
The Wizard of the Kremlin
dir. Olivier Assayas
58
8 sourcesSynopsis
In the chaos of post-Soviet Russia, rising KGB officer Vladimir Putin joins forces with master manipulator Vadim Baranov to reshape life behind the Iron Curtain, using violence and deception to change the world forever.
Critics consensus
A dryly witty yet overwrought slow burner, The Wizard of the Kremlin can't overcome its thin characters, sluggish pacing, and repetitive storytelling.
What resonated with audiences
'The Wizard of the Kremlin' offers thought-provoking exploration of Russian power dynamics and features some complex characterization, but struggles significantly with execution. The film suffers from tedious pacing, flat writing heavy on exposition, and serious plausibility issues including English-speaking Russians and cultural inaccuracies. Performances divide audiences, with some praising the acting while others find it unconvincing. The production design receives mixed reactions. Most found the overall experience boring and unengaging despite its intellectually stimulating premise.

Directed byOlivier Assayas
StarringPaul Dano, Jude Law, Alicia Vikander, Tom Sturridge, Will Keen, Jeffrey Wright
Written byOlivier Assayas, Emmanuel Carrère
CinematographyYorick Le Saux
EditingMarion Monnier
The Wizard of the Kremlin
2026 · R · 2h 16m
Drama
In the chaos of post-Soviet Russia, rising KGB officer Vladimir Putin joins forces with master manipulator Vadim Baranov to reshape life behind the Iron Curtain, using violence and deception to change the world forever.
Our Verdict
58
What resonated with audiences
'The Wizard of the Kremlin' offers thought-provoking exploration of Russian power dynamics and features some complex characterization, but struggles significantly with execution. The film suffers from tedious pacing, flat writing heavy on exposition, and serious plausibility issues including English-speaking Russians and cultural inaccuracies. Performances divide audiences, with some praising the acting while others find it unconvincing. The production design receives mixed reactions. Most found the overall experience boring and unengaging despite its intellectually stimulating premise.
Critics Consensus
A dryly witty yet overwrought slow burner, The Wizard of the Kremlin can't overcome its thin characters, sluggish pacing, and repetitive storytelling.
