls. The chase begins."
73
Audience
Release Aug 10, 2007Runtime 2h 7mBudget $70M

6. 'Kingsman: The Golden Circle' (2017)

Taron Egerton, Colin Firth and Pedro Pascal in 'Kingsman: The Golden Circle.'
(L to R) Taron Egerton, Colin Firth and Pedro Pascal in 'Kingsman: The Golden Circle.' Photo: 20th Century Fox.

When an attack on the Kingsman headquarters takes place and a new villain rises, Eggsy (Taron Egerton) and Merlin (Mark Strong) are forced to work together with the American agency known as the Statesman to save the world.

Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
"A proper spy movie."
69
Audience
Release Sep 22, 2017Runtime 2h 21mBudget $104M

5. 'Argylle' (2024)

Henry Cavill, Dua Lipa, and John Cena in 'Argylle,' directed by Matthew Vaughn.
(L to R) Henry Cavill, Dua Lipa, and John Cena in 'Argylle,' directed by Matthew Vaughn.

When the plots of reclusive author Elly Conway's (Bryce Dallas Howard) fictional espionage novels begin to mirror the covert actions of a real-life spy organization, quiet evenings at home become a thing of the past. Accompanied by her cat Alfie and Aiden (Sam Rockwell), a cat-allergic spy, Elly races across the world to stay one step ahead of the killers as the line between Conway's fictional world and her real one begins to blur.

Argylle
Argylle
"The greater the spy, the bigger the lie."
60
Audience
70
Review
Release Feb 2, 2024Runtime 2h 19mBudget $200M

4. 'Kingsman: The Secret Service' (2014)

Colin Firth and Taron Egerton in 'Kingsman: The Secret Service.'
(L to R) Colin Firth and Taron Egerton in 'Kingsman: The Secret Service.' Photo: 20th Century Fox.

The story of a super-secret spy organization that recruits an unrefined but promising street kid (Taron Egerton) into the agency's ultra-competitive training program just as a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius.

Kingsman: The Secret Service
Kingsman: The Secret Service
"Manners maketh man."
76
Audience
Release Feb 13, 2015Runtime 2h 9mBudget $81M

3. 'X-Men: First Class' (2011)

Caleb Landry Jones, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Rose Byrne, Nicholas Hoult, James McAvoy, and Lucas Till in 'X-Men: First Class.'
(L to R) Caleb Landry Jones, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Rose Byrne, Nicholas Hoult, James McAvoy, and Lucas Till in 'X-Men: First Class.' Photo: 20th Century Fox.

Before Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lensherr (Michael Fassbender) took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Before they were arch-enemies, they were closest of friends, working together with other mutants (some familiar, some new), to stop the greatest threat the world has ever known.

X-Men: First Class
X-Men: First Class
"Witness the moment that will change our world."
73
Audience
Release Jun 3, 2011Runtime 2h 12mBudget $160M

2. 'Kick-Ass' (2010)

Aaron Johnson and Chloë Grace Moretz in 'Kick-Ass.'
(L to R) Aaron Johnson and Chloë Grace Moretz in 'Kick-Ass.' Photo: Lionsgate.

Dave Lizewski (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) is an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan who one day decides to become a super-hero, even though he has no powers, training or meaningful reason to do so.

Kick-Ass
Kick-Ass
"Shut up. Kick-ass."
71
Audience
Release Apr 16, 2010Runtime 1h 58mBudget $28M

1. 'Layer Cake' (2005)

Colm Meaney, Daniel Craig, and George Harris in 'Layer Cake.'
(L to R) Colm Meaney, Daniel Craig, and George Harris in 'Layer Cake.' Photo: Columbia Pictures.

When a seemingly straight-forward drug deal goes awry, XXXX (Daniel Craig) has to break his die-hard rules and turn up the heat, not only to outwit the old regime and come out on top, but to save his own skin...

Layer Cake
Layer Cake
"The art of good business is being a good middleman."
69
Audience
Release May 13, 2005Runtime 1h 45mBudget $6.5M