Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Graphic violence, language in long time-travel adaptation.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
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In the Hand of Dante
What's the Story?
In IN THE HAND OF DANTE, Nick Tosches (Oscar Isaac) is a writer raised in a tough borough and unable to mesh his literary ambitions with a need to make a living in gritty, turn-of-the-millennium New York City. He's obsessed with Dante's timeless Divine Comedy, inspiring gangster friend Lefty (Louis Cancelmi) to bring him into a heist—organized by criminal Joe Black (John Malkovich) and hit man Louie (Gerard Butler)—to steal Dante's original manuscript, newly discovered and in the hands of a mob boss in Italy. Meanwhile, in 14th century Italy, the poet himself (Isaac again) seeks wisdom and inspiration for his writing. The men's lives overlap, including through the figure of their true love (Gal Gadot).
Is It Any Good?
This time-traveling adaptation of a cerebral novel gets bogged down by its own ambition. In the Hand of Dante has terrific ingredients—intriguing source material and a powerful cast of actors (particularly Isaac, Butler, and Gadot, but also cameos from Martin Scorsese, Al Pacino, and more). Warning, though—shifting accents are distracting, and the toxic male culture might fit the time period(s) but feels tiresome. Literary adaptations are never easy, and a novel as sweeping as Tosches' 377-page opus could puzzle even the greatest storytellers.
There's a lot to decipher here for attentive viewers willing to do the work and those interested in the eternal themes of Dante's poesy. But average viewers' patience might be tried by the gratuitous violence, the parallel structure (the historical storyline just isn't as engaging as the gangster-filled contemporary heist), and the overly indulgent run time (2 hours, 35 minutes). What Netflix offers over a traditional arthouse release of a film like this is the opportunity for viewers to discover it and perhaps take it in doses. That might not be what Schnabel and team intended, but it's a form of entry into an overstuffed yet thought-provoking film.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the parallel stories told in In the Hand of Dante. How do the characters relate to each other?
What did you think of the choice to use the same actors in both time periods? Explain.
Did you find the film's length appropriate for the material? Why, or why not?
Discuss the violence in the movie. Do you think it was the right level, or was there too much? What are some of the moments that stood out as particularly scary or gory for you? Would the movie be as impactful without the violence?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : June 24, 2026
- Cast : Oscar Isaac , Gerard Butler , Gal Gadot
- Director : Julian Schnabel
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Adventures , Arts , Book Characters , History , Travel
- Run time : 155 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence, language and sexual references
- Last updated : July 6, 2026
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