Actor Andrew Garfield has faced backlash for expressing a hope that billionaires would be "scared s***less" by his upcoming film, "The Uprising." The historical action drama, set to be released in U.S. theaters on September 10, focuses on the 1381 Peasants' Revolt in England.
Garfield, 43, made the comments during a discussion of the film in Los Angeles on Thursday. When asked about his hopes for the audience's takeaway from the project, he stated, "I hope that if any billionaires watch it, they're scared s***less."
His remarks quickly drew criticism on social media. Spencer Pratt, known for his reality television appearances, questioned Garfield's statement on X, noting the actor's own significant earnings. "You mean...like the billionaires who greenlight your movies and stroke all your multi-million dollar paychecks? Or they good?" Pratt wrote. He also pointed out that Garfield reportedly earned approximately $5 million for his role as billionaire Sam Altman in the upcoming film "Artificial."
Other commentators echoed similar sentiments. Noam Blum, Chief Technology Officer of Tablet Magazine, posted on X, "More billionaires were involved in making this than will probably ever watch it." Columnist John William Sherrod commented on Garfield, a "world-famous, multi, multi-millionaire," appearing to "cosplay as a put upon member of the working class."
Additional social media users expressed skepticism about the actor's stance, with one user writing, "I love how millionaires are trying to make billionaires the problem." Another comment read, "Oh look, the Dem Socialist multimillionaire is lecturing the billionaires about their wealth. I guess there are levels to this hypocrisy."
Garfield reportedly has a net worth of around $16 million as of 2026, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The British-born actor has a history of starring in both critically acclaimed independent films and large-scale productions. His filmography includes "Never Let Me Go" (2010), "The Social Network" (2010), which had a budget of $40 million, and the "Spider-Man" franchise, with "The Amazing Spider-Man" (2012) and its 2014 sequel having combined budgets of $400-$520 million and grossing approximately $1.4 billion globally. He also appeared in "Hacksaw Ridge" (2016), which generated around $180 million at the box office. His role as Sam Altman in "Artificial" is slated for a late 2026 release with a $40 million budget.
In "The Uprising," Garfield portrays the character Ploughman. The film's cast also includes Jamie Bell, Stephen Dillane, Tom Hollander, Cosmo Jarvis, Thomasin McKenzie, and Jonny Lee Miller. Described as being "based on the true story of the uprising that inspired the legend of Robin Hood," the movie depicts Garfield's character as a leader of a rebellion against King Richard II.
Garfield has spoken about his passion for the project, telling Deadline that he felt deeply touched by the script. He described the film as an "antidote to the disenfranchisement and an isolation and an anxiety and an awareness that the world is out of joint." He further explained that the film felt like a way to channel energy and artistry toward "yearning to set the world in order," and that he hoped "The Uprising" would be "galvanizing" and foster an "awakening" as audiences see their own struggles reflected in the historical narrative.
Representatives for Garfield did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Daily Mail.