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The Wizard of the Kremlin
Drama
⭐ 6.4
FR
🎬 Now In Cinemas
Released January 21, 2026
Release
January 21, 2026
Runtime
2h 36m
Rating
⭐ 6.4 / 10
Director
Olivier Assayas
Genres
Drama
Status
Released
Starring
Paul Dano, Jude Law, Alicia Vikander, Tom Sturridge, Will Keen
About The Wizard of the Kremlin
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.
Movie Details
| Director | Olivier Assayas |
| Cast | Paul Dano as Vadim Baranov, Jude Law as Vladimir Putin, Alicia Vikander as Ksenia, Tom Sturridge as Dmitri Sidorov, Will Keen as Boris Berezovsky, Jeffrey Wright as Rowland, Andris Keišs as Yevgeny Prigozhin, Magne-Håvard Brekke as Eduard Limonov, Matthew Baunsgard as Larry, Anton Lytvynov as Restaurant patron, Alexander M. Johnson as Secretary, Anastasia Sutter as Putin friend, Dan Cade as Agent Johnson, Tom J. Benedict as Media-Most Executive, Emmanuel Carrère as , Varvara Chekhs as Greeter, Kaspars Kambala as , Polina Karnicka as Girl at the Club, Sergey Podymin as Restaurant guest / Theater spectator / Lobby bar visitor / Russian Army officer, Andreas Pumilia as Advisor |
| Genre | Drama |
| Runtime | 156 min |
| Studio | Curiosa Films, Gaumont, France 2 Cinéma, Tribune Pictures, LB Entertainment |
| Country | France, United States of America, United Kingdom |
| Languages | English, Russian |
| IMDb | View on IMDb |