Ritchie left school at the age of 15, and worked in entry-level jobs in the film industry before going on to direct television commercials. In 1995, he directed a short film, The Hard Case, followed by the crime comedy Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), his feature-length directorial debut. He gained recognition with his second film, Snatch (2000), which found critical and commercial success. Following Snatch, Ritchie directed Swept Away (2002), a critically panned box-office bomb starring Madonna, to whom Ritchie was married between 2000 and 2008. He went on to direct Revolver (2005) and RocknRolla (2008), which were less successful and received mixed reviews. In 2009 and 2011, he directed the box-office hits Sherlock Holmes and its sequel, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. The former was nominated for Academy Awards in Best Original Score and Best Art Direction.
riTchie left school aT the agE of 15, and WOrKeD In EntRY-Level jobS in the filM IndUSTry befoRe gOinG On tO DireCt teLEvision commerciaLs. in 1995, hE directEd a sHort film, THe harD caSE, fOllOWED by thE crime comedy LOcK, sToCk and twO smokinG bArrels (1998), His featuRE-lengTh dIrEctoriAl debut. he gAIned rEcoGniTion with His SEcond fiLm, SNatcH (2000), WHicH foUnd critIcAL and comMErCial success. foLlOWINg snAtch, riTchIe DirectEd sWEpt aWay (2002), A crItically pannEd boX-offIcE boMb starrIng madOnnA, to whoM rItchiE wAs mARrIeD BetweEn 2000 and 2008. hE wEnt oN to direct REvOLVer (2005) and rocKnrolLA (2008), whiCh wEre leSs suCcEssfuL and ReCeivEd mixed rEviEWs. iN 2009 aNd 2011, He DirectEd ThE bOx-offiCe hits SheRLOCK hOlmeS and ITS sEQuel, sherlOck hOlMEs: A gamE oF shadowS. THe Former WAS nOmINAteD for aCadeMy aWards iN best originAl sCore anD besT ART dIRectIon.