Top 13 best Russian movies in 2023 & 2022 (Netflix, Prime, Hulu & Cinema List)
List of the latest Russian movies in 2023 and the best Russian movies of 2022 & the 2010's. Top Russian movies to watch on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney+ & other Streaming services, out on DVD/Blu-ray or in cinema's right now.
New Russian movies in 2023 in Cinema & on VOD
Top movies up for release in 2023 in cinema and on VOD
CAST: Yuliya Snigir, Daniil Steklov & August Diehl
Based on the novel Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, this period fantasy is set in 1930s Moscow. Within the Soviet state, a writer penned a novel that was banned and wrote a screenplay for a canceled play about Pontius Pilate. Despite appearing as the outcast of the USSR, the writer gets unexpected help from the troublemaking Woland and falls in love with the lovely Margarita. This love seems taboo for her being the daughter of a government official. It feels like the only way their romance can sustain is through the fictional world the writer has crafted. Directed Michael Lockshin (Silver Skates), this low fantasy mix of drama and romance stars August Diehl, Yulia Snigir, Yuri Kolokolnikov, and Evgeniy Tsyganov. Read more Watch the trailer of Woland Netflix | Amazon | All Release dates
DIRECTOR: Konstantin Statskiy CAST: Kseniya Rappoport, Alexandr Novin & Taisiya Vilkova
The 50-year-old Zhanna has survived a chaotic life in the 1990s. She suffered under poverty, endured gutwrenching betrayals, and watched helplessly as loved ones died. Her turmoils led her to success when she founded her own trading company and now lives in an expensive apartment. She also has a lover, Andrey, but their love seems doomed when he confesses that he’s leaving her for another woman, Katya. That woman also happens to be pregnant with his child. Directed by Konstantin Statskiy and written by Yuliana Koshkina, Yekaterina Popechiteleva, and Yaroslava Pulinovich, this romantic drama stars Rostislav Bershauer, Mariya Bolshova, Elena Galibina, and Igor Grabuzov. Read more Watch the trailer of Zhanna Netflix | Amazon | All Release dates
Best Russian movies on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney+ or DVD in 2023
2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 and the 2010's best rated Russian movies out on DVD, Bluray or streaming on VOD (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney+ & More).
DIRECTOR: Kirill Serebrennikov CAST: Alena Mikhaylova, Odin Lund Biron & Nikita Elenev
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is a notable name in classic music but many may not know of his wife, Antonina Miliukova. Her relationship with the legendary composer was a frustrating one as she struggled to come to terms with his homosexuality. Unable to accept this part of her husband’s sexuality, she is slowly driven mad the more she tries to rationalize a world she doesn’t understand. Written and directed by Kirill Serebrennikov (Petrov's Flu, Leto), this biographical drama stars Alyona Mikhaylova, Odin Biron, Yuliya Aug, Miron Fyodorov, Alexander Gorchilin, and Filipp Avdeyev. Read more Watch the trailer of Tchaikovsky’s Wife Netflix | Amazon | All Release dates
DIRECTOR: Kira Kovalenko CAST: Milana Aguzarova, Alik Karaev & Soslan Khugaev
Ada seeks more out of her dull life in the small town of Mizur in North Ossetia, Russia. The Ossetian girl, sick of being surrounded by a stifling family and a community that is only a husk of its former mining days, plans her escape from the town for a bigger dream abroad. But will she succeed in a town where everything feels so hopeless? Written and directed by Kira Kovalenko (Sofichka), this small-town drama debuted at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival and stars Milana Aguzarova, Alik Karayev, and Soslan Khugayev. Read more Watch the trailer of Unclenching The Fists Netflix | Amazon | All Release dates
DIRECTOR: Aleksandr Zeldovich CAST: Tinatin Dalakishvili, Yevgeni Tsyganov & Evgeny Kharitonov
Medea is a woman who wants to do what’s right for her husband and two children. To protect their futures, she commits herself to pulling off a devastating crime that will repel her husband to cut her out of his life. Now without love, she looks towards sex and religion to make her feel alive again. And when all the fails, revenge might be her only option. Written and directed by Aleksandr Zeldovich, this psychological drama stars Shai Assido, Timur Bazinskiy, and Tinatin Dalakishvili. Read more Watch the trailer of Medea Netflix | Amazon | All Release dates
DIRECTOR: Lado Kvataniya CAST: Niko Tavadze, Daniil Spivakovskiy & Yuliya Snigir
Based on a true story, a serial killer is on the loose during the Soviet era of Russia. During such a chaotic time, the killer was able to avoid the easy capture of the Russian police. An investigation follows but its tough to track such a mastermind of a serial killer during a time of great violence and revolution. This historical Eastern-European thriller comes from director Lado Kvataniya (The First, One Lone Survivor) and stars Roland Gagulashvili. Read more Watch the trailer of The Execution Netflix | Amazon | All Release dates
DIRECTOR: Hamlet Dulyan CAST: Egor Koreshkov, Elena Podkaminskaya & Filipp Yankovsky
In this speculative sci-fi film from director and co-writer Hamlet Dulyan, it has been 200 year since the world-altering events of The Great War. After such a battle, humanity now lives under a totalitarian rule of the prim and perfect One State. Despite living under such strict rules, it appears to be a utopian society. But perhaps something else lurks under all the serial numbers, uniforms, and glass houses. After all, how free can on society be when sex is a scheduled act rather a spontaneous gesture of romance?
Read more Watch the trailer of MY Netflix | Amazon | All Release dates
DIRECTOR: Kirill Serebrennikov CAST: Semen Serzin, Chulpan Khamatova & Ivan Dorn
Based on the novel by Alexey Salnikov, Petrov’s Flu takes place in post-Soviet Russia and follows the day-to-day life of the comic book artist Petrov and his family. But tragedy strikes as Petrov finds himself infected with the horrible flu. Seeking help, his friend Igor offers to go on a long walk with him. During this walk, Petrov finds himself slipping in and out of reality, unable to tell what’s real anymore. Directed by Kirill Serebrennikov, this surreal drama stars Chulpan Khamatova, Semyon Serzin, and Ivan Ivashkin. Read more Watch the trailer of Petrov’s Flu
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DIRECTOR: Andrey Konchalovskiy CAST: Yuliya Vysotskaya, Vladislav Komarov & Andrei Gusev
t is 1962 and the workers of Novocherkassk are going on strike. The communist government has decided to raise food prices, making it even harder to live in such an industrial environment for the working class. Seen through the perspective of a party activist devoted to the cause, he witnesses a strike soon go from a protest of corrupted government to a gruesome massacre where the small industrial town erupts into political violence in this historical drama from director Andrey Konchalovskiy.
Read more Watch the trailer of Dear Comrades
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DIRECTOR: Kantemir Balagov CAST: Viktoriya Miroshnichenko, Vasilisa Perelygina & Konstantin Balakirev
The World War II has ended in Leningrad, life still continues to be a challenge as a city tries to rebuild in the wreckage of war. In a city of ruins, two women make their return and attempt to rebuild their lives as much as Leningrad tries to rebuild itself after such a catastrophe. War has left them drained physically and emotionally as they struggle to find meaning in their lives and hope for the future in this award-winning historical drama. Read more Watch the trailer of Beanpole
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DIRECTOR: Michael Lockshin CAST: Fedor Fedotov, Sofya Priss & Aleksey Guskov
The 20th century has just began as the show begins on New Year’s Eve of 1900. The young lamplighter Matthew is rather poor and desperately needs money to care for his dying father. At the same time, Alice, a daughter of the elite, dreams of studying science which her father does not favor. The two meet and strive to make their dreams come true but will have to find their way around the conspiring figure of Alice's fiance, Arkadi. Read more Watch the trailer of The Silver Skates
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DIRECTOR: Kirill Serebrennikov CAST: Teo Yoo, Irina Starshenbaum, Roman Bilyk, Anton Adasinsky
Leningrad, summer of 1981. A young rock musician befriends an older musician and falls in love with his wife. An unusual love triangle emerges. Shot in black and white, this energetic Russian punk rock movie is surely not to be missed. Read more Watch the trailer of Leto
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DIRECTOR: Aleksey German CAST: Artur Beschastny, Danila Kozlovsky, Milan Maric
Sergei Dovlatov (1941-1990) is easily one of the most-read Russian writers from the 20th century. While his literary friends got crushed by the Soviet government one by one, Dovlatov persisted in what he did best; writing without taboos. 'Dovlatov' focusses on six crucial days from his turbulent life. Read more Watch the trailer of Dovlatov RATING: 82/100
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DIRECTOR: Ilya Khrzhanovskiy CAST: Teodor Currentzis, Youriy Alekseev, Radmila Shchyogoleva
Not much is known about 'Dau', an upcoming about the renowned Russian scientist/physician Lev Landau. Directed by Ilya Khrzhanovskiy, who shot the controversial and acclaimed movie '4' back in 2004. Read more Watch the trailer of Dau
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DIRECTOR: Kirill Serebrennikov CAST: Yuliya Aug
Pyotr Skvortsov
Viktoriya Isakova
Veniamin is a Russian high school student obsessed by Christianity. In his attempt to persuade everyone around him of the omnipresent immorality, he becomes more and more alienated. Beautifully shot and wonderfully deap-pan acted by Pyotr Skvortsov. Read more Watch the trailer of The Student ((M)uchenik) RATING: 72/100
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DIRECTOR: Andrey Zvyagintsev CAST: Aleksey Serebryakov
Elena Lyadova
Roman Madyanov
Cannes is said to have been solid but somewhat dull this year. The same cannot be said of Leviathan that, although losing to Ceylan’s ‘Winter’s Sleep’, was one of the buzziest films of 2014. This exceptional film did walk away with the best screenplay award. Leviathan, Andrey Zvyagintsev, tells the gripping and sometimes even funny story of a man who is trying to fight the corrupt major of a small coastal town. Read more Watch the trailer of Leviathan RATING: 76/100
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DIRECTOR: Aleksey German CAST: Leonid Yarmolnik
Aleksandr Chutko
Yuriy Tsurilo
It is Hard to be a God’ is the last film by the late Aleksey German. Talented in achieving splendid surrealism but being anything but prolific, he spent the last 12 years of his life making this film. His 3-hour film based on the book by the Strugatsky brothers first opened at the Rome Film Festival in 2013, and it caused quite some waves. Stylistically it takes us back to the crispy black and white films with which Russia conquered the world, but it is not a historic tale. Some are even describing it as the most important science fiction film of this decade. Check out the estranging trailer of Hard to be a God with English subtitles online here. Read more Watch the trailer of Hard to be a God RATING: 67/100
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DIRECTOR: Aleksey Popogrebskiy CAST: Grigoriy Dobrygin
Sergey Puskepalis
Igor Chernevich
Like Zvyagintsev, Popogrepsky’s dramas do not require obscure symbolism, unlike most Russian art house films, to get its message across. Its simplicity and straightforwardness captures your attention in a most subtle way. Often described as somewhat of a thriller, this is more of a solid interpersonal drama that plays out suspense very well, and although it moves rather slowly, is never dull. It takes place in the middle of the Arctic and the two protagonists only have each other to turn to when realizing the fragility of humans when compared to nature. Great performance by the two actors who contribute immensely to making it a an emotionally gripping drama. Read more Watch the trailer of How I Ended This Summer RATING: 70/100
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DIRECTOR: Andrey Zvyagintsev CAST: Nadezhda Markina
Andrey Smirnov
Aleksey Rozin
Elena, after the slightly disappointing The Banishment, reminded me that Zvyagintsev is my favorite contemporary Russian filmmaker. He again, impressively zooms in on individuality within family contexts, and how individual decisions affect all. His pure and simple filmmaking instantly feels majestic, and his films stay with you forever. Read more Watch the trailer of Elena RATING: 73/100
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DIRECTOR: Valeriya Gay Germanika CAST: Polina Filonenko
Agniya Kuznetsova
Olga Shuvalova
Everybody dies but me is one of those realist coming-of-agers that without ever becoming to forced, is successful in its emotionally charged narrative. It demonstrates the naive beauty of ever-lasting teenage friendships that once adolescence kicks in turn out to be anything but infinite. Valeriya Gay Germanika shows she has a background in documentary filmmaking, because her gritty naturalist films have a great observational quality about them. If you are into Lukas Moodysson films (like Fucking Amal or We are the best!), this might be your Russian alternative. It is not as good as a Moodysson, but it is worth your while. (like We are the best! it is about three girls in the suburbs – but now in Moscow) Read more Watch the trailer of Everyone Dies But Me RATING: 66/100
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DIRECTOR: Kirill Serebrennikov CAST: Yuliya Aug
Viktoriya Isakova
Aleksandr Gorchilin
Veniamin is a Russian high school student obsessed by Christianity. In his attempt to persuade everyone around him of the omnipresent immorality, he becomes more and more alienated. Beautifully shot and wonderfully deap-pan acted by Pyotr Skvortsov. Read more Watch the trailer of The Student ((M)uchenik) RATING: 84/100
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DIRECTOR: Sarik Andreasyan CAST: Valeriya Shkirando
Alina Lanina
Anton Pampushnyy
During the Cold War, an organization called "Patriot" created a super-hero squad, which includes members of multiple soviet republics. For years, the heroes had to hide their identities, but in hard times they must show themselves again. Read more Watch the trailer of Guardians RATING: 77/100
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DIRECTOR: Andrey Zvyagintsev CAST: Maryana Spivak, Aleksey Rozin, Matvey Novikov, Marina Vasileva
When a couple is going through a divorce, things change when they have to work together to find their missing 12-year old son. A beautiful and painful portrait of a modern Russian marriage falling apart. Read more Watch the trailer of Loveless RATING: 90/100
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- Best Russian TV Series out in 2023 & 2022 on Netflix & on TV
Related: Best new Polish Movies in 2023 & 2022 (Netflix, Prime, Hulu & Cinema List)
Like Russian literature, Russian cinema is enormously rich. What are the Eisensteins and Tarkovsky’s of our time? Check out below!
According to some Russia is returning to its Soviet ways. Putin’s foreign policy shocks and paralyzes Western politicians.Recently adopted laws silence dissenting voices within Russian borders (‘no more swearing everyone, and don’t dare being gay!’). Fortunately, it's cultural productions are nothing like it. Andrey Zvyagintsev breaks away from Russian films performing badly, and reminds us of Russia’ incredibly rich film history. Zvyagintsev is by no means a new face circulating the international film festival circuit, and seems to be the sole successor of Russian genius filmmakers like Tarkovsky and Eisenstein. Similarly innovative and eccentric, his films make up the majority of this list laying down the recent best Russian films up to 2016 & 2017. Because that is what this article is about, examining the very best Russian films of the last few years. It is about time to understand the country we seem unable to wrap our heads around. About time to understand a country that will be dictating much of what will be happening in the upcoming years.
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