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The Wizard of the Kremlin

Play trailer The Wizard of the Kremlin 2025 2h 36m Drama Mystery & Thriller History Play Trailer Watchlist
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Russia, early 1990s. Amid post-Soviet chaos, a brilliant young man, Vadim Baranov, charts his path. First an artist, then a reality TV producer, he becomes the spin doctor to a rising KGB agent: Vladimir Putin. At the heart of power, Baranov shapes the new Russia, blurring the boundaries between truth and lies, belief and manipulation. Only the magnetic Ksenia is beyond his control, tempting him away from this dangerous game. Years later, after retreating into silence and shrouded in mystery, Baranov finally opens up, revealing the dark secrets of the regime he helped build.

Critics Reviews

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Travis Jeppesen Sight & Sound Olivier Assayas makes the distracting decision to have half the cast speaking in English accents, but his political drama about Vladimir Putin and his spin doctor shows great understanding of the inner workings of a totalitarian propaganda state. Sep 26, 2025 Full Review Alexander Mooney Slant Magazine Olivier Assayas’s knack for fostering insight through irony is nowhere to be found in the film. Rated: 1.5/4 Sep 15, 2025 Full Review Nick Schager The Daily Beast A prototypical example of talking, ceaselessly and crudely, at the audience. Sep 11, 2025 Full Review Sarah Marrs Lainey Gossip Wizard of the Kremlin is a mostly entertaining film about a very dense subject centered on a pair of strong performances from Paul Dano and Jude Law. Oct 9, 2025 Full Review Sarah Manvel Movies We Texted About A remarkable central performance by Mr. Dano makes The Wizard of the Kremlin well worth seeing. But the filmmakers should have acknowledged the true global context of this story; with that courage this could have been something great and powerful. Oct 8, 2025 Full Review Kurt Halfyard ScreenAnarchy Settles nicely into the subdued cynicism and inevitable downward spiral into apathy that is often a hallmark of Russian society. Particularly so, when framed from those containing Russian imperial expansion. 

 Sep 22, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

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Olivier Assayas

Director

Paul Dano

Actor

Jude Law

Actor

Alicia Vikander

Actor

Tom Sturridge

Actor

Jeffrey Wright

Actor
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The Wizard of the Kremlin

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Movie Info

Synopsis Russia, early 1990s. Amid post-Soviet chaos, a brilliant young man, Vadim Baranov, charts his path. First an artist, then a reality TV producer, he becomes the spin doctor to a rising KGB agent: Vladimir Putin. At the heart of power, Baranov shapes the new Russia, blurring the boundaries between truth and lies, belief and manipulation. Only the magnetic Ksenia is beyond his control, tempting him away from this dangerous game. Years later, after retreating into silence and shrouded in mystery, Baranov finally opens up, revealing the dark secrets of the regime he helped build.
Director
Olivier Assayas
Producer
Olivier Assayas
Screenwriter
Olivier Assayas, Emmanuel Carrère
Production Co
Gaumont, Curiosa Films, France 2 Cinéma
Genre
Drama, Mystery & Thriller, History
Original Language
English
Runtime
2h 36m