IMDb 6.7 2007 HD

Rise of the Footsoldier

Rise of the Footsoldier

2007
Action Crime Thriller
119 min R USA
6.322 / 10
6.7 IMDB

Rise of the Footsoldier follows the inexorable rise of Carlton Leach from one of the most feared generals of the football terraces to becoming a member of a…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Julian Gilbey / Scott Bates / Laure Bregevin
Starring
Ricci Harnett / Terry Stone / Craig Fairbrass / Roland Manookian / Coralie Rose / Neil Maskell / Billy Murray / Ian Virgo

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

gritty violent brutal compelling raw authentic menacing shocking historical crime realistic unvarnished

Reviews

P
Priya Sharma
May 4, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

The inexorable rise of Carlton Leach is the central thrust of 'Rise of the Footsoldier', and Ricci Harnett delivers a performance that embodies this relentless ambition. The film plunges into the murky depths of criminal London and Essex…

J
Jonathan Croft
May 4, 2026
2.5 / 5
2.5

As a biographical crime drama, 'Rise of the Footsoldier' delivers a straightforward, often brutal, account of Carlton Leach's ascent. Ricci Harnett effectively portrays the character's steely resolve, but the film's relentless focus on violence and aggression can become…

S
Sophia Chen
May 4, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

'Rise of the Footsoldier' is a potent slice of British crime cinema, driven by a compelling performance from Ricci Harnett as Carlton Leach. The film masterfully evokes the volatile atmosphere of the era, charting Leach's journey from football…

M
Marcus Bellweather
May 4, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

This is a film that wears its intentions on its sleeve: to depict the unvarnished rise of a notorious figure. 'Rise of the Footsoldier' excels in its grim portrayal of criminal hierarchy, with Ricci Harnett embodying the relentless…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 4, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

Ricci Harnett anchors 'Rise of the Footsoldier' with a performance that captures the raw ambition of Carlton Leach. The film plunges viewers into the grim world of late 80s and early 90s London and Essex, a territory it…

FAQs

The 'football terraces' represent Carlton Leach's initial domain of influence and power. His reputation as one of the most feared generals there serves as the foundation for his subsequent move into more organised criminal enterprises, highlighting a transition from one form of thuggery to another.