Netflix has quietly added the film 'In the Hand of Dante' to its streaming library, but the star-studded production has failed to make a splash. Despite featuring a cast led by Oscar Isaac and including Gal Gadot, Gerard Butler, Jason Momoa, Al Pacino, John Malkovich, and Martin Scorsese in a cameo, the movie has not entered the platform's top 10 in the UK as of late June 2026. The film, directed by Julian Schnabel, premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September 2025 to poor reviews and was released in select UK cinemas on June 12, 2026, before landing on Netflix on June 24.
A 15-Year Development That Missed the Mark
According to Schnabel, the project spent 15 years in development, but critics argue the lengthy gestation did not result in a masterpiece. The film has been compared unfavorably to Francis Ford Coppola's 'Megalopolis' (2024), with reviewers noting a similar sense of a veteran filmmaker indulging in an overly ambitious and often incomprehensible narrative. Schnabel has attempted to address major themes, but the result has left many audiences baffled. Nonetheless, some respect has been earned for his bold decisions, even if they largely fail to cohere.
The story follows Isaac as Italian literary giant Dante Alighieri and also as journalist Nick Tosches in 2001, who is tasked with verifying a handwritten manuscript of Dante's 14th-century poem 'The Divine Comedy'. The manuscript travels from the Vatican library to a New York mob boss, with Tosches (based on the real-life author of the novel the film is based on) portrayed as the reincarnation of Dante. Gadot plays both Dante's wife Gemma and Nick's temporary assistant, adding to the film's layered narrative.
Mixed Performances Amid Chaos
The 153-minute runtime is packed with Dante quotations, which one reviewer described as an 'onslaught' that made the film feel longer. However, there are bright spots. Al Pacino delivers an extended cameo as Nick's uncle in his childhood, and he is noted for being the only actor who convincingly navigates the film's erratic shifts between high drama and comedy. Isaac also gives a committed performance, particularly in the role of the chaotic and sleazy Nick, though he is in almost every scene while the rest of the film struggles around him. One scene involving Isaac's character sniffing women's tights was singled out as particularly hard to recover from.
Gerard Butler surprises in a dual role as a nasty gangster and an oddly Scottish Italian pope, having decided to play the film as a comedy, which works in his favor. John Malkovich also brings his distinct vibe as Butler's associate. However, Gadot's roles are described as underwritten and over-the-top, with her character falling too quickly in love, though the film's lack of realism may excuse this.
Tonal Confusion and Violence
Schnabel has described 'In the Hand of Dante' as a tragicomedy, but the film comes across as a mix of noir, satire, melodrama, and absurdist comedy, depending on the scene. The tone is inconsistent, and the mob connections lead to graphic violence, including a particularly vile mafia execution by Butler's character and a scene involving fingernails being torn off by teeth. The ending continues the film's tendency toward incomprehensibility, bordering on ludicrous.
According to the reviewer, 'In the Hand of Dante' is a sprawling, overly ambitious mess that is hard to follow at times, despite some actors' best efforts. However, for those who enjoyed the perplexing excess of 'Megalopolis', this film may hold appeal. 'In the Hand of Dante' is streaming exclusively on Netflix now.
