12 Intriguing Details About Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

Today, he's known for directing high-energy Sherlock Holmes movies, bringing Aladdin to life in live-action, and his past marriage to Madonna. However, Guy Ritchie first gained fame with Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, a film that became a blockbuster in England, a cult classic in the U.S., and sparked a wave of gritty British crime comedies. Quite an achievement for a debut feature. Pour yourself a cup of tea (a staple of the British Empire) and delve into these fascinating facts about London's most notorious figures as we mark the 20th anniversary of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

1. Trudie Styler played a key role in its production.

Trudie Styler, a producer, actress, and Sting's spouse, discovered the script for Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels in the mid-1990s and was instantly captivated. However, she wasn't impressed with its format: 'It was a challenging read,' she remarked. 'The screenplay was lengthy, disjointed, riddled with errors, and poorly formatted.' (This makes Guy Ritchie seem even more akin to Quentin Tarantino than we thought.) Luckily, the brilliance of Ritchie's vision overcame the clumsy presentation. His short film, The Hard Case, further convinced Styler of his talent.

2. Tom Cruise played a pivotal role in securing its U.S. release.

The film struggled to attract an American distributor until Styler reached out to her friend, the renowned actor Tom Cruise. She invited him to a Hollywood screening aimed at potential buyers, not necessarily to invest but simply to watch the movie. Cruise attended, surrounded by executives and analysts, and became an outspoken and passionate advocate. Producer Matthew Vaughn later shared, 'It was hilarious. Mid-level executives were there, and when Cruise walked in, they all straightened up, started making calls, and soon senior executives flooded the screening. At the end, Tom stood up and declared, ‘This is the best film I’ve seen in years—you’d be fools not to buy it.’”

3. Brad Pitt was also a huge admirer, which led to his role in Snatch.

When Brad Pitt loves a movie, he often contacts its creator. That’s precisely what he did with Guy Ritchie. 'He called and expressed his desire to be involved in my next project,' Ritchie told Esquire. That project turned out to be Snatch. Pitt and Ritchie have maintained their friendship ever since (at least up to the 2013 Esquire interview).

4. The initial budget was far too ambitious for a debut filmmaker.

The initial budget for Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels was set at £20 million (approximately $45 million today) but was eventually trimmed down to a more feasible £800,000 (around $1.8 million). While the original figure was likely too ambitious for a debut director, it reflected the high regard for Ritchie’s screenplay (despite its typos). After a burst of enthusiasm, including auditions and casting, much of the funding evaporated, causing delays. Ritchie slashed costs, including salaries, and secured new investors, such as his godparents, though the process took years. By then, the polished production had transformed into a gritty, low-budget affair, which aligned perfectly with the film’s underdog theme.

5. Ray Winstone was initially cast as Hatchet Harry.

The renowned English actor was first chosen for the role but had to withdraw due to scheduling conflicts caused by the delays. P.H. Moriarty stepped in as his replacement. Interestingly, Winstone later starred in Sexy Beast (2000), a British gangster movie heavily influenced by Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

6. The gag about someone forgetting to bring the guns was inspired by a real-life mishap.

'Have you forgotten those guns, you dozy prat?' Bacon (Jason Statham) quips around 73 minutes into the film, as the crew prepares to rob another gang. Ironically, the line was improvised because someone had actually forgotten to bring the prop guns to set that day. With no time to fetch them, Ritchie decided to turn the oversight into a humorous moment.

7. Jason Statham was peddling counterfeit perfume on the streets when Guy Ritchie discovered him.

In the mid-1990s, Statham was juggling modeling gigs with selling fake jewelry and perfume on street corners—what he called 'hustling.' (His father had done the same in his youth.) It was during this time that Ritchie met him, seeking a convincing con artist for Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Statham’s friend, Vinnie Jones, had already been cast, and this introduction marked the start of Statham’s acting career—and likely the end of his counterfeit goods business.

8. Out of 44 speaking roles, at least 17 were filled by individuals with no prior film or TV acting experience.

To bring the film to life, Ritchie leveraged personal connections and even enlisted crew members to appear on camera. He also opted for many inexperienced (and budget-friendly) actors. While some, like Statham and ex-soccer star Vinnie Jones, built successful acting careers, others remained behind the scenes or left the industry entirely.

9. Madonna was so impressed by the soundtrack that she released it through her label (and later married the film’s director).

The pop icon was a notable admirer of the movie, especially its diverse Brit-rock soundtrack. She reached out to Ritchie and producer Matthew Vaughn, proposing that her label, Maverick, handle the U.S. release of the soundtrack. Ritchie recalled that Madonna 'wined and dined' them in Hollywood, though her romantic interest was initially in Vaughn. However, Madonna and Ritchie eventually began dating, marrying in 2000 (and divorcing in 2008).

10. The film’s ending was reshaped following test screenings.

Originally, the movie concluded ambiguously, with the four protagonists walking away with the money while Big Chris (Vinnie Jones) and his son prepared to pursue them. Test audiences disliked this ending. In response, Ritchie hastily devised a more intricate finale (reportedly scribbled 'on the back of a [cigarette] packet,' as mentioned by star Nick Moran, who played Eddy). The cast was called back months after filming had wrapped to shoot the new ending. A complication arose: Jason Flemyng, who portrays Tom, had grown his hair for another role and couldn’t cut it, leading to Tom wearing a stocking cap in the final scenes.

11. Supermodel Claudia Schiffer ended up being cut from the final film.

Claudia Schiffer portrayed Eddy’s girlfriend, but her scenes were entirely removed after test screenings. (The film generally lacks significant female roles.) However, there was a silver lining: she met producer Matthew Vaughn during production, and the two later married.

12. The movie was adapted into a TV series.

Titled Lock, Stock..., the show aired for seven episodes in the U.K. during the summer of 2000. It followed the semi-criminal escapades of four friends managing a London pub named The Lock. None of the original film’s cast participated, and all characters except Bacon were given new names (or perhaps it’s a different Bacon—who can say?). Guy Ritchie co-wrote the pilot but had minimal involvement beyond that.

This article was originally published in 2015.