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.
Ratings
Curator score: 1.2/10
IMDb: 6.0/10
Letterboxd: 2.70/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 44%
Metacritic: 54
TMDB: 6.5/10
Director
Olivier Assayas
Production
Curiosa Films, Gaumont, France 2 Cinéma, Tribune Pictures, LB Entertainment, Jeff Rice Films
Cast
Paul Dano, Jude Law, Alicia Vikander, Tom Sturridge, Will Keen, Jeffrey Wright, Andrei Zayats, Kaspars Kambala, Andris Keišs, George Sogis, Magne-Håvard Brekke, Emmanuel Carrère, Elisa Lasowski, Marija Linarte, Dmitry Krupnikov, Dmitry Turchaninov, Ints Indriksons, Egons Dombrovskis, Vadim Nikolaychuk, Kaspars Kārkliņš
Curator Review
Verdict
A promising premise and strong cast are undermined by a flat, over-expository approach that many viewers found inert and dramatically thin. It may interest viewers specifically curious about post-Soviet power politics or Olivier Assayas completists, but as a film it seems more dutiful than revealing.
Best for
Viewers fascinated by Putin-era political history
Olivier Assayas completists
Audiences who don’t mind dense, talk-heavy political dramas
People interested in adaptation debates and prestige-cast curiosities
Skip if
You want a sharp point of view or real political insight
You’re sensitive to clunky exposition and uneven tone
You prefer immersive, cinematic storytelling over lecture-like biopics
You’re looking for a gripping thriller rather than a procedural rise-to-power drama
Overview
The Wizard of the Kremlin has all the ingredients of a major political drama: a volatile historical subject, a high-profile director, and a cast that should, on paper, make the machinery of power feel dangerous and seductive. Instead, the film seems to settle for summarizing history rather than dramatizing it, turning a combustible subject into something closer to an illustrated briefing.
Worth noting
The most consistent reaction from viewers is frustration with the film’s flatness. It appears to move dutifully through post-Soviet upheaval without finding a distinctive visual or emotional angle, and the result is a movie that explains power more than it embodies it. Even when the performances generate curiosity, the staging and transitions are repeatedly described as awkward or inert.
Bottom line
That said, the premise remains inherently compelling, and the film will likely hold some value for viewers who are drawn to political biography, Kremlin-era intrigue, or the spectacle of major actors inhabiting real-world power figures. But for most audiences, this looks like a case where the subject is far more interesting than the film built around it.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Lucas Vidal (2.5★) · 1003 likes
Vladmir Putin being explained what Daft Punk is was truly the highlight of the movie
Quintin (3★) · 648 likes
You know you're attending a film festival when the Disney+ logo causes the entire movie theatre to gasp in horror rather than have MCU fans cheer in excitement.
Regelegorila (1★) · 388 likes
Première grosse catastrophe de 2026 avec Le Mage du Kremlin, un pur enfer de cinéma.
Typiquement le film wikipedia qui te raconte tout à haute voix : l'histoire, les émotions des personnages et les enjeux pour essayer de faire passer cette fiction débile pro-russe pour un grand biopic historique.
C'est d'un kitch ridicule avec aucune idée de mise en scène, un téléfilm avec un peu de budget qui utilise ses acteurs de la pire des manières. C'est rare que Paul… more
medbanger (1.5★) · 374 likes
Bonjour, je suis Paul Dano et je vais vous lire le script d’un reportage Arte sur le Kremlin pour Audible
movietomovie (2★) · 368 likes
Never thought the Disney+ logo would be a bigger jumpscare than a pistol shot to the head. But here we are.