In the Hand of Dante (2026)
Film · Drama, Crime, Thriller
Stream it, ifif you prefer intellectual, non-linear narratives over straightforward crime thrillers or traditional period pieces.
An ambitious and dense exploration of art and obsession that weaves together disparate timelines through a shared literary ghost. It promises a cerebral, high-art atmosphere that will likely challenge the viewer with its complex structure and philosophical weight rather than providing simple genre thrills.
What it is about
A Vatican priest discovers Dante's original Divine Comedy manuscript. When asked to authenticate it, writer Nick Tosches steals it, while a parallel story follows Dante's quest to create his masterpiece.
Trailer
What In the Hand of Dante is like, and who it is for
What it is like to watch
Watching this film feels like navigating a dense, hallucinatory maze where history and modernity collide. The pace is deliberate, prioritising philosophical enquiry and textured atmosphere over the typical beats of a heist or a biopic. It is a visually arresting experience that demands high levels of concentration as it shifts between a gritty contemporary underworld and the spiritual struggle of the fourteenth century, maintaining a high level of intensity throughout.
Who it is for, and who should skip it
This is specifically for viewers who enjoy high-art cinema and are comfortable with mind-bending structures that refuse to hold the audience's hand. Those seeking a fast-paced thriller or a clear-cut historical drama should skip it, as it leans heavily into abstract themes of obsession and literary legacy. A notable caveat is its significant runtime, which feels every bit of its two and a half hours due to the sheer density of the dialogue and ideas.
The right evening for it
It suits a quiet, solitary evening when you are in the mood for something demanding and profound. This is a film to be chewed over long after the credits roll, ideally with a glass of wine and no distractions.
Written by our AI from the facts on this page. It has opinions; it has not watched it.
Featurette
Featurette · Julian Schnabel on In the Hand of Dante
How In the Hand of Dante leaves you
One line on the mood it ends on, with no plot. Some people count that as a spoiler, so it stays hidden until you ask.
Expect to come away feeling intellectually overstimulated and perhaps a little weary, as the film leaves a lingering sense of the heavy, eternal weight of art and human longing.
Stills
Images from TMDB.
If you like this, try
The Fountain (2006)
parallel timelines exploring mortality and the creative spirit
Cloud Atlas (2012)
interconnected stories spanning centuries linked by a central text
Foucault's Pendulum (1988)
the dangerous intersection of ancient manuscripts and modern obsession
Suggested by our AI for what they share with this one. Linked titles have a page here; the rest are worth a search on the browse page.
In the Hand of Dante soundtrack
Music by Benjamin Clementine
Questions people ask
- Is In the Hand of Dante a mind-bending film?
- Yes. On Watchlist Boosted it is tagged Mind-Bending, with an authentic streak. An ambitious and dense exploration of art and obsession that weaves together disparate timelines through a shared literary ghost. It promises a cerebral, high-art atmosphere that will likely challenge the viewer with its complex structure and philosophical weight rather than providing simple genre thrills.
- How long is In the Hand of Dante?
- In the Hand of Dante runs 153 min and was released in 2026.
- Where can I watch In the Hand of Dante in Australia?
- In Australia, In the Hand of Dante is included with Netflix (all plans).
- Where can I watch In the Hand of Dante in the UK?
- In the UK, In the Hand of Dante is included with Netflix (all plans).
- Who composed the music for In the Hand of Dante?
- The music for In the Hand of Dante is by Benjamin Clementine.
- Is In the Hand of Dante worth watching?
- It depends: if you prefer intellectual, non-linear narratives over straightforward crime thrillers or traditional period pieces. Rotten Tomatoes gives it 29% and TMDB users 5.3.
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